17 minute read
n From
May 2022 Issue 120
www.keynshamvoice.co.uk ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT
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KEYNSHAM AREA RESIDENTS URGED TO ‘LOVE LOCAL’ AND EXPLORE WEST
We are really lucky because local residents have an amazing array of brilliant things to do right on our doorsteps. That’s the message from West of England Metro Mayor Dan Norris who is encouraging residents to get out and explore all that is on offer locally.
There are family-friendly activities, dog-friendly days out (enjoyed by the Mayor’s special four-legged friend, his Cocker Spaniel Angel) and free fun for all. Metro Mayor Dan Norris said: “You can have a brilliant day out in the West of England - home to worldfamous historical attractions, beautiful countryside and much, much more. Over the last few years, we have all spent far too much time cooped up at home, so what better time than now to get out and rediscover our fantastic region.”
GOING GREEN
Local attractions are going green. When she was launched, the SS Great Britain incorporated the very latest in maritime technology, now 180 years later the curators and engineers who look after her are turning to modern day tech to ensure her preservation is not at the expense of the planet thanks to a £13,000 cash injection from the West of England Combined Authority to invest in a pioneering heat recovery device. It is part of plans to go carbon neutral by 2030. Matthew Tanner, CEO of the SS Great Britain Trust, said: “The West of England Combined Authority’s grant has helped us cut more than 160 tonnes of carbon annually. This is vital as we all work together to meet our ambitious net zero targets by 2030.”
SUPPORTING JOBS
A record 45,000 people across the region were employed in tourism and hospitality back in 2019. But the £2.3 billion sector was hit hard by Covid-19 as attractions closed and visitors stayed away. But you can help - and have a great day out at the same time - just choose to explore local.
FREE FUN
The cost-of-living crisis is biting but exploring local doesn’t have to break the bank. Some of our region’s best parts are there to be enjoyed at no cost at all. Pop in to an exhibition at the M Shed, relax with a picnic in Queen’s Square or get active with a walk on the Cotswold Way.
VIEW FROM DAN NORRIS METRO MAYOR
I’m proud to be partnering with The Voice, a great champion of everything local, to launch my ‘Love Local. Explore Local’ campaign. I’m encouraging everyone to get out and rediscover our brilliant West of England region. Let’s make the most of our fantastic local attractions, green spaces, and museums, connect with nature, explore our history or soak up some art. At the West of England Combined Authority, we’re supporting our region’s local museums, galleries and shops and places to eat out, to welcome you and your family back. Together let’s show our support and enjoy a great day out. Let’s ‘Love Local. Explore Local.’
DON’T WORRY, BUS HAPPY!
Make the most of your day out and take the bus. Many of the region’s top tourist attractions can be easily reached by public transport with the SS Great Britain, Bath Spa, the Avon Valley Adventure & Wildlife Park and many more on bus routes. Dan Norris said: “Why not take the bus when you explore local? There’s no need to worry about finding a parking space, or the price of filling up the car. Don’t worry, bus happy!” Doug Claringbold, Managing Director for First Bus in the West of England said: ”Travelling by bus is the perfect way to explore everything the West of England has to offer and our Group ticket is ideal for getting about with friends or family. This ticket allows up to 5 people, of any age, unlimited travel in their chosen travel area. Just buy through the First Bus app or direct from your driver using your contactless card or device.”
DATING AGENCY FOR JOBS
A new website which Metro Mayor Dan Norris has called a “dating agency for jobs” has launched. The process is simple. Job seekers and businesses upload their profiles, and the website plays matchmaker. Local people can do personality tests to figure out their compatibility, and there are top tips to make sure you stand out from the crowd. Metro Mayor Dan Norris also wants to change perceptions of hospitality jobs: “It doesn’t mean a temporary solution of waiting tables to see you through; it can be a varied, high-skilled, and well paid career for life,” said the Metro Mayor. James King from the Salamander Pub said: “Working in hospitality is a great career choice. It’s interesting, varied and there is great career progression. Once you’ve found your role, at my pub we do everything we can to make sure our staff are thriving in their roles and want to stay.”
Find out more at jobsconnect.cognisess.com
PUTTING OUR REGION ON THE MAP
The West of England’s new ‘Cultural Plan’ showcases the people that make the region great, including artists and games designers; highlights our visitor attractions; and puts a spotlight on why we are the go-to place for investment in the creative industries including in film and TV production. The plan will be used to promote the West of England, and ensure that everyone locally from film makers, tourist attractions and universities to cafes and councils are singing from the same hymn sheet right across the West of England.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE HIDDEN GEM TO EXPLORE?
Please let us know those local places that you love and think others would like to explore too. Email info@westofengland-ca.gov.uk with your top tips and a selection will feature on the website.
Every month 800 million people globally watch digital content made in the West of England
Planned for completion this Summer, thanks to a £11.73 million investment from the West of England Combined Authority, The Bottle Yard Studios are expanding from eight to eleven studios. This is part of a plan to grow film and TV production in the West of England. Laura Aviles from The Bottle Yard Studios said: “An expanding studio, supportive Film Offices, skilled crew, some of the best filming locations in the UK; it’s no wonder the South West is attracting record levels of screen production.”
May 2022 Issue 120 www.keynshamvoice.co.uk Aimee’s Secret Garden:
FREE EVERY MONTH IN KEYNSHAM & SALTFORD
Page 5
Safety audit following revamp nears completion Calls for High Street action after injuries
A ROAD safety audit is nearing completion on Keynsham High Street, where a number of pedestrians have reported tripping and being injured on the new layout.
People have reported a number of falls and injuries since the High Street revamp was completed in March.
In one of the latest incidents, a woman suffered a grazed knee and hand tripping on the stepped kerb on the cycle lane near Church’s newsagents on April 26.
Her husband told the Voice he thinks a coloured checker should be run along the kerb to highlight the potential hazard, as the current white colouring makes the kerb look like just a white line.
Incidents reported on the Bath & North East Somerset Council website include a woman who fell off the kerb near the greengrocers and hit her head, n Turn to Page 4
Hurray for hockey heroes!
Keynsham Hockey Club is celebrating a great end to the season, with these U10s clinching silverware – the first time the club has won an Avon Junior League trophy – and the club’s ladies 1st team winning promotion for the first time in 23 years. See Page 41
INSIDE
Jubilee fun feast
Keynsham is celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee with activities for residents of all ages.
PAGE 9
Saving energy
The new Two Rivers C of E Primary School will be built to high sustainable standards thanks to additional funding.
PAGE 18
Mencap cheer
Keynsham Mencap welcomed back supporters to their fundraising dinner and auction after a two-year break.
PAGE 21
Station campaign
Renewed calls have been made for a feasibility study on reopening Saltford station.
PAGE 23
Food bank busy
Keynsham Foodbank provided 1,364 parcels to local people who could not afford the essentials between April 2021 and March 2022.
PAGE 24
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Further details of the complaints process can be found on the Voice website, or can be obtained by contacting the Publisher.
n NEWS
High Street injuries
n From Page 1 causing a “nasty gash” and injury to her neck, and an “older man” fell off the kerb and into oncoming traffic, also hurting his head.
One reported spraining their ankle, saying: “I was forced to the outside and it just looked like a flat pavement before I went over on the small kerb.
“After all this time and money being spent, you would have thought someone would have noticed this and painted the cycle path a different colour, highlighting the uneven surface.”
Another reported seeing three people aged in their 30s trip and fall, one near the Methodist church, another near the Post Office and the third near Church’s newsagents.
“Why are there different levels, and why does the design change along the street?”
One pedestrian reported breaking her elbow near the Methodist church.
“Kerbs are similar to the white lines and go from level with road to a gradual slope. I’ve had to take six weeks off work and numerous hospital visits.
“With so many people falling there must be a problem with the layout. Not helpful to be told we are all incompetent. Never fell before.”
Another suggested: “The pavement is uneven and dangerous when walking along it without crossing. Just buy some red paint and highlight the uneven surface!”
Bath & North East Somerset Council states: “All comments have been fully noted and the information supplied
A woman grazed her knee tripping over a High Street kerb
will be passed to the auditors undertaking the Stage 3 road safety audit. In the meantime, as with all new public realm schemes, the council continues to monitor activity and encourages the public to use one of the three pedestrian crossings to cross the road.”
A Stage 3 audit involves a team examining the High Street from the viewpoint of all road users, with visits during the day and also after dark, to identify any night-time hazards.
Questions that a Stage 3 audit might consider include whether surfacing or drop kerbs are “adequate” for pedestrians.
The audit is due to be completed later this month, and any recommendations will then be discussed.
Meanwhile, a disabled woman has won her battle for compensation after her mobility scooter was damaged during work in the High Street. And a motorcyclist has complained about a motorbike bay being removed for the new layout. l See stories on Pages 6 and 7 l Letters: Page 16
A member of the
PUBLISHER’S NOTE: Keynshamvoice 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. Keynshamvoice 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 emma@keynshamvoice.co.uk. This month 10,750 copies will be distributed in Keynsham, Saltford and the local area.
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n NEWS Aimee’s garden tale to support children
A LOVE of nature has inspired a talented Saltford girl to create a book in aid of a children’s charity.
Aimee Phillips enjoys taking photos, making illustrations and writing notes from countryside walks she takes with family and friends.
Now she has created a picture book called The Secret Garden to raise money for Save the Children.
Aimee started the project in February with the goal of raising £100 by her ninth birthday on April 2. That target has been eclipsed and Aimee has so far raised £349.
Aimee said: “A few (very kind) people have asked what I would like for a birthday present. The honest answer is that I am unbelievably spoilt already and don’t need any presents.
“However, this has been a terrible year for children all over the world - not just because of Covid but also the situations in Ukraine, Afghanistan and Ethiopia are properly appalling.
“I would really, really like for you to give them a donation in lieu of a present for me.”
Aimee has produced all the photos and illustrations for the e-book herself.
It is described as ‘one girl’s quest for a greener world … one garden at a time.’
The story involves a girl called Aimee who, while out exploring one day, discovers a struggling garden and decides to take care of it. As time passes, the garden spreads throughout the dark, grey city, transforming it into a lush, green world.
Aimee’s inspirations include David Attenborough’s TV series The Green Planet and the Queen’s Green Canopy, a national initiative to encourage people to plant a tree to mark her 70th jubilee.
Aimee wrote to the Queen congratulating her on her jubilee and has since received a reply saying that the Queen “greatly appreciates the kind message.”
The Secret Garden isn’t Aimee’s first publishing effort for a good cause. Last year she created The Very Hungry Honey Bee, which raised more than £900 for NHS Charities Together.
Anyone who wishes to donate can go to Aimee’s fundraising page at www. justgiving.com/Aimee-Phillips2. It also includes a link for accessing the e-book.
NEWS
Why did they remove motorbike bay?
A MOTORCYCLIST has criticised the decision to remove parking spaces for riders from Keynsham High Street.
Roger Smith saw that the motorcycle bay had been replaced by car spaces when the High Street reopened to traffic after being revamped.
He used to park in the bay when shopping in the High Street and visiting his son’s family in nearby Charlton Road.
The 77-year-old grandfather contacted Bath and North East Somerset Council to complain and to ask for an explanation for the bay’s removal.
In response, Georgi Tyler, design project officer, told Roger: “The detailed scheme design went through a full consultation process.
“As a result of the feedback, the motorcycle bay was removed from the High Street and additional provision for motorcycles was made in Ashton Way car park, including the provision of anchors. The motorcycle parking can be found in the south-west corner of Ashton Way car park.”
She added that Roger’s comments would be collated with other feedback that B&NES has been receiving about the new-look High Street.
But Roger was not impressed, replying: “I
Motorcyclist Roger Smith is unhappy with the High Street’s new look
would like to know how it is an improvement for motorcyclists when you have removed the motorcycle parking bay from the High Street which was adjacent to the zebra crossing.”
He questioned whether Keynsham’s motorcycling fraternity had been properly consulted.
Roger added: “I consider the loss of the motorcycle bay in the High Street to be a backward step in that motorcycles are a far better way of commuting than a car.”
The retired firefighter, who lives in Knowle, Bristol, has been riding a motorbike since he was 16 and says it is a good, eco-friendly way of getting around. But he doubts whether he will be using the motorcycle bays in Ashton Way.
As a regular visitor to Keynsham since the late 1960s, he believes the revamp of the High Street has been a waste of money.
“It’s a deterioration in what was originally there,” he said. “They’ve narrowed the road and it looks horrendous.”
He believes the redesign is out of keeping with old buildings such as St John’s Church and the Fear Institute.
“They’ve destroyed part of Keynsham’s history. It’s not a high street any more.”
In response to Roger’s comments about parking, a spokesperson for B&NES Council confirmed: “Following feedback from the public consultation, the council has upgraded the provision for motorcycle parking in Ashton Way car park.”
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