Long Ashton and Failand Voice June 2023

Play Your Way

NOW days are getting longer, neighbourhoods are being encouraged to apply to close their roads and enjoy regular, traffic-free community sessions –an initiative supported by North Somerset Council.

Play Your Way is a council scheme which allows more children to play in their streets without the fear of traffic, and it helps connect neighbours.

Using the principles of the national Playing Out organisation, Play Your Way aims to improve the health and wellbeing of children and families, reduce social isolation for residents who live alone and empower residents to create a more cohesive neighbourhood.

People across North Somerset have already started enjoying the benefits of Play Your Way including residents of Moorland Road in Weston-super-Mare who hosted a session.

Emma Gliddon, who organised the Play Your Way session, said: “The sessions in Moorland Road were lots of fun for the children but also forged

some intergenerational links which we’re still benefiting from today. Older residents got to meet the young families, have a chat and learn each other’s names, which has led to greater harmony and a lot more ‘hello’ and ‘how are you’ happening in our street.

“We’re a more resilient community and better connected to each other than before the events. I met neighbours that I had never seen, although I’ve lived here 10 years.”

Cllr Mike Bell, deputy leader of North Somerset Council and executive member for health, added: “Play Your Way is a fantastic opportunity

for neighbourhoods to come together. As well as helping people get more active in a traffic-free space and all the benefits exercise brings, this type of community reconnection also helps mental health and wellbeing by empowering neighbours to come together and reducing social isolation.

“It’s wonderful to hear about the lasting, positive effects the sessions have had.”

If you would like to host a Play Your Way session, email getactive@n-somerset.gov. uk or call 01275 882 730.

www.n-somerset.gov.uk/ playyourway

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Contacts

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07590 527 664

ruth@longashtonandfailandvoice.co.uk

Please send news and editorial requests to Cathy at: editor@longashtonandfailandvoice.co.uk

Next issue’s copy deadlines: Editorial: 9 June

We’d love to hear from you!

WELL, as the weather brightens, our first quarter is coming to an end and the Long Ashton & Failand Voice is growing more and more popular. We’ve had lots of ideas for columns and community events, plus some great local businesses looking to support. We’ve also got a great team of deliverers, bringing your newspaper to your door.

What we need now is more community interaction – letters, thoughts, feedback, photos, stories –we love to hear from you and want the Long Ashton & Failand Voice to be a paper which you want to read.

May 2022 southbritolvoice

issues complaint details (below) or can ruth@longashtonandfailandvoice.co.uk or by 07590527664. stated) and

HOW TO GET IN TOUCH

MP

Dr Liam Fox

HOW DO I GET IN TOUCH WITH ...

Email: liam.fox.mp@parliament.uk

Twitter: @LiamFox

My MP? Karin Smyth MP

Facebook: Dr Liam Fox MP

Cllr.Tony.Dyer@bristol.gov.uk

So, please get in touch with us and share your news and life from Long Ashton and Failand.

Have a lovely sunny June Ruth

By email: karin.smyth.mp@ parliament.uk

By post:

By post: Karin Smyth MP, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA

The Rt Hon Dr Liam Fox MP, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA

Constituency office: 71 High Street, Nailsea, BS48 1AW

By phone: 0117 953 3575

Christine Townsend Green, Southville By phone: 07584183843 By email: Cllr.Christine.Townsend@bristol. gov.uk

My Councillor

In person: Call the above number for an appointment

Post: (all councillors)

My councillor?

Christopher Davies Knowle Community Party. Email: Cllr. Christopher.Davies@bristol.gov.uk

c/o Town Hall, Weston-super-Mare, BS23 1UJ

Phone: 07826917714

Post: (all councillors) City Hall, College Green, Bristol BS1 5TR.

Tessa Fitzjohn Green, Bedminster

Advertising: 14 June southbritolvoice

Cllr Stuart McQuillan – Long Ashton

T: 07866 512 391

Gary Hopkins Knowle Community Party. Email: Cllr.Gary.Hopkins@bristol.gov.uk

E: stuart.mcquillan@n-somerset.gov.uk

By phone: 07584182801 By email: Cllr.Tessa.Fitzjohn@bristol.gov.uk

Phone: 07977 512159

Ed Plowden Green, Windmill Hill

HOW DO I GET IN TOUCH WITH ...

Cllr Ashley Cartman – Long Ashton

T: 07904 188 187

Mark Bradshaw Labour, Bedminster. By email: Cllr.mark. bradshaw@bristol.gov.uk

Phone: 07584184577 By email: Cllr.Ed.Plowden@bristol.gov.uk

Lisa Stone Green, Windmill Hill

My MP?

By phone: 0117 353 3160

E: ashley.cartman@n-somerset.gov.uk

Tony Dyer Green, Southville

Phone: 07584186535

southbristolvoice

By email: parliament.uk

By phone: 07584182862 By email:

Cllr Bridget Petty – Backwell

T: 07935 282 129

Contacts

E: bridget.petty@n-somerset.gov.uk

USEFUL NUMBERS

By email: Cllr.Lisa.Stone@bristol.gov.uk

By post: Commons, London, SW1A 0AA

By phone:

In person: Call the above number for an appointment

Useful numbers

North Somerset Council 01934 888 888

North Somerset Council – emergencies outside of office hours

01934 622 669

Ruth Drury Sales Director & Publisher 07590 527664 ruth@longashtonandfailandvoice.co.uk Jane Williams Editor news@longashtonandfailandvoice.co.uk

Police Inquiries 0117 998 9112 Emergency 999

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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 Long Ashton & Failand Voice, contact the Editor using the details below. We aspire to follow the the Code of Conduct of the NUJ (National Union of Journalists), nuj.org.uk/about/nuj-code

Further details of the complaints process can be found on our website (below) or can be obtained by contacting the Editor by email: ruth@longashtonandfailandvoice.co.uk or by post: 111 Broadfield Rd, Knowle, Bristol BS4 2UX or by phone: 07590527664 longashtonandfailandvoice.co.uk/complaints-procedure

All stories and pictures are ©Long Ashton & Failand Voice (unless otherwise stated) and may not be reproduced without permission.

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My councillor? Post: (all councillors) City Hall, College Green, Bristol BS1 5TR.

Tessa Fitzjohn Green, Bedminster

Airport expansion appeal quashed

By phone: 07584182801 By email: Cllr.Tessa.Fitzjohn@bristol.gov.uk

Mark Bradshaw Labour, Bedminster. By email: Cllr.mark. bradshaw@bristol.gov.uk

By phone: 0117 353 3160

Tony Dyer Green, Southville

By phone: 07584182862 By email:

Christopher Davies Knowle Community Party. Email: Cllr. Christopher.Davies@bristol.gov.uk

Phone: 07826917714

Gary Hopkins Knowle Community Party. Email: Cllr.Gary.Hopkins@bristol.gov.uk

Phone: 07977 512159

Ed Plowden Green, Windmill Hill

Phone: 07584184577 By email: Cllr.Ed.Plowden@bristol.gov.uk

Lisa Stone Green, Windmill Hill

Phone: 07584186535

By email: Cllr.Lisa.Stone@bristol.gov.uk

THE recent appeal by Bristol Airport Action Network (BAAN) to government on Bristol Airport’s development has been refused on all grounds. An extract from the government document states: “Bristol Airport Action Network versus Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Order made by the Rt. Hon. Lady Justice Andrews DBE. Permission to appeal refused on all grounds; none has a real prospect of success and there is no other compelling reason for the Court of Appeal to entertain an appeal.”

USEFUL NUMBERS

Bristol City Council

www.bristol.gov.uk 0117 922 2000

Waste, roads 0117 922 2100

Pests,

Bristol Airport responded: “Bristol Airport welcomes the court’s decision to uphold the planning permission to increase Bristol Airport’s capacity from 10 million to 12 million passengers per annum providing enhanced customer facilities for the region’s gateway for air travel. The decision is excellent news for our region’s economy, allowing us to create thousands of new jobs in the years ahead and open up new direct links, and support inbound tourism.

Follow us on social media:

“We will now take forward our multi-million-pound plans for net zero operations by 2030 and look forward to working with stakeholders and the community to deliver responsible growth.”

Share your views on this by emailing editor@longashtonandfailandvoice.co.uk

To advertise, contact Ruth on 07590 527 664 or email ruth@longashtonandfailandvoice.co.uk

The publisher welcomes contributions from readers. Such submissions are subject to being edited, distributed and displayed in any media or medium, or any form, format or forum now known or hereafter developed, for any purpose, in perpetuity.

Local celebrations

Failand Village Hall

Despite the wet weather, the local community turned out in force on Monday 8 May to celebrate the King’s Coronation at the Failand Village Hall. Over 100 residents, friends and neighbours gathered to enjoy time together over picnic lunches, tea, cake and beverages from the bar.

The pop-up market and children’s activities were very popular, with an egg-and-spoon race finale topping the afternoon off. In addition to lots of fun, the event raised money for the hall to help maintain and improve its offering to the local community.

Thank you to all those who came along and we look forward to welcoming you back to the Failand Village Hall very soon.

Northleaze School

A word of thanks

THE coronation has now been consigned to history, and the flags, bunting and decorations have been packed away. I must thank the helpers for their assistance in getting the show done.

Thanks to the Long Ashton Scout Group for their assistance in erecting and dismantling the shelters, and to the individuals who carried out numerous tasks to ensure the event took place at all.

Thanks to CRBS, the South Liberty Lane Scaffolding Company who lent me the scaffolding which became our flag poles, with the tops made by Manshed.

Thanks also to the church choir for their rousing performance of folk songs, etc, and the Church Litter Picking Brigade, who busied themselves picking up litter during the evening.

Thanks also to former resident John Mattingley, now of Oakfield Farm Heavy Horses, for arranging the horse and carriage, so the Polka Dot Peaches could arrive in style.

And thanks to Emily Downing and the children of Birdwell School for entering the Portrait of our King competition, and producing 100 pictures for the Thursday Art Club to judge.

By Dave Addis, secretary Long Ashton Royal British Legion 07801 816612

Left: Northleaze reception children enjoying a royal celebration afternoon tea they prepared themselves

Enjoying the coronation festivities at Failand Hall. Image: courtesy of Fi Harris

Above and right: images courtesy of Gavin Hailes

An outdoor gathering of friends

The D-DAY Memorial 2024

By Dave Addis

6 JUNE 2024 will mark the 80th anniversary of the largest naval, air and land operation in history.

On that day, 4,000 ships and landing craft set down 132,000 allied troops on five Normandy beaches that would bring about the liberation of Northwest Europe.

Thousands of men arrived in France from the air, and some by Horsa glider, just after midnight at Pegasus Bridge; others in Horsas later that day; and some by parachute. In all, 156,000 servicemen were landed that day.

Sadly, thousands never left the beaches and are buried in countless Normandy Commonwealth cemeteries.

The bravery and sacrifice of those people in securing the peace and freedom we enjoy today will be observed by the lighting of beacons around the UK and Overseas Territories.

Long Ashton must be involved!

Only one VC Medal was awarded on D-DAY, and this was to Company Sergeant Major Stanley Hollis VC. GC. of the Green Howards. Before the war, Stan worked in his father’s fish and chip shop in Robin Hood’s Bay. In honour of this, and Stan’s achievement, and the work of fishermen during the war, in

2024 the National Fish and Chip Day will be moved to Thursday 6 June. (Fish and chips were one of the few foods not rationed in the war.)

In honour of this, we are planning a Fish and Chip Supper in the Village Hall, prior to a Drumhead Service in Peel Park, which will lead onto

the lighting of the village beacon as part of the National Chain of Beacon at 9.15pm.

Several former local servicemen were involved in the Normandy Invasion: one on a minesweeper clearing the mines for the invasion fleet; another was a Royal Marine landing on the beaches on D-Day +1; and one as a skipper of ML346, who, having survived the Dieppe Raid two years earlier, for which he was awarded the DSC, spent D-Day under heavy fire, escorting US landing craft to their allocated beaches

These three received a Légion d’honneur for their part in the liberation of France. Another local sailor spent more than 64 hours submerged in a Midget Submarine X23, marking the landing point for the fleet.

We need help to make the Long Ashton event happen, so please get in touch if you think you can help in any way. Please do it now, so we can plan ahead.

Dave Addis, secretary, Long Ashton Royal British Legion 07801 816612

Share Bristol raises £7K for expansion plans

Share Bristol has received a flurry of publicity and support from local people over the last few months for its proposed second Library of Things.

April was a great month for the volunteer team behind the notfor-profit venture. Its Crowdfunder has raised over £7,000 to open a second library in south Bristol, giving the team confidence to press ahead with its plans.

Additionally, April saw a record number of new members, with 43 new people signing up for an annual membership, on top of the 63 who donated through the Crowdfunder. All this kept the team very busy, with 168 of its 673 things going out on loan during the month.

The Share Bristol team would like to thank all the people who have got in touch to show their support.

The opening date for the second library is to be announced, but you can sign up the newsletter here and be the first to find out: www.sharebristol.org.uk/about-us/newsletter/

Or, if you would like to buy a gift voucher, to show support for the Share Bristol volunteers, you can get one now and activate it once the library opens: www.sharebristol.org.uk/gift-vouchers/

Long Ashton Village Market invites you

Plans for more rural crime officers on hold Belle wins police dog trials

By John Wimperis, Local Democracy Reporter

PLANS to have more officers investigating rural crime in Somerset have not yet gone ahead – not due to a shortage, but because there are too many new police officers.

Deputy chief constable Nikki Watson said: “The rapid growth in our officer numbers over the last three years has created some stresses and strains.

“We have a large number of new people joining us which is a fantastic opportunity but all of those people will join our frontline teams and they will need to learn the craft of becoming a police officer...

“We have to retain some of our experienced officers in those teams so that they can tutor those officers and bring them up to the skills levels that we would

all expect and need of our police officers.

“That has meant keeping some of those experienced officers in patrol and neighbourhoods but [we] have now got to the point where we can start releasing them to fulfil our commitment to grow the rural affairs unit.”

Avon & Somerset Police plans to grow its rural affairs team by two constables, a top police officer said at the Performance and Accountability Board meeting with Police and Crime Commissioner Mark Shelford on 9 May.

The two new constables

would bring the squad up to having one sergeant, four constables, and a police and community support officer.

DCC Watson does not expect the first new constable to join the rural crime team until early autumn, with senior officers not able to be spared sooner, despite more police joining the force.

CONGRATULATIONS to Avon & Somerset police dog Belle and her handler PC Pete Flinn who were declared champions at the National Police Dog Trials held at Wollaton Park in Nottingham on 20 May.

Twenty-one dogs and handlers competed in disciplines including tracking, searching, crowd control and obedience.

Sergeant Nick Dalrymple said: “I am so proud of Pete and Belle. Such an incredible achievement... They have competed with the best dogs in the UK and come out on top.”

Meet an author this June

North Somerset Libraries is running a programme of author events in Clevedon and Portishead libraries in June.

Marc Burrows

Clevedon Library

Wednesday 7 June, 7-8pm

Tickets: £5

Marc Burrows is an author, music and film critic, comic and musician. He published the first full-length biography of Terry Pratchett, The Magic of Terry Pratchett, to much acclaim in 2020. Marc is using the research for the book in a show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe later this year, and this event is to tryout the material.

This event is part of the ‘More Than Words’ Clevedon Literary Festival taking place between Wednesday 31 May and Sunday 11 June. For more information, visit: www.clevedonliteraryfestival.uk

Vaseem Khan

Clevedon Library

Thursday 8 June

Reading group workshop at 3.30-4.30pm and talk at 7-8pm

Recommended ticket price £5 for workshop; £4 for talk. ‘Pay what you can’ option available.

Vaseem Khan is author of two award-winning crime series set in India – the Baby Ganesh Agency series and the Malabar House historical crime novels. To celebrate National Crime Reading Month, Clevedon Library is inviting people to a reading group workshop with Vaseem to discuss his latest book, The Lost Man of Bombay, and an author talk.

This event is part of Word Live in Libraries, a tour of diverse authors and creative practitioners across the south west.

Rosie Parker

Portishead Library

Saturday 17 June at 10.30-12:00

Tickets are free but spaces must be pre-booked online at https://bit.ly/3BxiJLx

Rosie Parker is the pen name for Rosemary Dun, a writer of novels, poetry and songs who lives in Portishead. Hear about her latest book, Only Hummingbirds Fly Backwards, a heartfelt, family story delving into the very real stresses

and tension that can destroy the seams of a relationship. It is a celebration of love and the human spirit. Out now, the book will also be available to buy at the event.

Brian Price, Ben Mears and Mike Leonard ‘Crime Times Three’ Clevedon Library

Wednesday 21 June at 7-8pm Tickets are free but spaces must be pre-booked online at https://bit.ly/3MeSIFX Readers and writers of crime and thriller novels won’t want to miss this – three local authors in conversation about their writing. Find out why they write, how they started and what’s next for each of them.

Brian Price is the author of the DC Mel Cotton series, Fatal Trade, Fatal Hate and Fatal Dose. He is a chemist and a biologist but turned his hand to crime writing after visiting ‘Crimefest’ in Bristol in 2016.

Ben Mears began writing high fantasy as a hobby, later working on a series of early-medieval whodunits before self-publishing the YA Tyler May series. Ben is also a songwriter, an illustrator, and a

graphic designer and runs creative writing workshops in schools.

Mike Leonard qualified in Medicine at Bristol University in 1978 and worked as junior doctor in the Bristol area before travelling to work briefly in Australia and Canada. He also spent two years as the sole ship’s doctor on a cruise ship in the mid-1980s, sailing mainly in the Caribbean and Mediterranean. A Certain Persuasion is Mike’s debut novel, a thriller based in the Caribbean, USA and UK, drawing for background on his experiences at sea.

For event details and ticket info, go to https://bit.ly/451875f

Up to half of all women experience weakness in their abdominal muscles and pelvic floor muscles after pregnancy which can cause instability or poor core strength leading to women developing pelvic pain or bladder, bowel, and sexual dysfunction. Worryingly many women just put up with it as par for the course, but the message is clear postnatal rehab works.

A Mummy MOT is a specialist postnatal examination for women following both vaginal and C-section deliveries. It will assess how your posture, pelvic floor and stomach muscles are recovering after childbirth. I am a proud Mummy MOT physiotherapist, and I am on a mission to help all you mums get on track with your health and fitness goals.

Go ahead and book your appointment at Bristol Physio today

Quote Mummy20 to receive 20% off your mummy MOT (valid until 30th July).

We have a great team of experienced specialists to help with all your pain and injury needs. Quote

“All mums should have a mummy MOT”

Flights booked, passport ready –don’t forget your travel jabs!

TRAVELLING can be such a great adventure, discovering local food and culture. No surprise that the travel industry has been reporting a post-pandemic international travel boom. People are ticking off bucket-list destinations, heading off to exotic holiday destinations, and taking up delayed gap year travel or career breaks to recharge and seek new experiences.

For many, it is not the lure of a five-star holiday break or a safari adventure; going abroad is the chance to meet up again with friends and family after the separation brought about during the pandemic years. Whatever the reason for the trip, it is vital to do so safely.

Discovering your destination country’s health system is not usually on your wish-list or a memory to cherish. Still then, worryingly, there could be up to 42 million trips abroad each year where the traveller doesn’t seek any travel health advice before heading off...

Putting aside the Channel 4 documentaries – you know, the ones where ‘Unfortunate person stranded on a hospital bed in paradise’ – travel insurance was not taken out (‘I knew I had forgotten something’), or invalidated cover (‘I did not know they required me to have travel jabs’)... the additional costs and anxiety could become an endless nightmare.

ADVICE FROM A PHARMACIST with Ade Williams

Many countries will have health risks that require vaccinations for protection. The first thing to do is to contact your local GP to find out about availability for NHS travel health consultation and obtain records of your previous vaccinations.

Many people’s records will now be available on the NHS app. Getting all the information together saves time and ensures you only obtain the required private vaccinations. The recommended time to seek health advice is eight weeks before your trip. Going on a last-minute trip? Don’t panic, just get in touch with Bristol Travel Clinic on 0800 7723575.

Our prices reflect our ethos that money should not be a barrier to accessing health services. We also offer treatment to delay periods while on holiday and for help with altitude sickness. If you are not travelling but need vaccinations to protect you from chickenpox, Meningitis B or any other workrelated risks, we can help.

To get advice or book an appointment, call Bristol Travel Clinic on 0800 7723575, complete the online query form at bristoltravelclinic.co.uk or drop into Bedminster Pharmacy today. We’ll get you ready for wherever your journey takes you.

THE BRISTOL SOUTH SPACE PROGRAM

Crowns, climbing and meadow cultivation

It’s been a busy spring term so far for Northleaze Primary with over 500 metres climbed, hundreds of seeds planted and more than 200 children fitting into a crown on the playground!

At the end of April, children had the opportunity to scale the heights of a 21-foot mobile climbing wall set up in the playground. The activity, organised by the Parents Staff Association (PSA) and sponsored by parents, saw classmates cheering each other on to reach the top. Lilly in Year 4 said: “It was really good fun and we all got to have a turn.” The event also raised over £500 for the PSA which will go towards some creative activities for Northleaze Arts Week at the end of May.

On the same day, the school welcomed Tom Walmsely, director of the environmental education project and chair of the Avon Schools Eco-Network, as well as Amanda Barrett of Long Ashton Nature Community and Environment Trust (LANCET) to help cultivate another vital strip of the school’s wild meadow, which began life last year. Working with the Eco Council reps on the day, the area will hopefully develop into a really vibrant area of wildlife and pollinators.

Mrs Reyes, head teacher, said: “We’re really excited to watch how this area grows over the summer months. Each class will get the opportunity to spend time out there helping to bring this area to life.”

On 5 May, to celebrate King Charles III Coronation, the school was awash with gold card, gemstones and glue as all classes made their very own coronation crowns. Children and staff wore their bright crowns as they spent time together outside to sing the National Anthem whilst all fitting inside the shape of a giant crown on the playground! A real royal celebration!

New drop-in session to help smokers quit

A NEW drop-in session to help smokers quit is being trialled at the Town Hall in Weston-super-Mare, as part of North Somerset Council’s ongoing commitment to helping people live healthier lifestyles.

The clinic, which runs until 14 December, is on Thursdays from 4pm with the last appointment at 5.30pm.

“Our Better Health North Somerset Smokefree team offers free, non-judgmental advice tailored to you, so you can find the most effective way to stop smoking for good,” said Matt Lenny, North Somerset Council’s director of public health.

“They can offer stop-smoking aids on prescription – meaning they will be much cheaper than buying them over the counter or free if you don’t pay for prescriptions.

“There’s no need for people to book – just pop in!”

For more information, visit www.betterhealthns. co.uk/stop-smoking, text HELP to 07800 001 316, email smokefree@n-somerset.gov.uk or call 01275 546 744.

Garden Rooms Enhancing Homes and Lives of North Somerset Families

SUMMER has arrived, and it’s time to reflect on how we use our gardens and the valuable extra space they provide. A local business based in Backwell is helping families expand their living space and enhance their lives by designing and creating bespoke garden rooms and cabins.

Cabinmakers was started by Ed Cook and Matt Tipping, who have over 30 years of professional design and construction experience, after studying design together at Bower Ashton in the 80s. They design and

make unique garden rooms locally, and each project starts with a free face-to-face consultation, which is essential for understanding how their customers will use and live in their new cabin.

Expanding your home through the addition of a cabin is the simplest way to create extra space without the mess and disruption normally associated with an extension or loft conversion. Cabinmakers advise and organise all the local planning applications and building regulations certificates, if required. Most garden rooms in the Long Ashton and Failand area can be built without these, depending on factors like size, location, your need for water, or if you intend to sleep in them.

Cabinmakers’ cabins are constructed in a way that has the least impact on the planet through their considered design, local sourcing, and use of sustainable

materials. All are fully insulated and heated, making them perfect for a quiet home office, creative studio, gym, or kids’ hangout– where they can turn their music up in a well soundproofed safe space. Families

and friends are using Cabinmakers’ cabins for all of these and more. Contact Matt today to schedule a free consultation and start enhancing your home and life with a bespoke garden room.

A two-room family cabin in Claverham

Ed Cook and Matt Tipping

n MESSAGE FROM AVON & SOMERSET PCC

Stand with us against knife crime

IN May I attended the first ever Avon and Somerset Police Outstanding Policing Awards, a remarkable opportunity to honour the outstanding achievements of the men and women who dedicate their lives to keeping our communities safe.

May also marked the start of Operation Sceptre, a national targeted initiative to reduce knife-related violence, increase public safety and engage communities in the fight against knife crime.

Proactively tackling knife crime is central to my police and crime plan, and I would encourage people to safely discard any weapons or knives they may carry in the ‘weapons surrender bins’ installed by Avon and Somerset Police.

The bins are in areas where we know they are needed, and offer people a safe and anonymous way of getting rid of a weapon. If you know someone who carries a weapon, please encourage them to surrender it. You can find your nearest bin in the crime prevention advice section of the police website.

Avon and Somerset Police and partners already carry out a large range of activities to raise awareness of and combat knife crime, and the Violence Reduction Units’ work is at the heart of this, delivering talks to young people in schools, running Blunt Truth workshops in partnership with the NHS and hosting pop-up information stands.

While we have seen a reduction in street-based knife crime across Avon and Somerset, more still needs to be done to ensure people feel safe in their communities. Let’s raise awareness, educate, and stand against knife crime.

As the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners’ national fraud lead, I also welcome the publication of the government’s long-awaited strategy, setting out how it plans to tackle fraud and bring more offenders to justice.

This strategy, and the accompanying Economic Crime Plan, is an important step forward. I fully support the Government’s three-pillar approach to stop, block, pursue, and

to educate the public.

I have been able to have a direct impact on two important areas within the strategy, which will ensure there is national central coordination of prevention and awareness messaging, and ensure banks are delaying and doing extra due diligence checks on large BACS payments out of accounts that could be fraudulent.

However, the strategy does not recognise some fundamental challenges, including the highly complex landscape of investigating fraud, which needs to be fully supported.

I am calling for more to be done to recognise this crime’s significant impact and harm on victims. Fraud can leave lasting mental and physical trauma, with some victims taking their own lives.

Finally, I am pleased to say that the Commissioner’s Crime Prevention Fund grant has opened for applications.

This grant, set up by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner in partnership with Somerset

With Police and Crime Commissioner Mark Shelford

aims to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour through community projects and activities.

Community groups previously awarded this grant have delivered some fantastic crime-reducing initiatives and activities.

I implore local organisations to apply for this worthwhile funding, to reduce anti-social behaviour and make our communities safe.

Community Foundation and Quartet Community Foundation,

Picture This with Nick Church

AS well as weddings, I provide commercial photography and film, and work a lot for small businesses and airbnbs around Failand and Long Ashton.

Commercial or architectural work needs a totally different approach to weddings. Less romantic, sure, and definitely less confetti! But the photography still needs to be interesting and inviting so that people want to step into the spaces I capture. When it’s professional headshots, it’s all about capturing the character and team behind a business because, as the saying goes, “people buy products from people”.

It all keeps me on my toes, and I love the variety. No one could ever say professional photography is boring!

If anyone is interested in shots for their business or home, do let me know! www.nickchurchphotography.co.uk

Plant sale well supported

On Saturday 12 May, the Long Ashton Horticultural Society held its plant sale by the Coop in Long Ashton.

Committee member Cynthia Griffiths said: “It was really successful and we would like to thank everyone who came along and supported us. All proceeds from the sale will go towards the Flower Show on 2 September in the Village Hall.”

To advertise, contact Ruth on 07590 527 664 or email ruth@longashtonandfailandvoice.co.uk

ABOVE: a small selection from some of the amazing businesses we have in our local area

Long Ashton Parish Council update

By Cllr Phil Jackson

FOR the past year, the planning committee has not had a permanent chair. With the emerging situation regarding the Local Plan and the threat to the green belt, the decision was taken to prioritise time and effort at the planning committee meetings to the Local Plan.

At each planning meeting, an assessment is made on the regular planning permission submissions with attention to those that are considered non-standard or potentially being contentious.

Turning to the Local Plan, this has been addressed by a Green Belt Working Group which reports into the planning committee. This group started the year by considering all green belt areas within the parish and carrying out an assessment as to whether this might be considered a possible site, subject of course to special considerations, given the nature of green belt planning.

This initial assessment identified a number of priorities:

that there should be no or very limited development within Long Ashton village; that the village boundary should not be extended; and that a belt of green belt should be retained north to south to provide separation from the city of Bristol.

In addition to this assessment, the view was that, whilst not ideal, if the significant numbers of houses were required by government targets that the Woodspring Golf Course site was a potential location, albeit with significant issues due to its naturally beautiful and bio-diverse area.

Discussions were regularly held with the North Somerset Council planning team throughout the year. The assessment that Long Ashton was essentially full and that a border should be retained between Long Ashton and Bristol was an area of agreement with the NSC perspective who were challenged with meeting housing target numbers across the county with few brownfield sites available.

With these emerging views the Parish Council engaged with

n COMMUNITY NEWS

Help the hedgehogs

Laura Batt will be giving a talk on hedgehogs at LA Horticultural Society

Laura, from Pickles Hedgehog Rescue Centre, has been involved with hedgehogs since 1988, and will be giving information on what we can do in our gardens and surrounding areas to encourage and help the survival of the hedgehog –giving us simple measures that most of us would not even think about in regards to what we should and should not do in our garden to stop the decline of the Hedgehog.

The talk is on Wednesday 28 June at the Jubilee Pavilion, Long Ashton. Doors open at 7.15pm and the talk will begin at 7.45pm giving you plenty of time for a cuppa and a cake. Members £3 and non-members £5.

About Long Ashton Horticultural Society

We are a friendly group who share an interest in gardening, wildlife, crafts and other related subjects. Already this year we have got together for talks and visits to members’ gardens. We have plenty more events planned for the rest of this year, starting in June with a tour of Watercress Farm. Earlier this year, Gil Martin, the estate manager, gave us a really interesting talk about rewilding and conservation at the farm. (Further details of the visit to follow in our members’ newsletter.)

There are several advantages to becoming a member, so if you are interested in joining, contact Mary on longashtonhortsoc@gmail.com

the community to seek feedback. This included discussions with a newly-formed Save Your Green Belt residents group. Through these discussions, a meeting of minds emerged that not only should Long Ashton village be protected from development but also that there was strong local opposition to development on the Woodspring Golf Course site.

This revised position was shared with North Somerset Council, and at a meeting of executive members, it was agreed that development should be resisted in this location, even if it meant not meeting the required numbers. At approximately the same time, political change in Westminster was taking place and opportunity emerged for a private member’s bill to be put forward, championed at senior level by Michael Gove, giving higher priority to preserving the green belt. This became law in September 2022.

This recent bill restricts the ability of local authorities to

redesignate areas of green belt and creates a higher threshold on use of these areas. The adjustments in the political arena have also resulted in the number of houses needed to be built in North Somerset being revised downwards. North Somerset Council has concluded that the Local Plan should be put on hold for the time being.

Discussions will continue with North Somerset Council over the coming months – and quite probably years – with respect to new housing and the green belt, which will be a balance as some new housing will be required. It now seems likely that through the dialogue with North Somerset Council, combined with the strength of feeling within the community – including that of the resident action group – together with the new Act of Parliament, the risk of significant development around Long Ashton including that on the Woodspring Golf Course site has been largely averted.

n WHAT’S ON

Find out what’s happening this June in and around your neighbourhood

n 1 June

Yeo Organic Garden – General Open Days 2023

Book onto a morning or afternoon slot on Thursdays, Fridays or Saturdays.

10:00-17:00 RHS members FREE

Adults £7 plus £1.50 booking fee; children 2-16 £2 plus £0.88 booking fee

Take a stroll around the organic garden, comprising six-and-a-half acres of Soil Association certified ornamental and edible plants in a seasonal patchwork that has been constantly evolving for more than 30 years. Then enjoy a coffee and cake while there.

Tickets available from:

https://bit.ly/3Wbft1Q

n 4 June

Bristol Preloved Vintage Kilo

10:00 – 16:00 Bristol Beacon, Colston Street, Bristol Sustainable fashion & affordable vintage fashion – with prices from just £1. Shop through thousands of unique items and pay by weight, all just £20 per kilo! (Prices starting from just £1 for 0.05kg.)

n 6 June

Bookstart Rhymetime

North Somerset Mobile Library (Long Ashton Community Centre)

14:00 – 14:30 and alternating Tuesdays (term-time only).

Help build your child’s literacy. Book a space at these fun, free sessions sharing specially selected songs and rhymes!

For children aged 0-4, plus a parent or carer.

Places are limited, so please phone or email the library to find out more details.

T: 01275 888 864 E: mobile. library@n-somerset.gov.uk

n 9 June

Bristol in Conversation: Our Natural World 18:00-21:00 Priory Road Complex, 12 Priory Road Bristol BS8 1TU

Free tickets at:

https://bit.ly/3IkN8Ax

(NB: booking closes 30 May)

Hear from leading voices in the fight for a more sustainable future in the Natural World panel discussion, comprising outstanding University of Bristol alumni voices in wildlife conservation and filmmaking.

The discussion will focus on our rapidly changing world and the ways in which each of the

panellists hopes to educate others and protect our precious planet.

The panel will feature Dr Mike Gunton (BSc 1979), creative director of BBC Natural History, Dr Paula Kahumbu (BSc 1988), chief executive officer of WildlifeDirect, and Gillian Burke (BSc 1995), presenter of BBC Springwatch. The vice-chancellor and president, professor Evelyn Welch MBE, will be in attendance to welcome guests. Following the event, there will be a reception at Senate House.

For further information, please email alumni-events@bristol.ac.uk

n 10 June

Brigadier Purple at The Angel Inn 8pm onwards

Enjoy a night of music with this six-piece band performing a range of popular songs from the 1970s to current day

n 12 June

Long Ashton Health Walk 10:30–11:30

Meet at the Community Centre

n 16 June

Segway – Ashton Court 16 June–19 June

£25 per person – book on the day (Not a guaranteed space) £59 for two – book online (guaranteed spot) at: https://segwayevents.co.uk

n 17 June

LA Cinema

What’s Love Got To Do With It (12A)

Doors/bar 19.00. Film 19.45

Adults: £6 / under-15s: £3

Tickets available from www. la-cinema.uk, Long Ashton Post Office, or on the door on the night.

n 21 June

Quiz Night

The Angel Inn

Starts 7.45pm

Flex your brain power and help raise funds for charity – plus cash prize for the winning team.

n 22 June

Twelfth Night Outdoor Theatre

Goldney House & Garden, Lower Clifton Hill, Clifton, Bristol BS8 1BH Gates open at 18:00.

Performance 19:00-21:00

£0-£19.67

Ship-wrecked Viola is washed up in Illyria where her only chance for survival is to make use of her quick wit and fine singing voice. For more information and tickets, go to: https://bit.ly/3pOQllD

n 25 June

Music at The Angel Inn

From 5pm

Enjoy hits from the 1960s, 70s and 80s with Ken Trowbridge

n 8 July

Ashton Court Mansion

Summer Open Days

Saturday 8 July & Sun 9 July

Mansion open 10.30 – 4pm for exploring the downstairs rooms & the free exhibition about the mansion’s past and present.

Dereliction Tours of upstairs: 11am, 12pm, 1.30pm & 2.30pm (£5)

Upstairs tour tickets released from 1 June on Headfirst website and via the QR code (above).

Ashton Court Mansion is Grade 1 listed and on the Buildings at Risk Register. ...‘at once exciting, puzzling, neglected & intensely sad’ (Pevsner 2004).

It enshrined over six centuries of living and working but was derelict when Bristol City Council ‘acquired’ it in 1959. The council spent millions on demolitions and repairs but only 30% has ever been usable. Come and see for yourself, share ideas for the future, join us…

Next open weekend will be October 14th & 15th ashtoncourt.wixsite.com/ mansionfriends www.facebook.com/ mansionfriends

15 July

LA Cinema

The Fabelmans (12A)

It’s LA Community Cinema’s 8th birthday, so expect a few special treats to celebrate!

Doors/bar 19.00. Film 19.45

Adults: £6 / under-15s: £3 Tickets www.la-cinema.uk, Long Ashton Post Office, or on the door.

REGULAR EVENTS

Failand Village Hall

The Failand Village Hall is a local community hub set in the North Somerset countryside. We are a large hall with licensed bar, commercial standard kitchen, stage and ample parking. A perfect venue for everything from wedding receptions to yoga classes, pop-up markets and children’s parties. For info, go to www.failandvillagehall.org.uk

n Wednesdays 2-4.30pm

Failand Arts & Crafts Group

Bring your art, craft or hobby along and join the group at Failand Village Hall, Oxhouse Lane. £2.50 per visit; first one FREE plus £12 per year (pro rata) from Jan to Dec. Tea/ coffee and cake/biscuits included. Occasional demonstrations, members’ skills sharing and chat always welcome. Please contact Fi Harris at feltbyfi@gmail.com for more info.

n Thursday

Long Ashton Memory Café Runs every 4th Thursday monthly. Email: lamemorycafe@gmail.com or tel: Liz Anderson 07967587411

Failand Whist Club

9 July

Music at The Angel Inn 3pm til 5pm

Piratitude

Enjoy a raucous singalong of folkrock-sea shanty tunes with Bristol’s famous pirate band.

We are a small club that is looking for new players to join us each week. We meet at Failand Village Hall on Thursday evenings at 7pm. For more information please contact Val on 01275 463263 OR Helen on 01275 392676 or 07837 379076.

To advertise, contact Ruth on 07590 527 664 or email ruth@longashtonandfailandvoice.co.uk

Martin Lewis TV show on death and dementia

The financial expert Martin Lewis recently focussed his TV programme on the difficult issues of death and dementia that so many families avoid discussing.

5 KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM HIS PROGRAMME WERE:

1: All adults need an up to date Will (for when they die) to provide for those they love, and to save money spent on family disputes.

2: Having Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs) is now even more important than having a Will.

3: The age for adults to set up LPAs is NOW!

LPAs need to be set up whilst you have mental capacity, and you don’t know what life will bring – LPAs

make sure your wishes are followed if you became seriously ill or injured and lost mental capacity. The alternative to LPAs was described as horrendously expensive, slow, and may still not give you the results you’d want.

4: The gold standard to aim for is a Will and LPAs prepared by a firm of solicitors. They may cost a little more, but you should take professional advice and they will make sure they are legally valid.

5: Also, a firm of solicitors will (as part of their service) help you avoid other

problems as they will check related documents such as property titles.

The programme is Episode 14 and is still available on ITVX – but everyone should take professional advice on their own individual circumstances.

A FREE (no obligation) Will and LPA review is offered to readers of the Voice by your local experts, Simpson Solicitors.

To book your free review pop into either their Nailsea Office (opposite The Post Office in the Crown Glass Shopping Centre) or at Westbury on Trym High Street or call 01275 857 122.

n NEWS FROM THE COUNCILLORS

THANK YOU! I am honoured to have been re-elected to represent the communities of Long Ashton, Leigh Woods, Wraxall and Failand. I am grateful for every vote, and it allows me to keep working hard on your behalf as one of your councillors within North Somerset Council. I have enjoyed the campaign, meeting many of you over the last few months while delivering newsletters and knocking on doors; it’s been fantastic!

Stuart McQuillan (he/him) Green Party

Looking more widely at the results across North Somerset, it’s great to see the Green Party increase representation on North Somerset Council, going from four to seven councillors, including two wards bordering Long Ashton Ward. I look forward to working with my new colleagues.

I also welcome recent news of a partnership agreement between Greens, Liberal Democrats, Labour and Independents to form an administration to run North Somerset council. I think it’s important that politicians work together across party lines to deliver for the residents they serve.

For my part, I will be focusing on the priorities outlined in the previous issue: protecting the Green Belt; enhancing the safety and sustainability of local transport; and managing the impact of Durnford Quarry operations.

If you have any issues or concerns or feel there are other priorities that require my attention, please do get in touch with me.

T: 07866 512 391

E: stuart.mcquillan@n-somerset.gov.uk

n GARDENING Garden tips for June

Local gardener Ben Collison shares his tips for encouraging wildlife

JUNE is a time of abundance in the garden as the sun shines longer. The garden is now in full bloom, with a wide array of flowers and vegetables ready for harvest.

In the vegetable garden, it’s the perfect time to start harvesting early crops such as lettuce, peas and strawberries. You can also plant summer vegetables like courgettes, squashes, tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers. Gardens are bursting with life and, by creating a wildlife-friendly garden, you can attract a variety of creatures, from pollinators to birds and even small mammals.

One of the best ways to encourage wildlife in your garden is to plant a diverse range of native plants. These plants not only provide food and habitats for local wildlife but also support the local ecosystem. Consider planting wildflowers such as cornflowers, oxeye daisies and wild marjoram, which are loved by pollinators like bees and butterflies.

If you have space, think about adding a water feature, such as a small pond or bird bath, to provide a source of water for birds and other animals. You can also create shelters for wildlife by installing bird boxes, hedgehog houses and bug hotels.

Encouraging wildlife into your garden also helps to protect your plants from pests and diseases. Birds are a great defence against slugs and snails, while beneficial insects such as ladybugs and lacewings will help to keep the aphids at bay.

Don’t forget to take the time to relax, observe nature and enjoy the outdoors this month.

Happy gardening!

Ben Collison, garden designer www.collisongardening.co.uk

THANK YOU for re-electing me as one of your North Somerset Councillors for the next four years. I am pleased to have been returned and am looking forward to getting back to work.

A new administration has been formed at North Somerset Council and is a partnership of Liberal Democrat, Labour, Green, and Independent councillors.

I am pleased that so many groups have decided to come together to work for the benefit of us all. It is a style of politics I like and believe in, one of collaboration not confrontation, and I shall continue to work with all councillors irrespective of their political party.

Liberal Democrats

Talking to residents while campaigning there are several pressing local issues that need looking into. These include the quarry, the Long Ashton Bypass bus lane, and opposing a large development at the end of Long Ashton opposite Wild Country Lane. With my fellow councillor, Stuart, I shall be working on all of these over the coming weeks. If you have any views or concerns, please let me know.

Across North Somerset there are several other matters where I intend to use my voice to represent you. One issue that was raised frequently during the election was the changes to Clevedon seafront, and I will be pressing for a full review of the scheme.

As ever, please get in touch if there is anything I can help with.

T: 07904 188 187

E: ashley.cartman@n-somerset.gov.uk

Councillor

Councillor Ashley Cartman

I READ an amazing statistic the other day: you need to have a loss of 80% of kidney function before you even have symptoms or an issue shows up on diagnostic tests.

This got me thinking. Firstly, how amazing our body is at adapting! Many people have the idea that our bodies are weak and vulnerable –that the smallest change will throw out the balance. But, the reality is our bodies are incredibly resilient. And the example of how your body can cope with up to 80% loss of kidney function before it even lets you know is a prime example.

The other thing I realised was this statistic most likely transfers to the majority of your body – your liver, your heart, your digestion, etc. For how long does your back adapt before you start to get pain? This is something I know a lot more about.

The acute lower back pain that started three weeks ago is rarely a three-week old problem. Often the clues point back years, and sometimes originate as far back as when you were a child or teenager. The body very cleverly adapts. It adapts to the repetitive strain put upon

it by repeated movements and spending hours in poor posture. It adapts and adapts until it can’t adapt anymore. And then it tells you there is a problem in the language it knows best – pain. When a patient comes to Kasa, our job is to listen to what the body is saying

– not just the recent story, but follow the bread crumbs back to the root of the issue where it started. As we work to resolve the issue, the symptoms subside and resolve. As we bring balance back to your body, another amazing thing happens: we also improve your body’s adaptability – the ability to cope with the stresses of life. This helps prevent the problem, and others, from returning.

If your body is telling you it can’t adapt any more, perhaps get in contact with us so we can help you get to the root cause of the problem. Give us a call today.

Charles Herbert Kasa Chiro

Recycling and waste collection trial

NORTH Somerset Council is currently trialling a new approach to kerbside recycling and waste collections.

Using a sample of households, the trial will look at the advantages and disadvantages of using larger bins which feature four compartments, three wheels and a lid. Residents taking part in the trial will use these new style bins instead of their existing multiple recycling and waste containers.

The bins will be collected by a specialist recycling vehicle which features a unique lift mechanism that matches the bin’s four compartments to the lorry’s four collection chambers.

It is hoped that the new system could provide a range of benefits to households including increased recycling capacity and ease of sorting, an easier to move bin and reduction of litter.

If the trial is successful and the new system implemented, the council would reduce the number of journeys needed to collect household recycling and waste – reducing pollution, congestion on the roads and saving the council money.

For more information about the project, visit www.n-somerset.gov.uk/quatro

Loneliness Awareness Week

IF you are feeling alone and looking for company or support, Bristol-based charity Marmalade Trust is dedicated to helping people – of any age – feel more connected.

From 12-18 June, the charity will be holding its annual Loneliness Awareness Week and this year’s theme is ‘Connection Matters’. It will encourage people to harness small everyday moments of connection to support everyone, everywhere, to feel acknowledged, happier and less lonely.

Loneliness Awareness Week is an opportunity to build our sense of community and connection and raise awareness of loneliness across the UK and around the world.

Loneliness isn’t always obvious, but it’s a part of many people’s lives. Yet small spontaneous interactions, like a passing smile or a five-minute chat, can change how we feel and make a big difference in our lives. Loneliness Awareness Week is an opportunity to build our sense of community and raise awareness of loneliness across the UK and around the world.

Check out the website for ideas, inspiration and tools to get involved, plan an activity, and find out what’s happening near you via the interactive Connections Map. Check out the website to find out how you can get involved and help make a real difference in your life, and the lives of others.

https://events.lonelinessawarenessweek.org

The Quatro waste and recycling bin

Southville Primary

Our wonderful preschool offers:

• A fully qualified and highly experienced class teacher.

• Staff who care for and develop each child as an individual.

• A stimulating and creative environment where children’s interests lead the learning and independence is built.

• A wonderful community of supportive parents.

• A childcare setting within a high -performing school.

• 15 and 30 hours free childcare during term time

• Wraparound care available through our trusted provider. www.southville.bristol.sch.uk