Henleaze & Westbury Voice February 2021 by Emma Cooper

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February, 2021 Issue 74

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Neighbourhood blight! Fundraiser earns royal accolade Daniel Gallimore, who with his mother Sylvia raises money to buy gadgets for blind and poorly sighted people, has been awarded a British Empire Medal. PAGE 8

RAFA club gets a £30k revamp The Royal Air Forces Association headquarters in Westbury-onTrym has had a £30,000 upgrade thanks to a grant. PAGE 15

Charity marks 30th anniversary AFTER years of inactivity at the building site at 99 Devonshire Road, Westbury Park residents are hoping that Bristol City Council’s planning department may issue a Completion Notice on the property. A planning application requesting minor

alterations has attracted more than 80 comments to date, expressing an outpouring of frustration at the unfinished state of the property which has been left to decay for more than four years. Full report: Page 11

Pahar Trust Nepal, based in Westbury, has launched a fundraising campaign to mark 30 years since it funded and built its first school. PAGE 22

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March deadline Our March edition deadline is February 17. To ensure your news or letter is included, please contact us by this date. Advertisers are also asked to contact us by the same date.

Your views Letters for publication can be sent to the above email addresses or by post to Letters, Henleaze & Westbury Voice, 16 Ashmead Business Centre, Ashmead Road, Keynsham, BS31 1SX. The editor reserves the right to edit your letter.

Useful numbers Bristol City Council 0117 922 2000 Citizens Advice Bureau 0344 499 4718 Police www.avonandsomersetpolice.uk General enquiries: 101 Emergency: 999 Fire www.avonfire.gov.uk General enquiries: 0117 926 2061 Emergency: 999

NHS Health Call 111 Well Aware (health and social care information) www.wellaware.org.uk Freephone: 0808 808 5252 We are Bristol helpline Freephone 0800 694 0184 Mon-Fri 8.30am-5pm Weekends 10am-2pm

Complaints Despite our best efforts, we sometimes get things wrong. We always try to resolve issues informally at first but we also have a formal complaints procedure. If you have a complaint about anything in the Henleaze & Westbury Voice, contact the publisher using the details below. We aspire to follow the Code of Conduct of the NUJ (National Union of Journalists), which holds journalists to a high standard of behaviour. Further details of the complaints process can be found on the Voice website here, or can be obtained by contacting the Publisher. PUBLISHER’S NOTE: Henleaze & Westbury Voice is independent. We cannot take responsibility for content or accuracy of adverts, and it is advertisers’ responsibility to conform to all relevant legislation. We cannot vouch for any services offered. Opinions are not necessarily those of the editor. Henleaze & Westbury Voice is distributed each month to residents. If for some reason you do not get a copy, please collect one from local pick-up points. Feedback is always welcomed, contact Emma Cooper on 0117 908 2121 or sales@henleazeandwestburyvoice.co.uk This month 8,500 copies will be distributed around Henleaze, Westbury Park and Westbury-on-Trym.

February, 2021

n NEWS

Which cars will be BRISTOL drivers are on tenterhooks waiting to find out if their car will be charged to enter a clean air zone (CAZ) in the city. City mayor Marvin Rees revealed last week that motorists will be charged to enter a zone covering a small area of central Bristol. Older private cars and commercial vehicles that are more polluting will be charged to enter the ‘small CAZ D’. The small charging zone was one of two options Bristol City Council was required to consult on as it worked towards a final plan for cleaning up the city’s air. It has not yet revealed all the details in the final proposal it must submit to the Government next month, but when asked what sort of vehicles would be charged, it pointed to the details in its consultation proposals. Diesel cars: According to those proposals, any diesel vehicle not conforming to Euro 6 emission standards will need to pay a CAZ charge. As a guide, diesel cars that meet the Euro 6 standards are generally those registered with the DVLA after September 1, 2015. In other words, a charge will apply to any diesel vehicles that are Euro 5 or older, and these are likely to be cars registered before September 2015. It is recommended you contact the vehicle manufacturer to check your vehicle’s standard if you are unsure. Petrol cars: Any petrol vehicle not conforming to Euro 4 emission standards will also need

to pay a CAZ charge. As a guide, petrol cars that meet the standards are generally those registered with the DVLA after January 1, 2006. So the charge will apply to any petrol vehicle that is Euro 3 or older, and these are likely to be cars registered before 2006. Again, it is recommended you contact the vehicle manufacturer to check your vehicle’s standard if you are unsure. Hybrid cars: The engine on hybrid vehicles must meet the relevant criteria for a diesel/ petrol vehicle, as set out above. Daily charge, seven days a week A council spokesperson said: “For both [consultation] options, the charges would apply 24 hours a day, seven days a week to noncompliant (older, more polluting) models of each type of vehicle. “Vehicles would only be charged once in each 24 hour period.” The charges have not yet been finalised by the council, but current estimates range from £9 to £100 per day, depending on the type of vehicle. Whitehall has ordered the council to find the fastest way to get Bristol’s air pollution to within legal limits. The council initially proposed a diesel ban but this was rejected by the government, which then required the council to consult on two more options. These were the ‘small CAZ D’ alone, and another option combining the ‘small CAZ D’ with a larger clean air zone, called a ‘medium CAZ C’, that charges commercial vehicles but not

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February, 2021

n NEWS

charged to enter Bristol's clean air zone? be tested legally because the legal requirement is to get to compliance in the shortest possible time. “A small area CAZ D seems to be the one coming out of the modelling that says it will provide that route.”

private cars. The authority had hoped the road changes introduced during the pandemic to help social distancing and encourage walking and cycling would improve air quality enough to avoid bringing in CAZ charges altogether.

But Mr Rees said on January 13: “The evidence that has come through the modelling suggests we are going to be implementing a small area CAZ D. “This is in line with our moral responsibility to deliver clean air in the shortest possible time but also that’s going to

Officers acting on public tip-off seize cannabis plants worth £90,000 NEIGHBOURHOOD officers acting on intelligence provided by the community yesterday found and seized 90 cannabis plants. Officers from the Southmead Beat Team attended an address on Pen Park Road after suspicions were raised by members of the public and discovered the plants – which have an estimated street value of £90,000 – growing in two garden sheds. The plants have been seized and will now be destroyed. A man in his 50s will now attend a police station for an interview. Sergeant Richard Jones said: “Drugs have a hugely negative impact on communities and I hope this gives people confidence we will act on their concerns and encourages more people to contact us if they think people in their neighbourhood may be involved in drugs.” If you have information about any suspected criminal or suspicious activity in your area, please call us on 101. Alternatively, you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers 100 per cent anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via their Anonymous Online Form. No personal details are taken, information cannot be traced or recorded and you will not go to court or have to speak to police when contacting Crimestoppers.

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The council’s full business case will go to City Hall cabinet in February before formal submission to government. Amanda Cameron, Local Democracy Reporter

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n NEWS

February, 2021

When will we learn why Bristol Energy

SIX years ago, Bristol city chiefs were pinning their hopes on a new council-owned energy firm to lift residents out of fuel poverty and, eventually, turn a profit for the local authority. Fast forward to today, and Bristol Energy has accumulated debt of nearly £50 million and been broken up and sold. Now taxpayers want to know exactly how much of their money was lost in the ill-fated venture and who is to blame. Bristol Energy was set up in 2015 by the council’s previous cross-party cabinet under then mayor George Ferguson, and millions more has been poured in during the intervening five years by the Labour administration, headed by mayor Marvin Rees. The original business plan committed the council to spend around £16 million, and the current administration raised the spending cap to £37.7 million, and set aside an extra £7.3 million in risk reserves, in April

2019. The firm’s final annual report released on January 10 showed it lost £14.8 million in 2019/20. That followed escalating losses each year since it was set up, of £2.9million in 2015/16, £8.4million in 2016/17, £11.2million in 2017/18 and £12.1million in 2018/19, records at Companies House show. Last year, as the council announced it was selling Bristol Energy for £15.3million, deputy mayor Craig Cheney said the council had ploughed “£36.5million or so” into the company altogether. But Lib Dem councillor Tim Kent, who has become enraged by the administration’s refusal to “come clean” on the exact amount spent, said he expects the final sum will be more like £50 million. He and other councillors on the opposition benches, who have been warning about the company for years, are pinning

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their hopes on an independent report to reveal the extent of the financial losses and, crucially, why the council continued to invest in Bristol Energy when those losses were escalating. Westbury-on-Trym and Henleaze Conservative councillor Geoff Gollop said: “I feel an enormous sense of frustration at Bristol Energy losing almost £50m of taxpayers’ money that could have been spent on public services here in Bristol. “Over the last three years, I have repeatedly warned the Mayor of the risks of continuing to fund this failing company and I have been ignored on each occasion. The council’s auditors have now publicly criticised the

way cabinet decisions were taken about the company. Sadly this is too late to stop this huge loss, but maybe it will stop such stupidity in the future.” It’s not just opposition councillors who are hoping for answers. Announcing last month that the council had asked its external auditor, Grant Thornton, to undertake a “public interest report” into the company, Bristol’s Labour mayor warned that such a report would investigate from the “very beginnings of this journey” and include “how did we end up inheriting the mess?” Grant Thornton says it has not yet decided whether it will

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February, 2021

failed?

Avon Mutual investment stopped

MARVIN Rees has pulled the undertake a public interest plug on ploughing any more report into Bristol Energy which taxpayer money into a start-up would assess the council’s community bank feared to be involvement in the company “the next Bristol Energy”. from inception to sale. The mayor made the pledge But in its value-for-money just weeks after scrutiny report on the financial year 2019councillors raised serious 20, it criticises the governance concerns over the business arrangements for the failed prospects for Avon Mutual. energy company. Bristol City Council has so It concludes the cabinet was far invested £400,000 in the not properly informed before it ethical bank, which is seeking invested extra money into Bristol a licence to launch a network Energy. Information the cabinet of branches and free cash received from the shareholder machines across the region, group was “inadequate”, “did not offering savings accounts and clearly state the risks”, and was affordable loans to struggling “out of date”. residents and small businesses. The auditor made 12 Cabinet members hailed recommendations relating the enterprise as an “undiluted to governance, openness and good thing” as they rubberscrutiny in relation to the stamped the latest wave of council’s companies. funding of £250,000 last Mr Rees said: “This report month to help Avon Mutual, shows exactly why Bristol should which does not yet have any never have been operating in the customers, get off the ground. commercial energy market.” Local Democracy Reporting Service Winter Voice ad.qxp_Layout 1 19/09/2020 23:16 Page 1

But resources scrutiny commission members who met the day before heard the business would need another £20million from various sources to become operational. Councillors were told that because the local authority had already agreed two lots of funding, it was inevitable that the community bank would ask for a greater contribution during the third, final and by far the biggest phase of investment to begin trading. A report to members, however, warned there was a risk the “entire financial investment could be lost” if the plan to launch the mutual failed or if it turned out not to be profitable, and that even if it was, the city council would not receive any money back until year six – 2027 or 2028. Now, though, Bristol mayor Marvin Rees has confirmed no

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more cash will be given. Conservative Cllr for Stoke Bishop, John Goulandris, one of the scrutiny members who expressed alarm and who has 41 years in banking, asked him during members’ forum: “In order to trade, Avon Mutual bank is going to require a lot more funding. “How much more money are you willing to commit?” Labour’s Mr Rees replied at the remote meeting on Tuesday, January 12: “We are not putting any more money in. “It was an enabler investment at the front end.” Cllr Goulandris said: “That is comforting to hear.” The £400,000 city council funding includes both investment to become a shareholder and due diligence costs. by Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service

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n NEWS DR Philip Cowburn, co-founder of the Great Western Air Ambulance Service (GWAAC) and consultant in emergency medicine at University Hospitals Bristol, has been awarded the MBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List for his outstanding services to pre-hospital emergency care. Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, Phil and GWAAC’s critical care team adapted and remained operational to respond to those in urgent need. During this time, Phil also collaborated with a wider team to help relieve pressure on the region’s hospitals by setting up the South West Critical Care Transfer Service – the first of its kind in England. Over a four-week period, the service transported 35 criticallyill patients between intensive care hospitals and has since won an award in The Excellence in Urgent and Emergency Care category of the NHS Parliamentary Awards 2020. Dr Phil Cowburn said: “I am truly humbled by this recognition. To me this is not really a personal accolade, it is a celebration of the great

February, 2021

Air ambulance co-founder recognised in New Year’s honours teams I work with. None of the great achievements could have succeeded without the superb group of colleagues I have the pleasure of working alongside.” Phil was fundamental in setting up the air ambulance charity in 2007, where he joined Professor Jonathan Benger, founding clinical director, trustee and critical care doctor for GWAAC, to begin delivering the critical care service to those in need across the region. He has been integral to the air ambulance charity’s development, putting GWAAC at the forefront of advances in critical care. Phil has worked to develop the specialist paramedic role to ensure that critically-ill patients receive the highest level of specialist care from the team, and rolled this out across other South West air ambulances. He has developed career paths and advanced pre-hospital emergency

medicine across the charity and further afield. The air ambulance service has gone from "strength to strength" since it was launched in 2007 and now has a charity shop in Westbury village to help with fundraising. The charity treats five seriously injured patients each day in Bristol and the surrounding region. Great Western Air Ambulance Charity CEO, Anna Perry, said: “I am delighted Phil has been recognised for his outstanding and extensive contribution to Pre-Hospital Emergency Care. We are extremely proud that Phil has been honoured with an

MBE, and I would like to thank him for his inspirational efforts and congratulate him on his thoroughly deserved award. “Phil is a humble person, and feels he only achieves what he does with the help of the whole critical care team at GWAAC. We value all our critical care coctors and specialist paramedics and know our service wouldn’t be possible without their time and dedication.”

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February, 2021

n NEWS

Officers awarded Queen's Police Medal TWO Avon and Somerset police officers appear in the New Year Honours list. Superintendent for Bristol Andy Bennett and Assistant Chief Constable Nikki Watson have both been awarded the Queen's Police Medal (QPM) for distinguished service and gallantry. Supt Bennett is recognised for his work tackling hate crime and bringing policing and communities closer. He said: "I am humbled to receive this award, particularly at a time when so many are working tirelessly to help others during the pandemic. I also want to recognise those members of the community who have been prepared to take a step forward, to talk to us and help to break down barriers so we can move towards our goal of truly representing the diverse citizens of Bristol." Much of Supt Bennett’s 30

years in policing has been spent in neighbourhood roles, working with the community, including a period as the neighbourhood inspector for the area including Ashley and St Paul's. Supt Bennett's current role includes responsibility for neighbourhood officers across Bristol and working with partners to keep the most vulnerable in the city safe. He's also Avon and Somerset's hate crime lead, and is dedicated to the constabulary's goal of making organisation more inclusive. ACC Watson is recognised for leading the Avon and Somerset policing response to the Covid-19 health crisis. She said: "I always wanted to make a difference and it is an honour to serve the communities of Avon and Somerset. To receive the QPM for following my vocation makes me feel extremely grateful and proud. There are many others

whose dedication and support have been key to how we have coped with policing during this pandemic, not least our communities who have given up so much to follow the regulations and guidance. I want to take this opportunity to say thank you." ACC Watson joined Avon and Somerset Police in 1987. Her career has included developing, in partnership with the Director of Public Prosecutions, a pilot programme to tackle domestic abuse. She has also worked to improve access to drug treatment for offenders as well as liaising

to improve joint working and deliver swifter justice. She's the Avon and Somerset lead for gender. This role has seen her supporting a campaign to demystify the effects of the menopause in the workplace. Her current responsibilities include overseeing the constabulary's investigations and operations and chairing the Local Resilience Forum which brings different agencies and organisations together to plan and prepare for civil contingencies and major incidents.

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n NEWS DANIEL Gallimore’s charity, Have Stick Will Travel, raises money to buy mainly electronic gadgets that can enhance the lives of blind and poorly sighted people. He has been awarded a British Empire Medal in this year’s Honours List for services to people with visual impairments in Bristol. Dan, who lives in Wellington Hill West, lost his own sight when he was 21, having gone to the aid of a young man of 18 who was being attacked by three older men by a Lloyds Bank cash point in Bristol. The original victim got off lightly with just a broken nose and bruises while Daniel was in Frenchay Hospital in a coma for several months, waking up to discover he had lost his sight. Daniel’s ordeal was told in a book his mother wrote called The Wind Beneath My Wings, detailing this terrible time for him and his family. For this original act of bravery Dan received the Police Waley-Cohen award for bravery. This was followed in 1998 by the Young Achievers Award and

February, 2021

Dan’s aid for people with visual impairment earns royal reward

a visit to the Palace to meet the Queen and other members of the Royal Family. He then became the first Bravery Award winner at the Pride of Britain Awards in 1999. He has been to two Palace Garden Parties. He was also awarded the Bristol Lord Mayor's Medal for his charity work,. When Dan realised how expensive the items were that

were needed to make life more normal for unsighted people he set up a charity, Have Stick Will Travel. His mother Sylvia and brother Adam are trustees and help with fundraising. Dan also gives talks on how to interact with blind people, going into schools, offices, shops, anywhere he is asked. He especially enjoys talking in schools to show children that losing your sight is not the end of the world, though it feels like it initially. He also likes youngsters to understand how a moment of madness, brought on by alcohol or drugs, can ruin a person's life, explaining how he lost his sight. For many years, the charity also organised long weekends away, combining the sighted members of the Somerville Club

in Bishopston with the poorly sighted members of Avon Sports and Leisure for the Visually Impaired. Money has been raised by raffles, dances, dinners, Elvis evenings and poetry readings. Dan has fundraised by abseiling down the Avon Gorge, off-road driving, flying a glider and scuba diving. Coronavirus has made fundraising difficult in 2020 so Dan has changed directions and now, with the help of Amazon self publishing, is publishing books to raise money for his charity. The first one came out a few months ago, titled The Penultimate Sacrifice, about recurring dreams. The second book, The Unseeing Prince: and other Fairy Tales is written by Dan and his mother.

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February, 2021

n NEWS

Martial arts expert gets British Empire Medal

SHARON Gill, a kick-boxing world champion and Martial Arts instructor, based on Gloucester Road, is being awarded a British Empire Medal in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List because of the positive impact she has made in her field and to her community. Sharon has made significant contributions to the field of British Martial Arts on the world stage, and has made a difference to the lives of hundreds of children and adults under her supervision over the last twentyplus years. A world kickboxing champion, Sharon has been representing Great Britain in global martial arts events for over twenty years. She is a British Kung Fu Association Guardian (5th Degree Black Belt), and she is known worldwide in the kickboxing community as a woman who excels in her sport and who is famous for her generosity, fair

play and sportsmanship. “I am absolutely honoured and overwhelmed to be awarded a BEM in the 2020 Queens awards,” says Sharon. “Winning World Championships is an amazing feeling but to be awarded with this achievement is the best thing that’s ever happened to me.” Sharon is the co-founder and co-owner of her own business, GB Fit, a Bristol-based martial arts club that tailors its programs for people of all ages and abilities, from the Little Dragons Club (for 4-8 years old) to people past retirement age. Sharon and GB Fit also work with local primary schools, providing workshops and events that focus more on teamwork and achieving personal goals to gain selfconfidence. As well as running several classes a week from her Bishopston gym, Sharon also works tirelessly, giving up incredible amounts of her free

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time to coach, unpaid, in the evenings and weekends, and to give extra training sessions and to coach her students at kickboxing tournaments around the country and abroad. Her brilliant coaching has paid off, and her students regularly win international tournaments. Among the many titles her students have won, she is coaching two current European and the current World champions. She is also a coach for Team GB, which currently receives no national funding, so she frequently fundraises in the local community to give her students the chance to compete because she believes that talent and hard work should be rewarded, and that a lack of funds shouldn’t be a barrier for her students to compete. Sharon often pays out of her own pockets for new equipment, tournament fees and travel costs for her students who cannot always afford it.

She is a fantastic motivator, and instils discipline and respect in the children she teaches. She has turned around the lives of several troubled youngsters, giving them self-confidence and an activity to put their energy into, instead of hanging out on the streets and getting into trouble.

Email: news@henleazeandwestburyvoice.co.uk

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February, 2021

n NEWS THE developer of 99 Devonshire Road, the plot of land of a Former Hall, submitted a new planning application 20/05826/X - in December to Bristol City Council. The applicant, Mr Nick Bracey of Rowan 236 Ltd, wants to improve the bathroom and bedroom accommodation at the second floor level and insert rear dormer windows. Planning permission for six flats was given in 2008. However, construction on the building didn’t begin until 2014 and then quickly stalled. A roof was never put on the property which has since been open to the elements. It has remained unfinished, and is regarded as an eyesore in Westbury Park. Local councillors have made strenuous efforts to secure improvements to the site but to no avail. Comments expressed reflect local frustration at the state of the site which, although fenced off for security reasons, has been used to fly-tip rubbish. Some comments even refer to signs of vermin. While few people object to the amendment to the planning application, many suggest that the Planning Department issue a Completion

New planning application for Westbury Park eyesore

Residents protesting outside the unfinished building in 2017 Notice ensuring that the development is finally finished. Commenting on behalf of Westbury Park Community Association, which has campaigned for the last four years to secure the completion of development on this site, Kevin Chigley stated: “The application is minor and uncontentious in itself but any application made on the 99 Devonshire Road scheme raises questions about the future of the site given the fact that there seems no prospect of the development being completed under the current ownership. “We are left with an unsightly and potentially dangerous building shell open to the elements - a building shell that may well have to be demolished

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as it has been left open to the elements for almost five years. If the current application does

represent a move on the part of the owner to resurrect the scheme that would be good news. However, given that to date the owner has shown no interest in either completing the development or, to our knowledge, selling the site to another party (despite an offer believed to exceed the project's book value) we fear that the current impasse will continue. “In these circumstances we believe that the only way forward is for the City Council to use its Completion Notice powers requiring the developer to complete the scheme within a given time scale or relinquish the permission.” The final date to take part in the consultation is Thursday 28 January.

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n NEWS

February, 2021

Lib Dems choose scientist to run against Marvin Rees

ALL GARDENS

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THE Liberal Democrats have announced their new candidate for the Bristol mayoral elections. Dr Caroline Gooch replaces Mary Page, who dropped out of the mayoral race for personal reasons late last year. Still flying the flag for the Bristol Lib Dems’ “scrap the mayor” campaign, Dr Gooch will take on the incumbent, Labour’s Marvin Rees, at the ballot box later this year. The medical science consultant will also be up against the Greens’ candidate Sandy Hore-Ruthven in the elections, which are still planned for May 6 despite concerns about the coronavirus pandemic. The Conservative group is yet to announce their replacement after former candidate Samuel Williams withdrew from the contest in order to run for the

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Mayor of the West of England instead. Speaking about her selection, Caroline said: “I’m very pleased to take on the Liberal Democrat candidacy for Bristol mayor. “Abolishing the ‘spare mayor’ would be a huge step forward for democracy. The role is not needed now that we have the Weca ‘metro mayor’.” Dr Gooch said the role of Bristol mayor carries “too much power” and enables the views of local councillors to be overridden. “The office of mayor is costing Bristol council tax payers far too much money – money which is desperately needed elsewhere,” she added. Dr Gooch is also the Lib Dems’ candidate for Westburyon-Trym and Henleaze in the Bristol City Council elections.

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February, 2021

n NEWS

E-scooter trial expands to Bristol suburbs FOLLOWING the successful launch of the West of England Combined Authority’s e-scooter trial in October the operating area for e-scooters has been expanded in Bristol and Bath. The expansion will allow people to reach new destinations by e-scooter beyond the city centre including Bishopston, St Werburghs, St Andrews and Redland. It comes as e-scooter operator Voi announced that the Voi-4-Heroes programme is to be reintroduced during the new lockdown period. The scheme gives free rides to NHS workers, emergency service personnel and the armed forces offering an alternative way to access essential work. The 12-month trial introduced 100 rental e-scooters in central Bristol and 50 scooters in central Bath. In Bristol there have been over 50,000 rides taken by over 14,000 unique riders with over 127,000 km travelled since the launch. To service the new expanded areas the numbers of scooters will gradually increase to 450 in Bristol. E-scooters are available to unlock for £0.99 and cost 14p per minute. There are also a variety of subscriptions available, as well as discounted passes for students, key workers,

and those on low-incomes. To unlock an e-scooter, riders can download the Voi app, (available on iOS and Android) must be 18 years old or over and have a valid UK driving licence (full or provisional). There is also a second scheme which is also run by Voi, where people hire a scooter

for longer periods of time and use the scooter as if it were their own vehicle. This scheme will be active from 18 January with limited numbers and will cover the entirety of the WECA area which includes all of the area covered by Bristol City Council, except again in parks and certain roads such as Motorways. Only hire scooters are legal anywhere public, and so commuting with private e-scooters isn’t allowed. The police have seized and destroyed some illegal private scooters. Richard Corbett, regional general manager of UK, Ireland and Benelux for Voi, said: “The trial has been really well received and we are delighted to be expanding our operational area to meet the growing demand for this socially distanced mode of transport. As more residents, particularly key workers, use our e-scooters to go about their daily lives, the number of short car journeys will be reduced, leading to cuts in carbon emissions and congestion and ultimately creating better cities for living." To view the expanded boundary, visit the Voi app at: www.voiscooters.com/

A WARM WELCOME AWAITS AT FIELD HOUSE NURSING HOME Field House in Horfield offers safe and nurturing care Whilst we are taking care to ensure distancing, residents are still enjoying daily activities, and access to our beautiful gardens. We also have the technology to keep our residents in ‘virtual’ touch with their families.

We also ensure: • Strict Infection Control measures approved by Public Health England are fully implemented • Care staff wear PPE at all times and we have ensured a high volume of supply

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February, 2021

n NEWS

Grant to improve facilities at RAFA club THE Royal Air Forces Association in Bristol has been awarded a grant from the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust. Almost £30,000 has been used to upgrade facilities at the branch headquarters in Westbury-on-Trym, as well as significant improvements to access for its members and the wider veteran community. Branch chairman Tony Peters said: “When the works are completed and we can all meet again, we will be proud to showcase our fantastic branch club. “Two years ago, we started our popular veterans’ lunches, with this grant we can make sure

that these will continue through improved access and give our veterans a much-needed place to socialise together, reminisce and have fun! “We also look forward to sharing our facilities with the armed forces family and the wider community for national and local events, festivities and as a place for local businesses and groups to meet, to hold conferences, training and for community needs such as parties.” Since March 2020 the branch and club have been unable to function as usual, but once the pandemic has abated, committee members look forward to

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welcoming the community back through the doors. Tony added: “Both the branch and branch club committees have been working hard behind the scenes since Covid hit, meeting virtually and working with contractors when permissible.

We are immensely grateful to the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust who have given the grant and to those loyal members who have continued their membership during this difficult time and without them, we wouldn’t be able to function.”

Email: news@henleazeandwestburyvoice.co.uk

n NEWS

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February, 2021

Laptop donations tackle digital divide LOCAL charity DigiLocal has teamed up with staff from Avon Fire & Rescue Service (AF&RS) to help tackle Bristol’s digital poverty crisis. Following the announcement of a third lockdown, and with pupils told to continue learning from home, the stark reality is that nearly 12% of young people don’t have access to the internet. It may be that the home computer is used by an older child in the household or a parent who needs it to work. A lack of access to a computer makes learning from home a near impossible task with many young people not having access to a laptop or similar device which not only impacts their learning but could also lead to them falling behind with their school work, affecting their future. Many individual schools have initiated a drive to provide laptops to pupils and since partnering with DigiLocal, staff from AF&RS have successfully coordinated the donation of over 350 laptops. DigiLocal is a Bristol based charity who support the education of young people by giving them access to technology. The charity also hosts free tech clubs for young people across the community. Vaughan Jenkins, head of transformation

for AF&RS, who has been co-ordinating the initiative, said: “I would like to offer my personal thanks to those who have given so generously and who’ve donated laptops to those who are digitally excluded. As a public service being able to assist in the donation of over 350 laptops so far to DigiLocal ensuring that members of our communities can access the technology they need to be able to continue to learn from home is something to be proud of.

“The initiative wouldn’t have been possible without the generosity shown by our communities and the hard work demonstrated by our staff who’ve been working tirelessly to ensure that the laptops reach the charity with no delays. We believe these laptops will make a huge difference to those who require them and we are thrilled to be able to support DigiLocal in trying to minimise the impact of digital poverty.” If you would like to donate a laptop please visit https://digilocal.org.uk/laptopdonations/ to fill out a donation form before dropping it off at Southmead fire station. Any working Windows laptop with its power cable is suitable. If it has a webcam, it can usually be re-purposed for supporting a young person’s education. How to donate: You can donate your laptop following the COVID-safe procedure below: • Please ensure the laptop is fully turned off (not in sleep mode) • Place the laptop in a clear plastic bag. • Place the laptop at the doorstep of the station and ring the bell / knock on the door • Wait two meters from the door until the door is answered and the donation taken inside.

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February, 2021

n EDUCATION Teenager Erin Botten looks at how students are coping with a very different university experience from the one they had imagined WITH the first term drawing to a close and the second getting under way, the students of 2020-21 have gained an insight into what it means to start university during a global pandemic. Long gone is the perception that university is a place to let loose away from your parents’ gaze. Instead of living it up and balling on a budget as previous cohorts have, this year’s new arrivals were faced with a much more bitter reality. The usual challenges of navigating newfound independence as well as a new city came coupled with the immense risk of infection, forcing many to isolate alone. This time last year, thousands were applying for university. The rumours of a virus were dismissed, and students were beginning to anticipate an exciting year ahead.

Stuck in with five flatmates and a few coloured lights

For me, I was looking forward to meeting new people and starting the next phase of my life. To many, university meant freedom and an independence that they'd

never had before. However, upon arrival, it was realised that these freedoms would be stripped away. Instead of attending lectures in grand halls listening to new ideas,

students found themselves sitting in cramped bedrooms staring at screens. The imagined array of people and partying students quickly whittled down to five flatmates and a few coloured lights - acting as the only company for the majority of the semester. And, to top it off, many universities employed security to regulate students’ activities, preventing them from entering the buildings they’d paid to be at and enforcing the government’s Covid laws. As one Cardiff student put it, “It felt like I was treated as a child instead of an adult.” This was a huge blow for new students. They were left to their own devices, expected to educate themselves, resulting in large numbers feeling overloaded and isolated. Despite these challenges,

Life changing Get in touch with us to discover all that we can offer your child Call Hollie Matthews on 0117 933 9885 To advertise, contact Emma on 0117 908 2121 Or 07715 770448. Email: sales@henleazeandwestburyvoice.co.uk

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February, 2021

many universities have tried to emulate the uni experience with online engagements. As one Students' Union explains: “We’ve organised a Lockdown 2.0 online event schedule, including over 40 online events. Also, we created a Lockdown Buddy Scheme to help combat loneliness and create friendships.” Support initiatives like these have gained a lot of praise from students, particularly in Worcestershire and Gloucestershire, and are definitely helping combat the negative side effects of attending university right now. Life is a little easier for second and final year students, it seems. Having already built up friendships in the previous years, as well as typically living off-campus, these students are far less restricted than the newcomers. Although, for them took being confined to their rooms with online learning has been hard to adjust to. Like first-years, many struggle to grasp the teaching online or feel able to ask questions. Teaching is distant and impersonal. Additionally,

over Zoom, it’s harder to meet or chat with classmates, adding to the sense of isolation. This is the case for almost every university it seems, until you look at Oxford. Oxford seems to have taken a different approach to the pandemic. It’s already wellknown that Oxford recruits highly academic students and it is a privilege to go there. Yet, throughout this pandemic, Oxford students have still had access to social engagements organised and paid for by the University that other universities cannot afford. Talking to a final year student, she revealed: “I haven’t been able to see my whole friendship group, apart from at formals.” In addition to these outdoor formals that Oxford has hosted, the university paid for mixers with pizza provided for student households - a stark contrast to Manchester’s university experience. There, students found themselves caged in their accommodation unexpectedly, inevitably leading to student protests about the conditions. Overall, this year more than any has made students question the

£9,250 a year price tag that comes with attending university, along with the hefty accommodation fees. Universities are currently still in dispute over how much of these fees should be refunded, which has only added to the stress of students’ families. Knowing that you’re paying thousands for a partly self-taught degree whilst reaping few of the social benefits has been frustrating.

Those, like me, who deferred cling to the hope that the freedoms of the past will return in time for September, dreading the conditions that this year's cohort faced. However, as the vaccine rollouts commence, there’s still time to regain the university life that so many had hoped for. Until normality begins to resurface, it’s up to students to adapt to the new digital university experience.

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n EDUCATION

RGS appeals for laptop donations A LOCAL school is asking parents if they have any laptops they no longer use that can be donated for pupils who need them for home-schooling. Explaining the urgent need for the equipment in a letter sent to parents of Redland Green School, Sarah Baker, CEO of the Gatehouse Green Learning Trust, said: “The Department for Education are supplying some additional laptops to schools for children who have no access to a personal laptop or digital device at home. “Despite being provided with around 100 laptops from the DfE, we are still short by around 70, meaning that many of our disadvantaged students who do not qualify under this scheme are still struggling to access remote learning during this period. “The purpose of this message

is to ask if you have any unused/ unwanted laptops that you could donate to us for these students. We have access to a Government scheme that is able to cheaply convert laptops to Chromebooks and which would mean that these laptops could be reconditioned and distributed to those students who desperately need them.” The specification is any Windows or Mac based laptop that is no older than six years old, ideally in full working order and comes complete with a charger. If you do have anything that you are willing to donate to the trust for distribution to young people in its need in its five schools , please get in touch by emailing laptopdonations@gglt. co.uk

BRISTOL STEINER SCHOOL Independent Day School for Boys and Girls

February, 2021

Youth teams offer free support for vulnerable WITH schools shut and opportunities to socialise minimised, the mental health and wellbeing of young people is suffering. The good news is that youth workers at Creative Youth Network and their partners in Bristol and South Gloucestershire continue to provide essential support for children and young people, and particularly the most vulnerable. Sandy Hore Ruthven, chief executive of Creative Youth Network, says: “At this difficult time it’s crucial that our youth workers are continuing to offer one to one support and small group work for 11-19 year olds online and face-to-face. We cannot leave young people to fall through the net, and this generation is facing an unprecedented crisis.” Kate Gough, head of Bristol youth services for Creative Youth Network, advises those who are concerned to get in touch: “Parents and teachers know best who the young people who need support are. Our doors are open, and we are urging you to refer young people to get the support they need from youth workers. We will work with families to identify the best way to help each individual young person, whether online, over the phone or face to face. “We provide information on spotting the signs that a young person could benefit from a youth worker, so we ask you to get in touch with us as soon as you can. “We urge you to think of the young people in your life who are isolated, who are showing mental health concerns, who need guidance to make healthy life choices, or who are facing difficulty with unemployment. We are here for them.” You can refer a young person to Creative Youth Network online or on 0117 947 7948.

S T B O N AV E N T U R E ’ S CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL Striving to be the best we can, guided by the light of Christ

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2021

New Beginnings at Cliion High

Our Head of School, Mr Maahew Bennee, is pleased to share the following exciing new developments for Cliion High School in 2021... • Now acceppng 15 free hours in our Nursery Pre-School and Receppon •

• Brand new locaaon and faciliies for Receppon now open • • Junior School STEM Lab and new IT faciliies opening Summer 2021 • • iPads for all Year 7 pupils from September 2021 • Sports Science Lab now open • •Ab brand new, Sixth Form Centre on Cliion Park, opening September 2021 •

There is no beeer me to start your ‘New Beginning’ at Cliion High School Contact us today for more informaaon or to book a virtual private tour: wwww.cliionhigh.co.uk | admissions@cliionhigh.co.uk | 0117 933 9087

n NEWS A BRISTOL-based charity that builds educational and health facilities in Nepal is celebrating 30 years since it funded and built its first school. Pahar Trust Nepal (PTN) is marking the occasion with a year-long campaign – ’30 For 30’ – that will help 30 schools improve their teaching provision for pre-primary school children aged one to five years old. Some of the schools it is supporting will require a complete refurbishment of the classroom, whilst others have the basics but are lacking in critical resources, such as stationery and educational toys and books. The fundraising target is £50,000 which would make significant improvements in all 30 schools. Since it was founded, PTN has delivered 248 projects, building and renovating 159 schools, 51 libraries and 38 other essential facilities such as health centres and toilets. Over 40,000 students have benefited from its work. Bristol schools who are twinned with projects in Nepal include Westbury-on-Trym C of E Academy and Bristol Free

henleaze&westburyvoice

February, 2021

Charity launches campaign to support early learning in Nepal

Alan Sweetman visiting projects in Nepal School. Executive Director Alan Sweetman said: “Supporting education at this early stage in a child’s life is critical. Brain development in early years is rapid and quality pre-primary education has wide reaching positive impacts on children’s attainment and development.

Children who attend pre-primary education are more likely to stay in school and achieve minimum reading and mathematics competencies. “It also supports community development and economic growth as it enables mothers and other caregivers the opportunity to work and increase earnings while the children are in school. “Nepal, like the rest of the world, has been hit hard by the pandemic. Thankfully, we have been able to keep most of our projects on track due to the hard work of our in-country team. As with the rest of the world, Nepal has required lockdowns to control the spread of the virus and, although schools have begun to re-open in recent months many students have missed out on valuable education." The ’30 For 30’ campaign has attracted a number of high profile ambassadors, including Bristol-born anatomist, author

and broadcaster Professor Alice Roberts who is now Professor of Public Engagement at the University of Birmingham, and the best-selling author, photographer and producer Levison Wood, who has worked and travelled in over 100 countries, including Nepal. While people are being encouraged to fundraise all year round, the campaign will be running three key activities, kicking off with Freestyle February where supporters can complete 30 things throughout the month, from walks round the park to baking and selling 30 cakes. One supporter is running 30 half marathons in 30 weeks. Later in the year there will be a ‘Nepali Night In’ with specially created Nepalese recipes and a Tiffin Day, based on the simple tiffin lunches children take to school in Nepal. For an idea of how donations could help: • £20 can provide a bag and educational materials for a student • £100 could repaint a classroom • £500 could provide critical resources such as stationery, books and educational toys • £1,200 could provide new flooring, furniture and a whiteboard • £3,000 could provide the complete refurbishment of an existing room. For further information please visit www.pahar-trust. org

Care home bid goes to appeal AN appeal has been lodged against Bristol City Council's refusal of planning permission to change the use of 7 Belvedere Road from flats to a 17-bed care home extension. The application from Meadowcare Homes was refused in June 2020 on several grounds – an unacceptable increase in parking, an overconcentration of residential institutions / care homes in Belvedere Road and harm to local living conditions. The Government’s Planning Inspectorate has invited people to comments on the appeal by 27 January. The Inspector will also consider all representations made at the planning application stage. The consultants for the appellant have submitted a 22-page “Grounds of Appeal and Statement of Case” which counter argues each of the City Council’s reasons for refusal. To make a comment go to https://acp.planninginspectorate. gov.uk/Casesearch.aspx and type in the last seven characters of the Appeal Ref APP/Z0116/W/20/3263935.

To advertise, contact Emma on 0117 908 2121 Or 07715 770448. Email: sales@henleazeandwestburyvoice.co.uk

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February, 2021

n NEWS

New move to transform transport THE West of England Combined Authority (WECA) has announced the next steps for its plan to transform the region’s transport network to meet the needs of the growing population. With 1.1 million residents, the West of England’s population is growing at a faster rate than other regions and this is putting a strain on the transport network. WECA has invested £1.5m to identify options for mass transit, a high capacity transport network that could be made up of several different types of transport. Over the next few months route options will be developed across Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire that have the potential to connect the highest volumes of people, city and town centres and employment hubs. Routes will connect with existing

and planned bus and rail services bringing benefits to people across the region. West of England Mayor Tim Bowles said: “This is a once-in-alifetime opportunity to transform the way people travel around our region, so that people can live, get to jobs and education right across the West of England and not have to rely on cars. That will cut congestion, improve air quality and cut our carbon emissions so that as we recover from the pandemic, we build back better. “Over the next few months we will be talking to communities and businesses to make sure that our plans meet the needs of the people who live and work here in the West of England. Mass transit is part of our ambitious plans to get our region moving and deliver a better connected and greener future.” A variety of options are being

assessed to understand which technologies might work best. Meanwhile engagement will begin with communities and businesses to make sure that a mass transit system meets current and future needs. The mass transit programme is being led by the West of England Combined Authority in partnership with Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire councils. Marvin Rees, Mayor of Bristol, said: “This exciting project will transform the transport network in the region and contribute to our plans to build back an inclusive and sustainable economy. Despite the pandemic and the changes to the way people travel, we must look ahead to tackling the challenges of air pollution, traffic congestion and climate change while planning for population

growth in the city region. “We are ambitious about delivering a world-class public transport network which will better connect people to employment opportunities as well as shopping and leisure facilities. An investment of this scale in our future will help us rebuild from the coronavirus crisis by generating jobs, developing local supply chains and a low carbon transport system.” This is the early stage of the project to understand what mass transit might look like, how much it would cost and consider what is the most appropriate mass transit technology for the region. Following this early work, a public consultation will be held in summer 2021. For more information on the mass transit project visit: https://www.westofengland-ca. gov.uk/mass-transit-project/

Bristol books, maps and related ephemera from a local collector. These included items purchased from the important residual dispersal of the effects G.E. Weare, last sold by auction in 1912 Fine Art Auctioneers & Valuers Our friendly and experienced team continue working throughout Lockdown, offering a full range of services, including: •

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Pantos, plays and pets. Dementia care at Trymview Hall. The team at Care UK’s Trymview Hall care home in Southmead does everything they can to make each day special for residents living with dementia. They spend one-to-one time with residents, getting to know them so they can organise meaningful activities and experiences. Gordon, who is living with dementia, narrated the panto. Having tailored activities has made the difference in helping this retired teacher to settle at the home. He particularly loves the reading group where he and fellow residents read plays and poems. Gordon’s son says Trymview Hall “is excellent in all areas. I can relax knowing he is in good hands”.

At Christmas, residents and colleagues formed an activities committee. Jasmin, Lifestyle Coordinator, explains, “I wrote a panto and residents acted in it or helped behind the scenes. We had so much planned.”

Mary was unsettled when she first moved to the home. She can struggle to express her feelings, so the team gives her plenty of time and support to talk. Learning that she’s a dog lover, the team trialled the use of a toy dementia dog to help calm her – it’s proved such a success that Mary now has her own. It goes everywhere with her. Happier, and more confident, Mary now gets involved in home life. Her son says, “I’m very happy to hear about Mum joining in more activities and being able to ‘see’ her on zoom at the moment means a lot to us” If you’d like to know more about quality dementia care at Trymview Hall, please call Evonne Burch on 01179 114651 or email Evonne.burch@careuk.com Trymview Hall care home, Southmead, Bristol BS10 5DW careuk.com/trymview-hall

henleaze&westburyvoice

February, 2021

n NEWS

Change of date for Window Wanderland BS9 THE organisers of Window Wanderland BS9 have decided to move their February event to 12-15 March. In a statement they said: “This was a difficult decision to make, because we know how much people need cheering up at the moment. However, our priority is to keep people safe and well. “In light of Professor Chris Whitty's comments this week, we feel that February would not be the right time for a BS9 event. In the past, our events have been really well attended, with lots of people out wandering, looking at windows and chatting. We desperately want to be able to do all of that again soon, but February is just too early. Obviously, you can still put pictures and displays up whenever you want, just like so many of you did in the first lockdown. Your rainbows and messages of thanks to key workers are beautiful on any day of the year. “Our next official event will be 12-15 March. It's five weeks later than originally planned, but hopefully that's five more weeks of vulnerable people being vaccinated and life getting closer to normal. The new date is after half-term, so families can create their window display as a half-term activity if they want. “If the situation has not improved by the end of February, then we will have to make another difficult decision. We will announce any changes by 28 February.” So far, 47 properties have signed up to take part in the event there’s room for plenty more to join in the fun. To register please follow the link: https://bs9windowwanderland.wixsite.com/.../bs9window...

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n ADVERTISING FEATURE

Staying open on Westbury High Street LOCAL Wills experts Simpson Solicitors remain OPEN on the High Street in Westbury-on-Trym (opposite Lloyds bank) during the lockdown to help readers of Henleaze and Westbury Voice. The Government have identified the importance of having up to date Wills and Powers of Attorney in place during the COVID pandemic. The team at Simpson Solicitors have again been designated as key workers. So please support this local service and “Shop Local”. Solicitor, John Baden-Daintree says “If you became seriously ill or died, having Powers of Attorney and a Will in place is the only way you can make sure your wishes are followed. Not having them in place can cause great difficulty to your family.”

To find how they can help you or members of your family, just telephone 0117 959 2266 or pop into Simpson Solicitors to arrange a FREE Review Meeting with a friendly advisor. They will take as long as you need to guide you. They provide a COVID safe environment and you can choose your preferred way to get the ball rolling: ● Telephone Meeting ● Zoom Video Meeting (they can help you set this up)

● In person at your home ● In person at their offices If you then go ahead our readers will be offered 20% OFF their already competitive charges. Their No Hidden Costs service includes amendments and a supported Signing Meeting as well as free storage of your documents. This local, award winning service is designed to give you the peace of mind that everything has been prepared properly and is legally valid.

John and Michelle Baden-Daintree of Simpson Solicitors, 14 High Street, Westbury-on-Trym

0117 959 2266 www.simpsonsolicitors.com jbd@simpsonslawuk.com mbd@simpsonslawuk.com

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BOOK YOUR FREE MEETING: Call 0117 959 2266 OR message@simpsonslawuk.com OR Michelle at Simpson Solicitors. Call in to see us at 14 High Street, Westbury-on-Trym. If getting to us is difficult our FREE home visit service covers Coombe Dingle, Filton, Henbury, Henleaze, Horfield, Redland, Sea Mills, Sneyd Park, Stoke Bishop, Westbury-on Trym and surrounding areas.

To advertise, contact Emma on 0117 908 2121 Or 07715 770448. Email: sales@henleazeandwestburyvoice.co.uk

February, 2021

n NEWS

Quartet foundation has new leader QUARTET Community Foundation has appointed a new CEO. Suzanne Rolt joins with over a decade of experience in charity leadership, having led St George’s Bristol as Director and CEO since 2006. Suzanne joins Quartet Community Foundation at a time when it is on course for another record-breaking year of grantmaking in Bristol, B&NES, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. Sue Mountstevens, Quartet Community Foundation’s Chair of Trustees, said: “The Trustees of Quartet Community Foundation and I are delighted that Suzanne Rolt will be joining us to lead the organisation. Thanks to our committed supporters Quartet is in a strong position to help local charitable organisations take action throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. With Suzanne’s Rolt’s leadership experience, philanthropy knowledge and energy we’ll be able to do more to help with the Covid response and recovery. “We are immensely grateful to Ronnie Brown, our Interim CEO who stepped up to lead the organisation. Quartet’s growth in recent years has been remarkable, and Ronnie will continue this good work in his role as Philanthropy Director when Suzanne

joins us in April.” Suzanne Rolt, who joins Quartet in April, said: “I’ve been privileged to have my dream job, running one of the country’s finest halls, meeting the world’s greatest musicians, and having the best seat in the house for

thousands of brilliant and unforgettable concerts. Now I have an opportunity to direct my passion and experience towards leading Quartet, an organisation dedicated to improving people’s lives and bringing about positive change.” In recognition of her achievements, Suzanne Rolt was awarded the ABO/Classical Music Awards UK Concert Hall Manager of the Year in 2019. In 2020 Suzanne was invited to write a weekly newspaper diary for The Telegraph, charting the challenges of running a cultural organisation during the Covid pandemic. She is a Director of the British Association of Concert Halls, Chair of Bristol Cultural Development Partnership/ Festival of Ideas and a Trustee of Orchestras Live. Working with 300 philanthropists and hundreds more donors Quartet Community Foundation awards around a thousand grants a year. Since March 2020 it has awarded more than £2m in Covid-related grants to local charitable organisations across the West of England. Since 1987 it has built an endowment worth over £54m which is invested as a permanent source of financial support for local community projects.

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WHILE most of us support a number of charities in our lifetime, it is perhaps not surprising that a smaller number choose to remember a charity in their Will. Clearly the priority for most is to provide for a surviving spouse or children, or to ensure that the family wealth can be passed on to beneﬁt the next generation. However, government policy is clearly to encourage giving to charity, and a recent development in the law is intended to promote gifts to charity being made by Will. This change may also, on occasion, serve to save Inheritance Tax, or even to create a gift which literally pays for itself.

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Where somebody dies after 6 April 2012 the rate of Inheritance Tax applied to the estate can be reduced from 40 % to 36 % (in other words by 10 %), provided that at least 10 % of the estate passes to charity. Clearly it is not possible to determine in advance exactly what value the assets you leave by Will will have on your death for Inheritance Tax purposes, or what 10 % of the total value

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If planning for inheritance tax is right for you our follow us on Twitter @bishopstonvoice SMYTH E: news@bishopstonvoice.co.uk of AMD purposes. experienced specialist solicitors can help Solicitors considers the tax Consideration of the Inheritance implications when dealing with the Tax liability does not end once the Telephone 0117 9621205 administration of an estate. Grant of Probate has been issued. If When applying for a Grant of further assets or liabilities come to or e-mail probate@amdsolicitors.com Probate, the Personal Representatives light or there is any other change in of an estate must complete and the value of the estate for Inheritance To advertise, contact Emma on 0117 908 2121 Or 07715 770448. Got News? Call Rebecca On 07912 484405. Email: emma@bishopstonvoice.co.uk submit an Inheritance Tax form giving Tax purposes, these may need details of all assets and liabilities of to be disclosed to HM Revenue an estate. This may need to include and Customs. There may also be details of lifetime gifts made by the additional reliefs to consider. deceased or any interests in trusts Inheritance Tax is not the only will be. However Willconsider can be when for administering the distribution of the estate, members of the Society of Trust which the deceased may have had. taxa to worded to provide that a gift of and the estate can then be and Estate Practitioners, the Personal Representatives have a duty an estate. If an asset is sold during 10 % of the value of your estate divided as if the Will had been leading professional body in to make full enquiries to obtain the is given the course of the administration of at that time to a charity made in these terms. A Deed of this field. We offer a free initial necessary information to or complete an estate, be a could Capital charities of your choice. there The may Variation therefore provide consultation for new clients. effecttoofdo this willGains be that theliability rate thatthe 10 %Personal of the estate is to pass the form correctly and failure Tax on For advice on administration of Inheritance payable on theIt may to a be chosen of estates, trusts, wills, powers so may result in interest having to be Tax Representatives. that,charity with or charities, whole estate is reduced from 40 making the estate as a whole of attorney and all private client paid on tax paid late or even careful planning and % toin 36tax %. eligibledepending for the reduced rate of issues, contact Shelley Faulkner, penalties. on the circumstances, it is possible In same circumstances, it Inheritance Tax. Florence Pearce and the other Due to current circumstances to mitigate has been calculated that this or even eliminate this members of the team on 0117 This change in the law is reduction tax bill can serve and long delays with both HMRC andin theliability. 9621205, email probate@ clearly very good news both to leave the estate, even after amdsolicitors.com or call in the Probate Registry it is even more Any income received by and thepotentially for for charities, payment of the gift to charity, at 15 The Mall Clifton, or 100 important to get things right the first Personal Representatives in the some estates as well. However with a value as high as if the Henleaze Road Henleaze. By Shelley the detail of the application can time to avoid unnecessary interest or course of the administration is subject gift had not been made. Thus be complex. For example, the AMD Solicitors takes pride in penalties relating to lack of disclosure. to Income Tax and must be disclosed the gift can in some cases quite Faulkner, estate is divided into different sponsoring local, Bristol in a tax saving or maybasedprivate client matters, contact Brenda pay for to itself. Even when the literally Personal HM Revenue and‘components’ Customs by depending the thisonmay resultcharities and this year is very solicitor with correctly ascertain avoid adversepleased tax consequences for Smyth or one of her colleagues at Even wherePersonal a Will hasRepresentatives. not Representatives how the property will pass to to be supporting the been prepared in these terms, the person giving up his or her right AMD Solicitors 100 Henleaze Road, and disclose assets and liabilities in Sometimes beneficiaries may the benefi ciaries, in order to Bristol branch of the Alzheimer’s AMD Solicitors may be possible to take to benefit the estate. Bristol BS9 4JZ, Phone 0117 962 1205, % test from Society, the local branch of this the estate, mistakes can stillitbe made, decide to vary thecalculate terms whether of the the 10 advantage of this tax break. If has beenand met. the Taking specialist national charity which works email info@amdsolicitors.com or visit For further advice on the such as not claiming all allowances distribution estate the beneficiaries of the estateof the advice on the implications for to improve the quality of life ofour website www.amdsolicitors.com WHILE and most reliefs of us support administration of estates, Wills, available to reduce tax implications this particular need to circumstances be agree, itthe is possible to effectively of your is people affected by dementia in a number of charities in our Lasting Powers of Attorney and other amend Tax the terms of a Will within value of the estate for Inheritance considered. In sometherefore circumstances, essential. Great Britain. For full details of

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Reduced rate of Inheritance Tax Where somebody dies after 6 April 2012 the rate of Inheritance Tax applied to the estate can be reduced from 40 % to 36 % (in other words by 10 %), provided that at least 10 % of the estate passes to charity. Clearly it is not possible to determine in advance exactly what value the assets you leave by Will will have on your death for Inheritance Tax purposes, or what 10 % of the total value

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To advertise, contact Emma on 0117 908 2121 Or 07715 770448. Got News? Call Rebecca On 07912 484405. Email: emma@bishopstonvoice.co.uk

henleaze&westburyvoice

February, 2021

n NEWS

Free online dance classes for children TINY Toes Ballet, which holds children’s dance classes in Redland, Bedminster and Thornbury is offering all children free online classes to help support parents and teachers who are homeschooling due to lockdown. Its eight-week course of classes combines drama, dance, cookery and more, and is aimed at children aged seven and under. The Free Lockdown Programme provides online weekly activities including Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) activities, supported by downloadable educational resources for parents. Daisy Scott, who runs the Bristol Tiny Toes Ballet franchise, says she is delighted to be able to help keep the nation’s children learning through lockdown. “I have been running Tiny Toes Ballet Bristol for nearly four years and I really enjoy teaching the pupils and watching them grow in confidence, dance skill, and build friendships with their dance friends each week,” she says. “Dance on Zoom each week brightens my day up and keeps me going through lockdown number three. “Every week we’ll provide a learning through dance class, a learning through role play and drama class, and a practical learning activity, including arts and crafts and cooking classes from Cook Stars. “The resources will also come with a downloadable activity and a parental letter to explain the purpose of each weekly programme and which EYFS curriculum outcomes the activities will meet.”

Tiny Toes Ballet is the UK’s first pre-school ballet programme to be fully integrated with the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum. It was founded in Swansea in 2011 by Emma Morgan, an experienced primary school and ballet teacher, and has grown to have 14 franchises all over the UK. Children can attend from the age of six months to seven years. “Tiny Toes may be a dance class but it’s not all about demi plies,” says Emma. “We understand that the first years of life are a vital period for early brain development: 90% of a child's brain development happens

RNIB offers emotional support THE Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) launched emergency mental health sessions for local blind and partially sighted people in October. The sessions are completely free and offer people with sight loss the opportunity to speak to a counsellor for an hour over the phone about however they are feeling and any problems that are on their mind. It doesn’t have to be about their sight at all. Amanda Hawkins, specialist lead for counselling and wellbeing at the RNIB, says: “The situation is especially challenging for the more than two million people in the UK living with sight loss. Many have faced anxiety, sadness and even fear about the unique challenges they have experienced – such as problems social distancing, difficulty shopping without guidance and isolation from losing tactile contact with friends and family during lockdown. “We know that the next few months might be tough for many, so we want to remind you that RNIB is here to help. If you or someone you know could benefit from speaking to someone, please call our Helpline on 0303 123 9999. We can set up a chat within 36 hours and the service can be used as many times as needed.”

We're online too! Got News? Call 0117 9082121

before the age of five. Movement is the gateway for all learning during the first five years of life because sensory, motor and social development precede language and logic skills. Children learn by playing and doing. Dance, in particular, integrates kinaesthetic learning with understanding. We’re passionate about the value of our unique programme and wanted to use it to help as many teachers, parents and children as possible during lockdown.” To find out more see Free Lockdown Programme (tinytoesballet.co.uk)

Are you looking after someone? BRISTOL Older People’s Forum (BOPF) is carrying out a survey to identify the needs of people who are looking after someone else. This can mean many things from making a regular phone call, helping with housework, shopping or personal care, to fulltime round-the-clock care. If you regularly help someone else, whether you live with them or not, they would like to hear your views. The survey has been commissioned by Bristol City Council with a view to reshaping their services and support for people who are looking after others. The data and findings from the survey will be shared with BCC and BOPF will publish the survey results in their newsletter, on their website (https://bopf. org.uk) and via their Facebook page https://facebook.com/ Bristololderpeoplesforum. The questionnaire is anonymous – you do not need to enter any personal data - and it should take no more than 15 minutes to complete. The closing date for the survey is Friday 26 February.

www.henleazeandwestburyvoice.co.uk Email: news@henleazeandwestburyvoice.co.uk

henleaze&westburyvoice

February, 2021

n NEWS

UWE helps Aerospace museum STAFF, students and alumni from UWE Bristol have been working to support Aerospace Bristol through the pandemic, to ensure future generations can enjoy the aerospace museum. The museum, based in Filton, has seen a loss of vital visitor and event income due to the pandemic, leaving the future of the museum and preservation of Bristol’s aviation heritage, in real jeopardy. Teams from across the university have collaborated to support the museum in their plans for a safe reopening once measures are eased, providing 3D printed masks and visors for museum staff and volunteers, and supplying hand gel for visitors. Despite being closed to the public, the museum has continued to provide online educational activities and resources. The Engineering Design and Mathematics (EDM) department at UWE Bristol has

developed a range of flightthemed activities for people to enjoy from the comfort of their homes. The EDM department has also developed a suite of inspirational career films, designed to inspire and encourage careers in engineering. The films are a series of interviews with staff, students and alumni from UWE Bristol, sharing stories of their experiences and insights into studying engineering at the university. The department has also

developed an Aeroplane BoxEd for the education team at the museum, providing an engaging and interactive tool for use in future education sessions. Dr Lisa Brodie, Head of the Department of Engineering Mathematics and Design, and member of the Board of Trustees of Aerospace Bristol, said: “Aerospace Bristol tells the story of our region’s rich aviation heritage, celebrating the world class achievements of the aerospace industry in Bristol and the people who made it possible.

“UWE Bristol are committed in supporting the museum throughout these difficult times, to ensure they can continue to inspire the engineers of tomorrow.” Amy Seadon, Learning and Community Engagement Manager at Aerospace Bristol, said: "It has been incredibly beneficial for Aerospace Bristol to work with students, researchers and teaching staff from UWE Bristol. We'd like to say a huge thank you to UWE Bristol for all of their support throughout this challenging time. “The partnership perfectly blends the story of our aerospace history with the inspirational stories and input of the next generation of engineers. Though the museum unfortunately remains closed, we have created ‘At Home With Aerospace Bristol’ and shared an amazing range of resources for everyone to enjoy.”

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Are you ready to take on a new challenge by joining our established Community Rehabilitation Teams (CRTs) supporting the residents of Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire? Come and build a career within a NHS community healthcare provider with many development opportunities. We have both full and part-time flexible roles to meet the needs of your life. We have a variety of roles available, find out more on our webpage. Roles available: • Associate Support Worker, Band 2 £18,005 - £19,337 (pro rata) • Rehabilitation Support Worker, Band 3 £19,737 - £21,142 (pro rata) Location: roles available throughout Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset More details and to apply:

http://ow.ly/Av9l50D8gH3 Or you can use your mobile phone and this QR code to find out more: To advertise, contact Emma on 0117 908 2121 Or 07715 770448. Email: sales@henleazeandwestburyvoice.co.uk

henleaze&westburyvoice

February, 2021

News and views from our city councillors Liz Radford

nleaze) (Westbury-on-Trym & He 99 Devonshire Rd was processed A planning application ber, requesting em Dec in l nci Cou the by r windows at the me dor add to sion permis to improve the and ties per rear of the pro ommodation acc m roo bathroom and bed At the time of el. lev r floo ond sec the on been over 80 public me writing, there have application, mainly this for de comments ma re has been no the rs about the many yea cern as to whether work at the site and con rk on in its current the property is safe to wo the Council to ing ask are nts state. Reside property is now the ure ens use itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s powers to r. nne completed in a timely ma ation Council Covid-19 inform regular updates ing vid pro are l The Counci restrictions, a, dat s viru on Bristol corona s etc. This business grants, service on their website information can be found

ov.uk/coronavirus/ at https://www.bristol.g and you can now o-k d-t nee ouwhat-y and advice tion rma info ir sign up to the emailed twice ally usu are newsletters, which a week. unteers Can Do Bristol need vol organisations r tne par and l The Counci eers to help the unt vol are still looking for those selfextremely vulnerable and ic, with tasks dem pan the ing dur g isolatin g, collecting lkin wa dog ng, ppi such as sho ne calls pho y ndl frie prescriptions and isolated. They for those who are feeling eers who speak particularly need volunt ali, Polish, Arabic, Som ge, gua Lan n British Sig e or Kurdish. nes Chi i, gal Urdu, Punjabi, Ben please sign p, hel to If you have some time k/activity/ co.u tol. bris ndo /ca ps:/ htt up at c19-winter

in council run offstreet car parks. It is proposed to increase most hourly charges from between 50p and ÂŁ3.50. All of the sites under review last had price increases between 2012 and 2017. E-scooter trial

l has been under The initial e-scooter tria understand it is we and r obe Oct e way sinc eme works by sch The r. ula proving very pop can pick up ple peo ere means of an app wh for a short period of it use and ter coo e-s an tral area of Bristol. time, but only in the cen expanded in be to due The trial area is include our Ward. February, but this will not Clifton and into of ts par into tch stre l It wil second phase this If ire. rsh ste uce South Glo Parking tariffs likely to be is re the , hly oot roll out runs sm t Meeting held on ever the how , rch As I write, at the Cabine Ma in a further expansion l be made as to been defined as January 26, a decision wil not e hav a in are sed the rea of inc its lim s will be whether parking charge yet. parking zone and the city centre controlled

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henleaze&westburyvoice

February, 2021

News and views from our city councillors Geoff Gollop (Westbury-on-Trym & Henleaze)

nce of tors have criticised the Council’s abse comthe over g” takin ion decis rmed “info this for pany. Sadly, I warned the Mayor of e to take more than three years, but he chos ey no notice. That £50m of taxpayers’ mon the for ces servi on t spen been have should most vulnerable in Bristol.

mmend • The Mayor’s budget proposals reco 3% ding inclu ase, incre Tax a 5% Council ssed for adult social care. This will be discu tiny on 4th February by the Resources Scru Conber. mem a am I h whic of ion, Commiss more tact me if you would like to receive information, or to view that meeting.

on the • We are awaiting further information on Colst er form (the ild rebu on Bristol Beac ol Heat Hall) and the business plan for Brist ProNetworks (the Council’s next Energy ey’ mon ‘save to plan a also is e Ther ject!). lowest by transferring 200 of the Council’s with paid staff, who provide the Council ol cleaning and security services, to Brist ils deta more give will I . pany Waste Com next month.

d there lean Air Zone (CAZ). We understan •C les in will be charges for driving some vehic ed brief be will s cillor Coun ol. Brist ral cent likely are s plan the and , uary in early Febr no to go to Cabinet on 26 February. I have print more details at the time of going to who but will provide an update to anyone contacts me. to have • The Bristol Energy disaster appears its five cost the Council at least £50m over audiyears in existence. Now, the Council’s

General Building

missed collections, to list just a few of the most recent cases.

Keeping in touch meetWe are holding our next ward zoom to go e pleas , uary Febr 9th on ing at 7pm in. The http://tiny.cc/WandHFeb21 to book http:// following meeting is on 2nd March ar21 ndHM tiny.cc/Wa

of ovid-19. It’s good to hear that some •C are our older neighbours and residents care to now being vaccinated. Please take stay safe. case• I am still receiving a steady flow of nce work. Broken paving stones at the entra ing in clean t Stree c, traffi , Park ord Canf to llers, Westbury Park, green bins, van dwe

that • Email me to receive our e-newsletter local with date to up you keep us helps matters. matter • Contact. If you need help on any il me ema cil, to do with Bristol City Coun uk or gov. stol. @bri ollop ey.g at Cllr.geoffr phone 903 9946.

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henleaze&westburyvoice

February, 2021

News and views from our city councillors Steve Smith (Westbury-on-Trym & Henleaze)

Van dwellers on the Downs The biggest issue in my inbox this month has by far been the increasing number of people living in vans around the Downs, particularly along the top of Parrys Lane. There has been a lot of concern that the Council is planning to create a permanent offi cial site there for van dwellers. As far as I know there is no plan to create a formal campsi te on the Downs, but it is certainly true tha t the Council has been very slow and relu ctant action to stop people from to take any living there. That means that a de facto cam psite has developed over time. This is not a simple issu e and there are no simple answers. The reasons that people are living in vans are var ied and like most

people I have sympathy for those who find themselves with no oth er option. My view is that the Council has a dut y towards people who are homeless, and that should extend to providing suitable sites for those who either choose or are forced to live in vehicles. The Downs is not a suitable site, and simply turning a blind eye and allo wing an encampment to develop there is not the answer. There are laws which giv e the Council powers to prevent people living in vehicles on a highway, and of cou rse there are parking restrictions on most of the affected roads. With the exception of a few officers on the ground who are doing the ir very best, the Council isn’t making any serious effort to enforce those rules at the moment. That isn’t fair for the majority who want to enjoy the Downs as the peaceful open space that they are intended to be. It seems that the Mayor has also had a lot of emails on this, bec ause over the last week he has for the first time shown some willingness to move. He has said that if the Downs Committee and local residents agree, the Council could change parking restrictions or look at a perma nent closure of the top of Parrys Lane. I rec ently joined the

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Stay in touch We have been holding reg ular zoom meetings throughout the pan demic for people to stay in touch with us, ask que concerns. The next meetin stions or raise gs will be on the 9th February (visit tiny.cc/ WandHFeb21 to sign up) and the 2nd Ma rch (tiny.cc/WandHMar21). Both start at 7pm and they usually last around 45 minutes to an hour. You can also contact me cllr.steve.smith@bristol.g by email on ov.uk, or phone on 07769 285266. I als o try to post regular updates on my Facebo ok page at fb.com/ CouncillorSteveSmith.

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February, 2021

FINANCE With Richard Higgs BA (hons) CFP FPFS Harold Stephens 50 High Street, Westbury on Trym, Bristol BS9 3DZ T: 0117 3636212 E: office@haroldstephens.co.uk

Taking your pension in 2021 or 2022? RETIREMENT is a huge milestone in any person’s life, both financially and emotionally. Mapping out your postretirement plan and what you want to achieve over the next phase of your life assists with the transition and promotes feelings of wellbeing. With the volatility happening in the markets (and world) currently, it is harder than ever to predict the income you will need now, in 10, 20, 30 years’ time let alone the pension portfolio that will be needed to fund this. When you have worked hard all your life, building your pension nest

egg, it is understandable you don’t necessarily want a reduced lifestyle. There are now many potential strategies for taking your pension – especially if you have built up a SIPP, personal or company pension arrangement. However, due to increased pension flexibilities in recent years the most popular strategy is to stay invested by switching to a ‘FlexiAccess’ pension plan and draw out cash as and when you need it. You may already have an idea in mind for how much you can afford to take now for your pot to last until you need it to. But what happens if there is

a market crash, if inflation soars, if you get a large cash windfall through inheritance or you decide to downsize? There are many things that can impact what you will be able to achieve with your retirement ‘pot’. In helping those clients, we consider all the options and scenarios and present to you regular on-going cashflow projections and investment reviews which effectively mapout your retirement to make sure you are always on track. It is an absolutely critical exercise to review your drawdown income and pension portfolio and make adjustments where necessary.

Therefore if you require retirement clarity, simplicity and planning in 2021, call 0117 363 6212 or email richard@ haroldstephens.co.uk or contact us through the website www. haroldstephens.co.uk to book your complimentary review. Harold Stephens provides friendly financial advice in the local community on a faceto-face basis in a welcoming location at 50, High Street, Westbury on Trym. The firm specialises in advising retired clients on savings, investments, Inheritance Tax and long-term care planning.

Harold Stephens was set up to help the retirees of BS9 who are serious about their financial future and want a truly local, independent and friendly service. We help our clients the old-fashioned way, on a face to face basis, in our lovely welcoming offices on Westbury on Trym High Street. At Harold Stephens, you’ll always see a friendly face. When you come into the office, you can relax, have a cup of tea and talk to us about your financial situation.

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50 High Street, Westbury on Trym, Bristol, BS9 3DZ Telephone: 0117 3636212 www.haroldstephens.co.uk To advertise, contact Emma on 0117 908 2121 Or 07715 770448. Email: sales@henleazeandwestburyvoice.co.uk

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February, 2021

n PHARMACY BLOG Jess Williams from Kellaway Pharmacy answers your Covid vaccine queries Are Covid-19 vaccines safe? The development and subsequent rollout of the Covid-19 vaccination programme have created much-needed optimism. However, with unsubstantiated claims of ill intent, pharma-company conspiracies and government deception; what is one to make of Covid-19 vaccine? Questioning, no matter how unpopular, is part of logical decision-making processes. Is it safe to have the Covid-19 vaccine and as was developed and approved so quickly? The secret of the Covid-19 vaccine sprint is the global collaborative working and focus of world-leading scientists, supported by unprecedented levels of funding – lots of money; £6bn spent by the UK government alone. China sharing details of the fully sequenced virus gene on January 10 2020 set off a race to develop testing processes and vaccines. This openness, coupled with the

ongoing sharing and scrutiny of the research process by the regulators, has helped to speed things up. Approval is by no means the end of the safety process. Every piece of emerging evidence and experience remains important and openly monitored. Is it true that the vaccine will modify my DNA? This is entirely false. The licensed Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine and other vaccine candidates use modified RNA (mRNA) technology. Unlike a standard vaccine, RNA vaccines work by introducing an mRNA sequence (the molecule which tells cells what to build) which is coded for a disease-specific antigen. Once produced within the body, the antigen is recognised by the immune system, preparing it to fight the real thing. The part of the SARS-CoV-2 virus (Covid-19) that has been coded to develop the vaccine is the easily recognisable spike proteins covering its surface. The mRNA cannot mix with your DNA. It does not alter our genetic code, and it does not cause unusual allergic reactions. As Dr Tom Frieden, American infectious disease and public health expert

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put it: ‘‘Think of this process as an email sent to your immune system that shows what the virus looks like, instructions to kill it, and then like a Snapchat message – it disappears. What about new mutations? Analysis of the new UK mutated variant has identified changes to the spike protein – the building blocks of our vaccines. No evidence suggests that any of the three leading vaccines will be made ineffective by this mutation, although this will continue to be monitored. How long after the vaccination are you protected, and do you really need multiple jab doses? It typically takes a few weeks for the body to build immunity after vaccination. It is, therefore, possible a person could be infected with the virus that causes Covid-19 just before or just after vaccination and gets sick. This is because the vaccine has not had enough time to provide protection. It is not unusual for vaccines to require multiple doses – like the Meningitis B vaccines we provide. Developmental research determines the time interval

0117 9246579 18 Kellaway Avenue, Westbury Park, Bristol, BS6 7XR between doses that will produce a sufficient immune response. The Covid-19 mass vaccination programme is now ongoing. I recently spent a lot of time in the Bristol Children’s hospital, a reminder that the most vulnerable are depending on us to protect them from this virus. Seeking answers from reputable sources and having open discussions without boxing anyone into binary choices is the only way we respect each other’s choices. Kellaway Pharmacy is part of the NHS, and ever ready to play our part and save lives.

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February, 2021

n MAYOR'S VIEW

Vaccinating Bristol

his time last year, we were starting to see the first cases in England of a virus that would transform how we live, work, and connect with one another. As the threat that Covid-19 posed to human life became clear, our communities mobilised to protect those most at risk and help people through the restrictions and lockdowns that were needed to get the virus under control. Alongside this, scientists and clinicians – including many at our city’s universities – got to work to try and understand the virus better, and ultimately work out how to stop it. Hope for the success of those efforts has sustained many of us over the last twelve months. And though we are once again experiencing a national lockdown to try and dampen down the spread of the virus, that hope is being realised through the approval and distribution of three different vaccines that can protect those who are most vulnerable to Covid-19 and grant them protection from this disease. As with so many aspects of Bristol’s response to coronavirus, I am humbled by the sheer scale of logistical effort and community mobilisation to roll out the vaccine across our city. From our hospitals and GP surgeries, contacting local residents who are at the top

of the priority groups, to the large vaccination centre at Ashton Gate – one of seven which opened across the country in January. As I write, over 3.3 million people in England have received the first dose of a vaccine, including almost a quarter of a million in our region. I pay tribute to the NHS staff, volunteers and city partners who have helped so many Bristolians get access to this vaccine, giving vital protection to some of those who are most vulnerable and exposed to Covid-19. The vaccine is being rolled out in stages, with those over 80 and front-line health and care staff among the first to receive the vaccine. While I understand that people will be keen to get themselves and their loved ones protected, the NHS have asked us all to be patient as it will still take some time before everyone gets an appointment. Please let the NHS concentrate on the huge task at hand, and don’t contact them to find out when you will be getting a vaccination. Be assured that you will be contacted when it is your turn. Sadly, we have received reports of scams in circulation. Bogus text messages are in circulation that claim to be from the NHS, telling people they are eligible for the vaccine and asking people to provide payment details

The Mayor’s View Each month Bristol mayor Marvin Rees shares his views with Henleaze & Westbury Voice to prove their eligibility. The NHS will never ask anyone for their bank details. Please be alert to scams like this, and speak to your family and friends if you’ve received anything you’re not sure about. In the meantime, it is vital that we all stick to the rules. By staying at home as asked, washing our hands, wearing face coverings and keeping distance from one another, we can save lives, protect the NHS, and ensure many more people are able to get the vaccine so that life can begin to return to normal.

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February, 2021

n FROM OUR MP

Time for action on digital poverty Your Voice in Parliament THIS third national lockdown has once again shown the power of working together to protect those most at risk during this pandemic, and it has also shown the importance of making our voices heard by Government. It’s my responsibility as your MP to make sure the Government understands we must leave no-one behind at this vital moment, and I’m grateful to everyone that has contacted me expressing concerns for your loved ones, schools and businesses. On January 20, I worked with teachers, former Ministers and Internet Providers to submit a bill to Parliament that extends an affordable broadband tariff to all households with a child eligible for Free School Meals. This bill is designed to solve the long-term issue of digital poverty experienced by far too many families. Teachers across Bristol have worked flat-out

to move the curriculum online. Now it’s time for the Government to make sure children can access their learning. Digital poverty won’t go away once schools re-open for all students, but simple steps like making sure that the internet is affordable to low-income families will help us tackle this problem in the long-term. I’ll keep pressing for more progress on this so that all children in the UK benefit from the promise of a digital Britain. Following the most recent free school meals scandal, I also pushed the Prime Minister to finally commit to a child poverty eradication strategy. I raised this issue last Autumn when we saw yet another update from the Chancellor ignoring the growth of child poverty in the UK. The food parcels offered by some providers in January were an insult to parents and children everywhere, and I’m glad the

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Government finally listened to parents, MPs and campaigners like Marcus Rashford by reinstating the voucher system. We need to tackle the long-term causes of poverty, especially in-work poverty, so that we can get past these lastminute interventions by the state to safeguard vulnerable children. When I questioned the Prime Minister at the Liaison Committee in January, he committed to reviewing my proposal for a crossparty commission dedicated to eradicating child poverty. This is a solvable problem and I hope my invitation to work together on a cross party basis is accepted. I’ve also continued to work on other national issues, from support for businesses and those excluded from Covid support to action on climate change, COP26 and holding the Government to account on issues such as post-Brexit trade issues and employment rights reform. Your Champion in Bristol We’re making excellent progress in vaccinating the most vulnerable people in Bristol. This progress, in combination with the efforts made by everyone to stay-at-home and reduce our social contacts during this third national lockdown, lights a clear path to recovering from this awful pandemic. Now is not the time for complacency, it is vital that we keep taking these steps to protect our community as winter draws to a close. We’ve seen GP surgeries, who are well practiced at distributing the flu vaccine, step up into Covid vaccination hubs and Bristol is now home to a vaccination super-

Darren Jones column centre, at Ashton Court Stadium. Thousands of vaccinations are happening daily in the South West, this effort is vital to lifting restrictions to our daily lives in Bristol. The work going on behind the scenes to make this happen has been immense and I’ve been touched by stories shared by loved ones that have been vaccinated in Bristol. I’m working with local NHS leaders to support this roll-out and encourage everyone eligible to accept the invitation to be vaccinated. Thank you to all those that attended the Henleaze and Westbury Park virtual townhall earlier in January. I enjoyed the chance to catch-up and discuss our shared priorities on transport, housing and community spaces. This year I’m updating our North Bristol Transport Plan to incorporate what we’ve learned during this pandemic. I’ll be in touch with details on how to get involved, as I’ll need your input on how we make Bristol safer, easier and greener to get around. As we remain socially distanced, I’ll be continuing to hold surgeries via phone. You can also talk to me about local and national policy issues at my fortnightly Facebook Live Q&As on Wednesday evenings, 7:30pm. I’ll be holding our next café politics online meet up on Saturday January 30th at 10.30am, you can sign up for a free ticket at darren-jones.co.uk. As ever if you need my assistance, you can email me any time at darren.jones@ parliament.uk

To advertise, contact Emma on 0117 908 2121 Or 07715 770448. Email: sales@henleazeandwestburyvoice.co.uk

henleaze&westburyvoice

February, 2021

n MESSAGE FROM AVON & SOMERSET PCC

We’re closer to beating the virus, so please don’t flout the lockdown

HORTLY after the New Year, we all received the news we would be entering a third national lockdown. Although unsurprising, I know it was not how we wanted to enter 2021 but, as I’m sure you will agree, the restrictions were and continue to be needed to avoid further harm in our community. With cases rising to new heights, I welcome the Government’s decision to implement this lockdown to slow the transmission and ensure the NHS can cope. I urge you all to continue to stay at home to protect yourself and your loved ones from this fatal virus. For those of you who might be frustrated with another lockdown and are tempted to flout the rules, please don’t. We

all know how lockdown works, and irresponsible and reckless behaviour will not be tolerated. Avon and Somerset Police and their dedicated COVID-19 team have my full support in responding to breaches of the emergency regulations by engaging, explaining, encouraging and enforcing the law. We might feel disheartened at the current situation but it is only temporary. With every vaccine administered, we are changing the odds against the virus and are one step closer to beating it. For this reason, please be responsible during the winter months and follow regulations. For some of you, I know, home is not always a safe place, and as a community we all have a part to play in ensuring our

family, friends and neighbours are supported during these difficult times. If you or someone you know is suffering from domestic abuse, please remember that lockdown and isolation rules do not apply. If you need to leave your home because you are worried about your safety, you can. You are not – and never will be – alone. Young people continue to be further impacted by the pandemic and are now not able to attend school or college. Alongside the difficulties of home learning, young people are more at risk of criminal and sexual exploitation online, and also might be vulnerable to abuse at home. It is our duty to look out for our children and young adults; they might not always recognise the signs of

With Police and Crime Commissioner Sue Mountstevens abuse or feel like they can speak up about it – we need to be their voice and offer them much-needed support. If you are ever concerned for your safety or safety of someone you know, the police and support services are there to help. Please remember you never need to suffer in silence.

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February, 2021

n PETER'S VISION

Caring for your eyes reduce dramatically when concentrating. My top tip here is to start blinking each time you make a repetitive action, whether for example it’s turning the page of a book or clicking send on an email. The momentary pause whilst waiting for something to happen that doesn’t require our immediate attention (unlike a young family member who’s accidentally pressed delete on their school work!), means that we can re-learn to blink and at the same time, not miss anything important. That’s a win win in my book. Oh and thanks to cloud computing, I can be super Dad just now and again by recovering pages of seemingly lost work from the ether at the click of a button. I’m sure in no time at all the children will realise how easy document recovery is, but for now and while they're young I’ll enjoy my brief moment of glory thanks! Another tip is to keep your glasses clean for those long hours

AS we’re in lockdown (again) I thought that I’d write about the things you can do to look after your eyes from the safety (and comfort I hope!) of your own homes. I’ve been reading with interest how fellow eye care professionals across the globe have been caring for their patients. I’ve been pleased to note that we compare very favourably with some of our good and well respected colleagues. For your eyes, I’ll start with the basics. Please drink a good amount of water. Every day. It’s easy even for us to miss this one, particularly on the days we’re home schooling! Drinking water as well as eating a balanced diet that includes oily fish or plant based omega oils, helps ensure we have the ingredients needed for a good tear film. When we blink, our glands are then able to release good quality tears to freshen the surface of our eyes. On to blinking. Our research shows that our blink rate can

on the computer, whether in work or at home. It may sound obvious, but please, if your glasses have a fancy high tech lens surface (as ours do), don’t just reach for a convenient item of clothing or tissue. It is important to use a quality microfibre lens cloth - these are designed to gently lift particles off your lenses, not smear them further as items of clothing do! Don’t forget, we’re still here when you need us, for eye care, advice, glasses & contact lenses, six days of the week. Just get in touch and we’ll be happy to see how we can help you. Times are tough for many of us, and as a thank you for choosing us for your eye care we’re offering to help you in return with a glasses voucher with your extended eye exam. Just ask about our look in to help out offer. To help us keep you all safe, we’re still asking you all to telephone first to book a time to come in. Please call our Henleaze

practice on 0117 962 2474 or our Fishponds practice on 0117 965 4434. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Peter

Peter Turner is a Senior Optometrist at Turners Opticians in Bristol, and also works part time as a Senior Optometrist at the Bristol Eye Hospital.

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February, 2021

n PROPERTY

A new home for 2021 and beyond WITH the impact of the past year, our homes have become even more important to our well-being. Working from Home is here to stay, so space and outdoor space is a priority for many buyers. Set in 3-acres of private residents’ gardens, Redland Court is Bristol’s most prestigious landmark development. Juniper Homes has now opened a long-awaited show apartment in the contemporary Science Building, now home to 17 stunning apartments. As well as the residents’ gardens many apartments enjoy private outdoor terraces and breath-taking views. A choice of one, two and three bedroom options, solves the working from home dilemma. The show home, a 1194 Sqft 2-bedroom ground floor apartment, is so beautifully dressed that sales agents’ feedback includes accolades such as “just like a 5 star hotel” and “genuinely the best show apartment in Bristol”.

Each building on the scheme has a specification designed to match its character and period, so the Science Building has a more contemporary specification than the Old School Hall or the Manor House. Features include skirtings and architraves matched to wall colours to create visually dramatic seamless effects in the spacious rooms.

As you move up through the building, the views from these lust-worthy apartments just add to their appeal; let in the Spring sunshine with the gliding Bi-fold or French doors and large windows, most opening on to private outdoor terraces or courtyards. Communal areas reflect this exemplary finish and a smooth lift provides access to all four levels

in the Science Building. Parking is available to all 2+ bedroom apartments. 1-bed apartments from £345,000 • 2-bed apartments from £525,000 • 3-bed apartments from £895,000. For further information please call Savills on 0117 910 0360 or Ocean on 0117 946 9838

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n WHAT'S ON n The Arts Society Bristol Would you like to join us for lectures on a wide range of arts related subjects, given by specialists in their own field? These are currently being delivered online and we would welcome new members. "David Lean's art of cinema" lecture on February 9 and "Giotto's Scrovegni chapel" lecture February 16. For more information visit our website www.theartssociety-bristol.org.uk n Bishop Road Community Choir are meeting online Thursday evenings via Zoom at 8pm for an hour. If anyone is interested they should contact us via bishoproadchoir@gmail.com and I will send them a link. n Call the British Red Cross's free and confidential coronavirus support line on 0808 196 3651 to speak to a friendly volunteer for a chat if you are lonely, worried or need practical support, 7 days a week from 10am to 6pm, or email supportline@redcross.org.uk

February, 2021

n NEWS

Bid to reduce unwanted black kittens DESPITE Covid, the Moggery in Bishopston is once again offering free black cat neutering in February. The Moggery will neuter black cats for free this month in the hope of reducing the number of black unwanted kittens born this spring and summer. A gentle friendly black cat called Maureen was viewed six times before being chosen. One couple rejected her from a distance as soon as they saw she was black. She has now been chosen by a kind family who love her personality. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Selfies are still causing a serious problem for cat rescues,â&#x20AC;? said Christine Bayka Founder of The Moggery. Christine began offering free neutering for black cats in 2018 when she realised that black cats were not considered photogenic.

Be a responsible owner Limit unwanted black kittens Act now Call The Moggery on 0117 924 3128

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To advertise, contact Emma on 0117 908 2121 Or 07715 770448. Email: sales@henleazeandwestburyvoice.co.uk

February, 2021

henleaze&westburyvoice

n HOME IMPROVEMENT

Tom Jackson, Commercial Lead

Adapting your bathroom can increase independence UNFORTUNATELY, as people age, most houses become increasingly difficult to live independently. The thought of moving house is not surprisingly very unappealing to most older people, many of whom have lived in their home for several decades. Children were raised in these homes, memories created. This is where home adaptations can help. Through a few relatively simple changes, homes can be made liveable in again and independence restored to the homeowner, giving a new lease of life not only to the property but also the person or people living there. There have even been studies that have shown how minor adaptations like accessible bathrooms not only help people stay in their homes, but they prevent falls and injuries, improving everyday activities and mental health. How a bathroom adaptation helped Margaret We help hundreds of people every year to carry on living at home through a few small adaptations. One of these people is Margaret. Margaret had been living in respite care for nearly 5 months following a fall where she broke her arm. Her daughter, Sue, contacted us as she wanted to help her mum to get home and back to the independent living she was used to, but was concerned about her safety. She had previously had a couple of falls and had now been told that she would not get full movement back in her arm. After an initial phone call we started with an assessment by our in-house occupational therapist

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(OT), Maria, who visited them both at Margaret’s flat. Maria spent time talking to both Margaret and Sue and looking around the home to best understand Margaret’s needs and wishes. “I was a bit nervous and was expecting the occupational therapist to be a bit bossy to be honest!” Margaret said. “But by the end of the visit I felt like I had made a new friend in Maria. She was very reassuring.” After Maria’s visit, our technical officer, Chris C, and builder, Chris D, visited to provide a quote for adapting the bathroom to meet Margaret’s personal needs. Margaret had a level access shower installed with a free-standing chair. “I was impressed by how tidy and considerate the builder was.” Margaret commented. “I really think the new shower is fantastic. It’s such a help. And it was all so quick!” Sue added, “It’s a weight off my mind to know

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that my mum can relax and enjoy her new shower at the same time as staying safe.” The bathroom is often the first place people tend to have difficulties as they get older. We advise planning ahead and making small changes in the bathrooms of your elderly parents or loved ones before a crisis situation arises. Get in touch If you are considering a bathroom adaptation or would like to know how we can help you or your loved ones to stay safe and independent at home, we can help. • Give us a call on 0300 323 0700 for a no-obligation chat with our team. We are open Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm. • Or, ask for a free quote and we will get in touch with you. About We Care Home Improvements We’re a not-for-profit organisation on a mission to improve the homes of older people and those with disabilities. Our aim is for people to live comfortably and independently at home for as long as they choose. We specialise in accessible bathrooms, home adaptations, handyperson services, occupational therapy and home independence products.

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Tel: 0117 908 7232 or Mobile: 07815 029775 Got News? Call 0117 9082121

10 year guarantee with all new roofs

40yrs of trade experience in Bristol Friendly, local and professional services. Now semi retired, no VAT. Plumbing repairs and alterations. Timber decks and fencing. General building and maintenance.

Local Bristol family run roofing business with over 20 years experience From planning to end product

T: 01179 510319 or 07872 484994 W: kevingapper@me.com

Based in Westbury on Trym

Call David on 07973416505 daveabrahams@yahoo.com

Email: news@henleazeandwestburyvoice.co.uk

henleaze&westburyvoice

46 CLEANING

ELECTRICIANS

February, 2021 OVEN CLEANING

atom electrical



specialist domestic installers



All types of domestic electrical work undertaken, from changing a light fitting to full rewires.



For an efficient, friendly, reliable, local electrical service...

call Oliver on 07747866436 or 01179602974



FREE Quotations



www.atomelectrical.co.uk info@atomelectrical.co.uk



FLOOR SANDING

PAINTING & DECORATING

INTERIOR & EXTERIOR

PAINTING, DECORATING REPAIR & RESTORATION

I provide a wide range of high quality painting, decorating, repair and restoration services in the Bristol area.

Based in Henleaze and always happy to pop round and provide an estimate for any job, from a single room to a house make-over.

Please call or text any time

07940 522816 GARDEN SERVICES

AFRESH GARDENS

Free Quotes Inspection and Testing Landlord Certificates New builds and Extensions Extra Sockets and Lights Fire Alarms, Smoke Detectors

For a quality, comprehensive and efficient garden service • Maintenence • Make over • Private / Commercial

PAINTING & DECORATING

S.DAMSELL

PAINTING & DECORATING

Ltd

ELECTRICIANS

www.ElderwoodElectrical.com Office - 0117 9322379 Mobile - 07725 058581

Contact Chris Knowles RHs dip, Nch hort

• Interior & Exterior & wallpapering • Small maintenance works & repairs • Fully insured • Free quotes • City & Guilds served • 38 years experience

E: christopher.knowles@mypostoffice.co.uk

Email stephen.damsell@hotmail.co.uk

ELECTRICIANS

HOUSE CLEARANCE

PAINTING & DECORATING

T: 07794 701637

HOUSE CLEARANCE

Call Nick on 0117 2872082 0117 303 9000

Fully Licensed & Insured Houses • Flats Outbuildings • Sheds Large or Small B RROW LODGE CLEARANCES “Full or Part House Clearance”

Mobile 07971 252715

Stephen Carter Painter & Decorator

Professional Decorating Services

Painting & Decorating Association Accredited (with PDA guarantee) For a free competitive quotation:

A family business • 30 years experience

07786 513788 or 0117 907 6997

www.barrowlodgeclearances.co.uk

www.carterdecorating.co.uk

Mob: 07810 462142

Cranside Avenue, Redland, BS6 7RA

To advertise, contact Emma on 0117 908 2121 Or 07715 770448. Email: sales@henleazeandwestburyvoice.co.uk

Classic & Natural stone tiles

Specialising in Italian showers February, 2021

High Quality Finish Free Quote Bristol & Surrounding Areas

Contemporary & Provençale kitchens Interior & Exterior Masonry & DECORATING PAINTING Interior & façade painting

henleaze&westburyvoice PLUMBING

SASH WINDOWS

Electrical & Plumbing

SnugSash.co.uk

All electrical work

Renovation Painter Tiler Decorator

Builder & Interior Decorator

17 Years Experience Tiling Interior & Exterior Masonry E: dacriscobuilder3@gmail.com Interior Facade T: 0117 401 8568& / 07557 335 956 PaintingDacrisco Builder No Job Too Small Free Quote 17 Years Experience

from complete rewire to additional sockets

Domestic plumbing & tiling Showers, undertile heating etc. City & Guilds and NVQ Part P compliant Free estimates Call to discuss your requirements

T: 0117 382 7716 / 07557 335 956

Matt Pederick 0117 9246886 or 07958 753588

PAINTING & DECORATING

PLUMBING

E: dacriscobuilder9@gmail.com

MJT DECORATING Contact Mike Toye 8 Westfield Road Westbury-on-Trym BS9 3HG

Tel: 01179 500 387 Mob: 07971 849 895 Free Estimates/References Available

PLASTERING

JSH PLASTERING

All types of plastering Walls and Ceilings No job too small - Local, reliable work from qualified & experienced plasterers. Call John on 07967 697 361 or Matt on 07814 554 917 Or jshoggett@outlook.com

PLUMBING

Taps, Washers Toilets, Cisterns Leaks, Blockages Tanks, Overflows Lead Pipes, Stopcocks….etc… OAP DISCOUNTS and NO VAT

0117

956 4475

Got News? Call 0117 9082121

Sash window specialist • Renovation • Draughtproofing • Double glazing • Repairs • Painting We can fit double glazing to your sash windows! www.snugsash.co.uk 07736 229727 SnugSash

TREE SERVICES

D. ATTWELL

COPPERMILL HEATING

Interior & Exterior For a Friendly & Reliable Local Service

PLUMBING & HEATING ENGINEERS • CENTRAL HEATING INSTALLATION & REPAIR • GAS, OIL & LPG • P O W E R F L U S H I N G • LANDLORD CERTIFICATES • BOILER SERVICING • PLUMBING INSTALLATION & REPAIR

FREE ESTIMATES

CALL 07769 693300

WWW.COPPERMILLHEATING.COM

PLUMBING & HEATING

LANDSCAPING & TREE SERVICES For All Garden Works Patios – Decking Gravelling – Fencing Wood Chippings – Jetwashing Foliage Removed – Roots Destroyed Garden Walls & General Building

• FULLY INSURED • LICENSED WASTE CARRIER

For a FREE quote call 07960 681 921 d.attwellgardenservices@hotmail.co.uk

UPHOLSTERY

RELIABLE & LOCAL PLUMBER

Est. over 30yrs - Living & working in BS9 All types of Plumbing. No Job Too Small • Burst pipes • Sinks, Overflows, Taps • Toilets Unblocked • Lead Pipes Advanced plumber qualified to HND in Building Services

REUPHOLSTERY Keen to be Green?

GUARANTEED 24HR EMERGENCY SERVICE. NO CALL OUT CHARGE

Tel: 07970 617994 Westbury on Trym | BS9

PLUMBING

Before After

The Bristol Plumber Bathroom & Kitchen Installation

5+ Years Experience, Tiling, Bathroom Fitting, Kitchens, Radiators, All Small Jobs No VAT, Free no obligation quote

07540607626

ed@thebristolplumber.com facebook.com/thebristolplumber

Let us bring your much loved piece back to its former glory. Collection & delivery FREE on all orders placed in February is FREE. (Valued at £80!) 0117 924 8383 119 Coldharbour Road. BS6 7SD

Email: news@henleazeandwestburyvoice.co.uk

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Find your next role at: www.proudtocarebristol.org.uk If you’d like an informal chat before applying, email: proudtocare@bristol.gov.uk

South Gloucestershire  www.proudtocaresouthglos.org.uk 

proudtocare@southglos.gov.uk

Bristol  www.proudtocarebristol.org.uk 

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