South Bristol Voice April 2024 100th edition

‘Great opportunity’ to fix WECA

Political leaders in the West of England have a ‘great opportunity’ to repair their relationships — when leadership in Bristol changes, said the Metro Mayor

The West of England Combined Authority (WECA) was put on notice by the government on 5 March over the poor relationships between its political leaders, amid other issues. There have been a number of high-profile clashes between Metro Mayor Dan Norris and the leaders of the three councils which make up the authority: Bristol City

Council, South Gloucestershire Council, and Bath and North East Somerset Council.

At a WECA scrutiny committee on Monday 11 March, committee chair Ed Plowden – who said the notice was “disappointing but maybe not surprising” – asked Mr Norris what he would do differently. Mr Norris said he would “do a reset” and

said: “I think there’s a great opportunity now because we are clearly going to have a different political leadership in Bristol, irrespective of the outcome of the elections themselves.”

The position of Bristol’s Mayor Marvin Rees is set to be abolished in May, as the city council switched from a Continued on page 5 >

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Contacts

Ruth Drury Publisher 07590 527664

sales@southbristolvoice.co.uk

Cathy Parnham Editor news@southbristolvoice.co.uk

Next month’s deadline for editorial and advertising is noon on 10 April 2024.

COMPLAINTS

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HOW DO I GET IN TOUCH WITH ...

My MP? Karin Smyth MP

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

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

By phone: 0117 953 3575

In person: Call the above number for an appointment

My councillor?

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

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:

USEFUL NUMBERS

Bristol City Council

www.bristol.gov.uk 0117 922 2000

Waste, roads 0117 922 2100

Pests, dog wardens 0117 922 2500

Council tax 0117 922 2900

Follow us on social media:

Cllr.Tony.Dyer@bristol.gov.uk

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

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

Housing benefit 0117 922 2300

Social services 0117 922 2900

Police Inquiries 101 Emergency 999

n PUBLISHER’S NOTE

Welcome

Hi there and welcome to South Bristol Voice’s 100th edition!

I thought I’d introduce myself as it’s been a long, long time since I originally did so. I’m Ruth, a local resident, plus the owner and publisher of South Bristol Voice. I’ve been working at the South Bristol Voice since 2015, gradually working my way up the ladder and I’m now in charge!

We’ve had many changes since launch, but we’re in a great place with lots of local businesses supporting us, some great editorial contributions, and plenty of giveaways – you can find some of these giveaways on page 7, something where our brilliant local companies have come together to reward all of you, our loyal readers.

If you’ve worked with us, supported us, written for

us, delivered for us or been any part of the South Bristol Voice’s 100 editions, then we want to offer you a huge thank you, and especially to Paul Breeden, local resident who created this wonderful paper in the first place.

Have a great Easter and I hope you enjoy our 100th edition!

Ruth

n NEWS

‘Great opportunity’ to fix WECA when leadership changes southbristolvoice 100th issue

Continued from page 1 > “leader and cabinet” system to a “committee” structure. The two mayors recently clashed over the feasibility of a London-style underground in Bristol, with the plans ending in stalemate after they were vetoed by Mr Norris.

Mr Norris added: “We have also had a year which has allowed the new South Gloucestershire arrangement to start to get in, where you have joint leaders there […] So I think it’s a great opportunity for us to reset and have hopefully new relationships.”

The “best value notice” issued to the combined authority by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities ordered WECA to set up an “independent improvement panel” to tackle a host of issues, from poor relationships between political leaders to “confusion” about what the combined authority does.

Mr Norris insisted: “They were issues that were really live when

I first arrived – to my horror and shock, if I’m honest, that there was a lot of dysfunctional things going on.

“I don’t think it’s helpful for me, in a public forum, to talk about those because I am very keen that we talk in a way that does not draw attention to our region in a negative way and yet that is what I am afraid seems to happen.

“Other regions have equal challenges to us; other metro mayors have similar challenges to us. But their council leaders and their councillors seem to have a regional focus that doesn’t allow them to damage their region – and I am kind of concerned that we are doing that by some of the things that we do and say.”

Mr Norris said he would do his best but other people needed to, too. He said: “Relationships are not one-way things. […] It’s give and take isn’t it? And sometimes I felt that it’s been a lot of me giving and the other

people taking, and I’ve no doubt that they probably think it’s the other way.

“But the truth is we have to relook at that, revisit that, and I’m always happy to do that.”

He added: “It’s interesting that this notice is being issued now – and it’s for others to speculate why that might be in a general election year.”

But chair of WECA’s audit committee Geoff Gollop said that the “issues of dysfunctionality” had begun in the autumn of 2021, shortly after Mr Norris was elected. He added that the audit committee had been already trying to raise concerns about the very issues flagged in the government warning.

Mr Gollop told the meeting: “They have identified and shared exactly the issues that audit committee have been raising. It is a real frustration that we have just been ignored and patted on the head and we find ourselves now receiving a notice that we and [the scrutiny committee]

have been saying was inevitable.”

He added: “I don’t want to make a choice as to who’s responsible other than to say the political leaders, in the form of a committee, are the ones who can lead.

“The officers can’t resolve the constitution without clear direction. The officers can’t make the local authorities sit down and plan in advance if all the leaders won’t turn up to the premeetings to work through.

“So these are the massively fundamental things that are the basic building blocks of the authority being functional and moving forward.”

As we went to press, the three council leaders and the Metro Mayor were due to meet for a WECA committee meeting on Friday March 15 at Aerospace Bristol in Patchway, with the “best value notice” at the top of the agenda.

By John Wimperis, Local Democracy Reporter

n NEWS FROM BRISTOL SOUTH MP KARIN SMYTH

Ensuring all families thrive

Every parent and carer wants the best for their children, from coping with the anxieties of caring for a newborn to the privilege of watching them grow.

Ensuring the best possible start to life for your child often means making difficult decisions around childcare, schooling, and other aspects of their development.

Sadly, families in south Bristol and across the country have lost vital support in many aspects of family life.

The loss of Sure Start centres has been keenly felt locally, and government resources have been taken away from our communities.

I regularly hear from parents who are unable to access their entitlement of funded childcare, as local services struggle to cope with demand and government

underfunding of free hours. The number of early years providers has fallen, leaving parents in Bristol facing above-average costs.

Despite the Government pledging to expand parents’ free childcare allowance, little is being done to tackle the shortage of childcare places.

Through my work in Parliament, I’m determined to bring back these services for families in need.

The early years sector needs government support. It’s Labour’s ambition to build a modern childcare system – one that supports families from finishing parental leave through to the end of primary school.

Free breakfast clubs for every primary school will be the first step in this mission, giving children a healthy start to the day

while parents can get to work.

But we know that a good start to life requires more than just childcare. Alongside colleagues in Labour’s health team, we’ve developed a plan to reverse the shocking decline in children’s health.

This will include training more health visitors to give parents and babies advice and support, placing mental health specialists in every school, and providing supervised toothbrushing at breakfast clubs.

Over the last decade, cuts to important services and a crisis in child health has held back a generation of children and made life difficult for parents. I understand how vital it is that our children are supported to thrive and, as your MP, I will continue to work towards ensuring all families thrive.

PET AWARENESS MONTH

This year, National Pet Awareness Month runs from 1 April to 1 May 2024. To support the nationwide campaign, we spoke to Holly Hedge in Long Ashton and the Dogs Trust in Bristol about choosing and looking after your pet.

In focus: Holly Hedge

Holly Hedge shares advice about getting a new pet and introduces some of its pets looking for a new family

Getting a new pet can be exciting, but it is essential to think about whether they will be a good match for you and your family. If adopting an animal from a rehoming centre like Holly Hedge, the staff will be able to help you find the right animal, they will ask questions about your lifestyle and circumstances and ask to see photos of your home and garden to ensure you are a good match for your potential new pet.

You will be given lots of information about the cat or dog you are adopting, including their temperament, health, diet and some advice specific to them to help them settle in.

When bringing your new pet home, remember time, patience and kindness are key. For most animals this will be a big upheaval and they will take time to settle in.

If you are adopting a cat or kitten, ensure your home is fully secure and that windows and cat flaps are not left open. A cat’s sense of security is centred around their territory, so allow your cat to begin acquainting

themselves with their new home a little at a time. Dogs should have their own space to rest and feel safe. It is especially important that children understand not to disturb a dog when they are sleeping or eating.

Although it can be tempting to show off your new pet, it is best to keep visitors to a minimum to begin with while they are settling in and learning they are safe.

Ensure you register with a vet straightaway and consider taking out pet insurance. Vet treatment can be expensive and sadly we see animals surrendered because their owners can no longer afford

Looking for a new home

their veterinary costs.

Make sure the animal’s chip details are up-to-date and that your dog wears a tag with the contact details required by law. Follow the advice from your vet and rescue centre about neutering. This is especially important for kittens – a female kitten can become pregnant at just five months old and can be responsible for 20,000 descendants in just five years!

If you adopt a pet from Holly Hedge, the rehoming team is always happy to give advice and support to help you. Perhaps one of our long-stay animals could be your perfect companion…

Meet some of the pets at Holly Hedge who are looking for a new family

Lola

Lola is our longest stay resident at the sanctuary. Sadly she has spent over 900 days with us. Lola is extremely clever and loves puzzles as well as zooming around our secure fields. Lola had an unsettled start in life and is looking for a calm and quiet adult-only home without other pets.

https://hollyhedge.org.uk/ our-animals/rehome-adog/lola-new-staffy-x/

Hope

Hope is a beautiful staffy. She may only have three legs, but this does not slow her down! Her absolute highlight of the week is swimming at a local rehabilitation centre to build her strength and her confidence. Hope is looking for a quiet adult-only home where she can build a bond and enjoy some sofa snuggles.

https://hollyhedge.org.uk/ our-animals/rehome-adog/hope-staffy/

Buster

Four-year-old Buster hasn’t been at Holly Hedge long but is desperate to find his forever home as he finds the noisy and busy environment at the kennels quite stressful. Buster gives the best cuddles and cannot wait to return to a life of home comforts.

https://hollyhedge.org.uk/ our-animals/rehome-adog/buster-collie-x-staffy/

Princess and Bundle

These two beautiful girls are Savannah cats. Typical of their breed, they are bright and quite vocal. They will need a home happy to provide lots of enrichment and company.

https://hollyhedge.org. uk/our-animals/rehomea-cat/bundle-princesssavannah-cats/

Bristol dog school helps make ‘happy pooches and happy owners’

A dog school in Bristol is working within the community to help make both owners and pooches happy.

Dogs Trust Dog School, which has several locations across Bristol, offers practical training classes and expert advice.

With both in-person and virtual training courses available, Dogs Trust Dog School Bristol helps owners and their dogs understand each other better. The sessions work on skills including recall and walking on the lead – teaching owners how to communicate effectively with their pooches.

Dogs Trust Dog School uses

reward-based training, as this helps change behaviour and enhance the bond between dog and owner in a positive way.

Sam Western, head coach at Dogs Trust Dog School Bristol, said: “We are so excited to be working within the Bristol community to help make people and their pets happier and more in tune.

“Training classes are not only for pups showing unwanted behaviours... and all dogs can benefit!”

For advice, or more information about Dogs Trust Dog School Bristol and the services it offers, please visit: www.dogstrust.org.uk/dogadvice/dog-school

The Bristol Social Impact Awards 2024

A celebration of the power of community in Bristol

The prestigious awards ceremony (formally named The Voscurs) returned on Thursday 29 February. Twelve awards were given out to celebrate amazing work happening locally.

The Bristol Social Impact Awards returned recently after five years, led by Voscur, the support and development agency for charities, community groups and social enterprises in Bristol. This awards ceremony brought 160 people together to recognise the incredible contribution of people throughout the city who volunteer or work to improve their communities.

Nearly 300 amazing nominations were made by people from local communities across the city! These were reviewed by a panel of 15 representatives from the business, Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE), and public sectors with expertise in each category.

The big event took place at City of Bristol College in Hengrove, bringing together people from all over the city to celebrate the achievements of social purpose organisations and individuals within them.

There was an incredible atmosphere, with all shortlisted organisations and people there to celebrate together, along with event sponsors and supporters from sectors across Bristol. All shortlisted organisations received recognition for their social impact, and event attendees showed enormous support for and encouragement of each other.

Entertainment from the Renewal Choir got everyone on their feet to dance, and a heartfelt speech from the Right Honourable Lord Mayor Councillor Paul Goggin on how community organisations had helped him in his personal life made the event extra special.

And the winners are…

The Partnership Award winner: BXCellence CIC

The Environmental award winner: Sparks Bristol

The Batook Pandya Award for Inclusion winner: St Paul’s Carnival CIC

The Lorraine Bush Award for Resilience winner: Mothers for Mothers

The Bristol Innovation Award winner: SLEEC

The Volunteer of the Year Award winner: Kyle

The Young Community Leader Award winner: Youth Opinions

The Cost-of-Living Crisis Response Award winner: Mamas Bristol

The Good Governance Award winner: The Bridge Foundation

The Inspirational Community Leader winner: Michelle Meredith

The Equity and Diversity Award winner: WECIL’s Access and Inclusion Team

The Team of the Year Award winner: Family and Friends BS13

Full details at: https://bit.ly/3uUm3Ro

‘Almost 400 council homes left empty’

Average re-let time of 115 days for Bristol council homes

Council homes in Bristol are left empty for an average of over three months before being let to new tenants. A backlog of repairs means there is a long delay between tenancies, leaving hundreds of homes owned by Bristol City Council empty, while thousands are waiting for social housing.

Between October to December last year, the average re-let time for council homes was 115 days. An update on the council’s housing services was given to councillors on the growth and regeneration scrutiny commission, on Thursday, 7 March.

The target time for turning around council homes in between tenancies is either 50 days or 70 days, according to a report to the scrutiny commission, which gave both figures.

The number of households in temporary accommodation was 1,497 — three times as many as in 2018.

The report said: “There has been a concerted effort, agreed by councillors, to focus on long-term (over 12 months) empty properties this year. All long-term empty properties have been reviewed. Each now has an action plan in place and contractor capacity has been increased to undertake the work required. “This means that average re-let times may stay high or even spike as these empty properties are brought back into use. However, as the backlog reduces, the average re-let time should start to decrease more rapidly after [March].”

Sometimes houses and flats are left empty despite being ready to be re-let, while others need repairs before new tenants can move in. Almost 400 council homes are estimated to

be empty across Bristol. Meanwhile, there is thought to be around 67 people sleeping rough in the city.

Speaking to the scrutiny commission, John Smith, executive director of growth and regeneration, said: “That’s something that we should pay more attention to, and we did make some good progress. But the diversion of a lot of resources to Barton House hasn’t helped that. We’re hoping to make some more progress by the end of this quarter.

“We’ve put in additional resources in the repairs and maintenance team. Part of what’s been going on at the moment is a lot of the team have been involved in the letting process once they’re ready. We have made good progress on the repairs and maintenance side, and I’m confident that we can improve this.”

By: Alex Seabrook, Local Democracy Reporter

Heritage Heroes winners

A group of volunteers who have supported Clifton Suspension Bridge have been recognised for their exceptional service to the UK’s heritage sector. The Ecclesiastical Heritage Collaboration 2023 Award, one of two Ecclesiastical Heritage Hero Awards, celebrates the Clifton Suspension Bridge Volunteer Hard Hat Tour Guides, a group of volunteers who lead hard hat tours into the Leigh Woods Abutments – a series of 12 vaulted chambers supporting the structure of Brunel’s Victorian suspension bridge.

Volunteers have researched and created props to bring the story to life and their enthusiasm and dedication led to visitor numbers doubling.

Sponsored by specialist heritage insurer Ecclesiastical, the Heritage Heroes Awards are the Heritage Alliance’s celebration of the outstanding contribution Britain’s heritage volunteers make to society. Volunteers are vital for the protection of England’s heritage. From caring for rural heritage sites to engaging the next generation of visitors, volunteers’ skills, passion, and commitment are the backbone of the heritage sector.

The awards were presented by Laura Carter, customer segment director at Ecclesiastical,

and Ingrid Samuel OBE, interim chair of the Heritage Alliance. Each of the winners received an Ecclesiastical Heritage Hero 2023 winner presentation plaque. Speakers included Lord Parkinson, Minister for Heritage, Lord Neil Mendoza CBE, chair of Historic England, and Ros Kerslake CBE, chief executive of the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Laura Carter said: “… this year celebrates two incredibly deserving winners for their outstanding contribution to the heritage sector. Congratulations to the Tyne Theatre & Opera House Performance Research

Volunteers and Clifton Suspension Bridge Volunteer Hard Hat Tour Guides!”

Lizzie Glithero-West, CEO at the Heritage Alliance, said: “It’s a pleasure to see such a high-quality and diverse range of nominees for an award that celebrates the commitment and passion of volunteers in the heritage sector. These projects are driven on voluntary effort and are achieving incredible things in conserving, celebrating and opening up special places to new audiences... congratulations to the winners [and] all those nominated for their hard work and dedication.”

A Clifton Suspension Bridge Volunteer Hard Hat Tour Guides spokesperson said: “We are delighted to have won the Heritage Heroes Award! The team puts a lot of time and effort into developing its knowledge of the bridge’s history, engineering and geology, and works hard to share the vaults with a wide range of people. The team does everything from helping visitors to overcome vertigo to explaining how stalactites are formed and answering technical questions from professional engineers.

“This kind of recognition is a celebration of the work of our incredible team and all the individual achievements which led to a record breaking 2023 season!”

Gordon Young, volunteer Hard Hat Guide inside the Leigh Woods Vaults

n NEWS FROM LOCAL COUNCILLORS

Knowle has more than its fair share of important and well-run community organisations and Jubilee pool is clearly one of them. The mayor has clearly resented having to hand it across to local management and would have preferred to close it as he regards it as a competitor to expensive council run pools.

You would think that gratitude would be shown for a great public service at no cost to the council but every barrier has been thrown up. Central government made money available to pools because of energy costs and BCC tried to block the jubilee bid. Fortunately jubilee went direct, got a grant, but despite the rebuke of BCC the capital bid was too late. Disgraceful.

Gary Hopkins and Chris Davies

Knowle Community Party councillors for Knowle

Last year most green councillors were pressured out of supporting a capital bid at budget council and this year the widely supported bid for a share of local funds available to councillors was blocked at the last stage as neighbouring councillors failed to support our attempt to force this into the public and gave in to the mayor’s back room pressure. There was a chance that he would have backed down as he has before. Nothing could illustrate the difference between our approach and that of the Labour mayor more starkly than Jubilee pool.

Roll on May. Decision-making will be very different then and we look forward to not only Jubilee Pool but other local organisations being valued and treated fairly.

This is our penultimate column before the local elections on 2 May. Although we are both standing again and we obviously hope to earn your vote and be elected again, we would never take the electorate for granted.

So, we are taking this opportunity to thank a few of the many groups across the Southville ward who have contributed so much.

Our ward has been, and will continue to be, the focus of much change – with major new developments taking place, or planned to take place, at both ends of the ward.

We are therefore grateful to Action Greater Bedminster for the work they have done to raise awareness of the changes coming to our area, and in particular for the work they have done arranging

multiple events around the BS3 Beyond 2025 theme.

We are also lucky to have two much-loved parks, with two very active friends groups in Friends of Greville Smyth (FroGS) and the Dame Emily Park Project (DEPP). It has been a joy to support them in gaining developer-led funding to help them further improve the parks.

We would also like to thank BS3 Community who do so much work to support the community in so many ways, as do St Paul’s Church who have also provided muchneeded support for some of the most underprivileged people in our ward.

There are many others we could name, if the word count allowed.

Thank you, all of you, for the work you do for our community.

This is probably our last column before the next local elections on 2 May, when Bristol will elect the new council.

It has been an enormous honour to represent our neighbourhood for the last three years. We have enjoyed meeting so many people and helping to solve individual and collective problems and to work alongside the many volunteers who work so hard locally.

We have supported projects large and small: the skate park in Victoria Park; the upgrades on Zone A; and completing a third community designed mural for Totterdown. We have seen trees planted across the ward, and we have door-knocked on every single street in the ward to hear feedback directly from residents.

Other news is less good: we continue to await the St Luke’s Rd Zebra crossing, which is now due in the summer after a seven-year wait, and we have yet to see any good rationale for the road closure at Bellevue Road (see news, p34).

We have a lot more we’d like to achieve, for example a community takeover of the Victoria Park Lodge, the roll-out of a major traffic calming scheme and residents parking. We hope to be re-elected to keep working hard in service of the local community.

We hope we can be part of working across all political parties to make the new committee system work well for the city.

Whatever the outcome of the election, it has been an honour to meet so many of you and work alongside you. All the very best!

As I’m standing down at the next election, this is my last column as your councillor. I would like to thank you all for the privilege and honour this job has been for the last three years and take this opportunity to reflect.

Public transport has been a major issue of my term, with many public meetings and lots of press and radio interviews. Since 2023, we have had no buses at all.

But what a force of nature you’ve all become. The Suffragettes, the Friends of Ashton Vale buses and Ashton Vale Together have been lobbying both mayors and the press constantly. And it’s worked. Not only have Transfora provided a new route, but also the No 24 has returned. Match-day parking is an issue I get a lot of emails about. Along with five other Green councillors, we got extra funding for a South Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood, which we hope will help solve this issue.

The council is steadily collecting data on how this will work and will be contacting residents in the next few months.

Over the last three years, I have called in many terrible planning applications for housing. This included proposals to turn two-bed terraced houses into nine-bedroom House of Multiple Occupations, and major developments that have ignored the council’s commitment to provide 30% affordable housing.

The work I am most proud of is the Ashton Vale Wetlands project. I took the opportunity to invite a group of University of the West of England MA architecture students to work with residents on a plan to restore and regenerate Ashton Vale Town Village Green, known locally as the ‘Marsh’.

This unique wetland is home to numerous species and visiting bird life. It was saved by residents in perpetuity as a Town Village Green.

n NEWS FROM LOCAL COUNCILLORS

From the start of April, Ashton Vale has had two new bus services. This is welcome as many in the community have faced isolation since the previous service changes. It is important to ensure that the services survive for the longer term and that this is not just a short-term response to competition. This also requires an active focus on franchising key services which have a community and strategic value – something that the Combined Authority will need to put in place.

Meeting local residents, I was shocked at the implications of a major planning development being proposed for West Street near Parson Street. Quite simply, their access lane would be severely restricted by a massive new development which would also alter the setting of the listed Rock Cottage. I’ll be objecting to the scheme and asking officers to ‘call in’ the proposals for a planning committee to decide. It was striking that the community has been left to

discover about the proposals from the Council planning portal.

I dropped in to meet the residents of Gaywood House at their coffee morning. Over the years I’ve had many lovely conversations about life in Bedminster, but also some of the challenges they face. I’ve tried to resolve as many of these as possible and will miss this friendly group (although they ask tough questions) when I stand down next month. My colleagues Emily and Adam have been briefed to make this a regular calendar event if they are elected in May.

I’m glad to see the junctions at Winterstoke Road/Luckwell Road and Cannon Street getting repaired and thanks to the contractors who worked hard to get the work done, especially overnight. These are busy, complex junctions and so repairing them at any time is a challenge. Both also need better pedestrian crossings and I hope that the new Bedminster councillors can prioritise this.

New Library of Things

Share Bristol, the charity that runs the Library of Things in Kingswood, has finally signed the lease for a unit in Bedminster, allowing it to bring its sharing experience to south Bristol.

Probably the most common question asked over the last few months is where the Bedminster Library of Things was going to be, but Share Bristol was sworn to secrecy until the lease was agreed. But now the secret is out – the location is the old Shoezone shop at the entrance to St Catherine’s Place.

Firmstone, the developer of the building, has granted Share Bristol a lease of up to two years, and Bristol City Council has pledged a grant to help get the unit back into a decent state.

Lisa Harper, the Bedminster Library of Things manager, said: “We’re so excited to get working on the new Library of Things, and incredibly grateful to everyone who donated to our Crowdfunder last year, all the people who have put Things aside ready for us to have, and all

our amazing BS3 volunteers who have been waiting patiently for this news.”

Share Bristol still needs more donations of Things to lend out, with the items most needed being carpet cleaners, pressure washers, sanders and other DIY tools. It also needs more volunteers to help fix things and run lending sessions, and is asking the south Bristol community and beyond for help as well.

Anna Perry, trustee of Share Bristol, said: “We know lots of people have been really keen to see Share Bristol become accessible to people in south Bristol and beyond, and we now need them to support us by signing up for an annual membership, which will allow a full year of borrowing for free.

SS Great Britain celebrates the Australian roots of the English Garden

Brunel’s SS Great Britain to reveal botanic installation

From Royals to rhododendrons, Brunel’s iconic ship carried precious cargo during the Victorian era.

Living plants will return to the SS Great Britain for the first time in 150 years. From March 26, the ship’s weather deck will display six beautifully reconstructed Wardian cases for visitors to explore. Wardian cases were mini glass houses which, in 1833, were adapted to transport living plants on the decks of ships across the oceans.

In its day, the SS Great Britain transported royalty, nobility and sports stars alike. But this year, the team behind the iconic vessel is marking the ship’s role in horticultural history by celebrating its lesser-known plant passengers.

The modern-day cases are replicas of the last surviving ship-board example designs, which are kept in the Kew Gardens archive. The cases will celebrate the inbound and outbound plant species that the ship transported across the world

between 1859 and 1875.

As the fastest ship travelling to Australia in her day, many traders (nursery workers, planthunters and botanists) used the SS Great Britain to transport their precious cargo across long distances. Antipodean ferns and tree ferns, hugely popular in the conservatories and glass houses of Victorian Britain, were often transported. The SS Great Britain also carried orchids, which could command huge prices as ornamental pieces.

Each case will be planted with a true-to-life ‘order’ to make the global crossing. The innovation of the Wardian case revolutionised long-distance plant transport. Each sealed case created its own microclimate, allowing the fauna and flora

to survive despite only being watered once during a twomonth crossing.

Visitors to Brunel’s SS Great Britain can also enjoy a new botany-themed discovery talk and participate in horticultural workshops. The ship will also add a ‘botanist’s cabin’ to its museum, depicting the sights, sounds and smells of life onboard and highlighting the important work and research of Victorian botanists and ‘plant hunters’.

By enabling the global migration of plants, the SS Great Britain connected key botanists, entrepreneurs and ‘plant hunters’ from across the world. The plants the SS Great Britain transported inspired some of our most famous thinkers. It’s thought the Australian orchids, which supported Darwin’s theory of evolution, were sent to his home in Kent via the ship.

Iona Keen, head of

interpretation at SS Great Britain, said: “We’re so excited to bring the horticultural history of the SS Great Britain to life for the first time... visitors can immerse themselves in the untold botanical story of Brunel’s famous ship and discover the delights of our Wardian cases.

“Each has been faithfully restored with the help of our partners from across Bristol’s growing communities, and collectively, they offer a fascinating insight into the floral favourites of the Victorians.

“Our new exhibits provide insight into just how significant the use of Wardian cases and steamships were as living plants started to be moved between continents for the first time.”

The new permanent botany exhibits will launch on 26 March 2024 and you can buy tickets from www.ssgreatbritain. org/tickets

GPs want to prescribe ‘time out in nature’

Doctors call for investment in trees and green space to reduce pressure on NHS

Policymakers must prioritise the environment to improve the health of the nation and ease pressure on the NHS, say doctors.

Research by the Woodland Trust reveals 96% of GPs surveyed want the Government to take action to combat health threats from climate change and extreme weather. From the poll of 255 doctors from practices across the country, 70% say they should be able to prescribe time out in nature to ensure the health of future generations.

The survey reveals 77% of GPs believe more trees could help reduce the financial burden on the NHS and 94% are calling for more trees around urban schools to combat lung diseases like asthma. Previous research has found significantly lower asthma rates among children aged four to five in areas with more street trees.

Almost half of doctors (45%) have seen a rise in patients reporting climate anxiety in the past 12 months, with the survey results showing that improving the environment must be integral to safeguarding people’s future health. Dr Darren Moorcroft, chief

Credit: AngusMurrayWTML

executive of the Woodland Trust said: “This powerful research, from trusted medical professionals, shows the need to prioritise the environment to reduce the burden on the NHS and save lives. Policymakers must take heed of these results. A startling 96% of GPs – who are on the frontline of healthcare in this country – want environmental issues moved up the political agenda. They recognise the potentially life-giving benefits of a cleaner, greener world, ever more important due to the greater effects of climate change, and

want their patients to be able to access those benefits more easily.”

Trees can help reduce temperatures on the ground by up to 12 degrees. Doubling urban tree cover from 15% to 30% could lower average city temperatures by 0.4°C, and in some areas by as much as 5.9°C, potentially saving thousands of lives.

The Woodland Trust is urging people to join doctors in backing its campaign to get more trees in the ground to fight the twin threats of climate change and biodiversity loss. There are two ways to get involved – buy and plant a tree from its online Tree Shop or sign up to its monthly enewsletter.

Dr Moorcroft added: “We know it’s going to take more than trees to solve the climate crisis, but we won’t have a world worth living in without billions more of them. We have made it our mission here in the UK to plant 50 million more trees by 2030. Woods and trees make us healthy and happy. They lock up carbon, fight the effects of climate change, improve our health and wellbeing and reduce pollution and flooding, protecting nature, people and our planet. This is why we are asking for people to support our climate campaign to plant more trees.”

Emma

Monday 29th April

North Wales

5 days

From £640.00pp visits to Bodrhyddan Hall, Slate Museum + Welsh Highland & Ffestiniog Railways.

Saturday 22nd June

Rhine Cruise

10 days

From £2150.00pp

Sailing on the MS Viva Tara - visit Frankfurt, Mannheim, Strasbourg, Spreyer Koblenz, Eltvile & Mainz.

Sunday 14th July

Regal Scotland

5 days

From £815.00pp visit Edinburgh, Royal Yacht Britannia, Kilbryde & Stirling Castles, cruise + Whisky Distillery

Friday 10th May

Multi Channel

Islands 7 days

£1085.00pp Staying in Jersey & Guernsey with island tours and trips to Herm & Sark included.

Sunday 23rd June Ireland

By Hook & Crook

5 days

£635.00pp

Based in Country Wexford with trips to Dunbrody famine ship, Johnstown Castle, Huntington Castle + House of Waterford Crystal.

Thursday 25th July

Isles of Scilly

5 days

£1105.00pp

Staying on St Mary’s with trips to Tresco + abbey, guided island tour.

Wednesday 12th June Isle of man

5 days

£729.00pp

Based in Douglas, trips to Snafell Mountain Railway, IOM Steam railway, Manx railway + guided island tour.

Monday 08th July Northumberland

5 days

From £599.00pp visit Alnwick Castle, Bamburgh Castle & Holy Island Lindisfarne.

Thursday 01st August

Legendary Locomotives

3 days

From £430.00pp

Great Central Railway

1st class dining experience, Bosworth Battlefield centre & King Richard III centre

Monday 17th June

Lake District

5 days

£645.00pp

Staying in Kendal visiting Lake Windemere & Ullswater , cruise & rail trip and a distillery

Friday 12th July

Isle of Wight

5 days

£570.00pp

Staying in Sandown, visit Osborne House, Shanklin, Godshill, Ryde + IOW Railway.

Friday 27th September

Lake Garda, Verona & The Dolomites

8 days

£1270.00pp

Staying in Riva del Garda and visits to Verona, lake cruise,Malcesine, Merano & Bolzano.

New head for Merchants’ Academy Secondary

Merchants’ Academy

Secondary (MAS) appointed Guy Swallow as headteacher with effect from 4 March.

Mr Swallow, who brings to the role more than 14 years’ teaching and leadership experience, was appointed following a rigorous interview process involving trustees, governors, staff, students and parents. He was formerly the headteacher of Whitstone School in Shepton Mallet, a position he has held since 2020.

Under Mr Swallow’s leadership, the school has become one of the most improved in Somerset, following a series of rapid and sustained improvements.

Mr Swallow’s career to-date has seen him working in a number of schools in the South West, many of which required considerable improvement, and where he has made a significant impact, particularly in the areas of behaviour and learning. He has also established a successful track record in each school for improving community engagement.

“This is somewhat of a homecoming for me,” said Mr Swallow. “My career in education started right here at Merchants’ Academy in 2009, when I began training to become a teacher. That experience shaped my aspiration to build a career around the belief that education offers a real opportunity for young people from less privileged backgrounds to achieve a successful future.

“Over the past two months, I’ve been spending time with staff and students at Merchants’ Academy, finding out more about the improvement journey that’s already underway. There is enormous potential here and I’m determined to secure excellent outcomes for every student, while supporting them to be aspirational, respectful and proud

members of their community.

“I’ve also had the opportunity to meet with many parents and carers, all of whom want to work more closely with the school to ensure that their children can reach their full potential. The strength of spirit in south Bristol is unlike anywhere else I’ve worked and it’s certainly a factor in helping to overcome challenges. Together, I feel confident that we can put Merchants’ Academy on the map for all the right reasons.”

Chair of governors Robert Bournes said: “Our students deserve to have the same opportunities as other young people in the city. Under the leadership of Guy Swallow, and working in partnership with the community, I’m certain that the improvements already underway will accelerate significantly. The expertise that Guy brings to the role, alongside his determination and vision to place Merchants’ Academy at the heart of this strong community, is a truly powerful combination that will make a big difference to the successes that our young people can achieve.”

Guy Swallow, new head, MAS

In memory of the Bedminster Coal Miners

Tina, a direct descendant of one of the coal miners caught up in the Bedminster pit disaster on 10 September 1886, has launched a fundraiser to provide a physical lasting memory for the 156 miners killed and, in particular, the Garland family. Many were injured and William Garland Jnr, aged 28, died along with nine others. His father, also William, would sadly go on to die four years later in an accident at Ashton Vale Colliery in 1890, aged 72.

Tina is hoping to raise enough funds to:

• Pay for either a plaque and/ or a metal statue of a coal miner as a reminder of Bedminster’s historical importance that is often forgotten or at worst, not even known about. This is likely to be in the Dean Lane area, the Dean Lane Pit being the largest of its time and the site of the 1886 pit disaster.

• Raise awareness of, and act as a memorial to, all those killed in the Bedminster mining accidents or from causative healthassociated issues from working in them.

If you would like to support this fundraiser, simply go to: https:// bit.ly/3TyBaJB

You may be a relative, you may be a historian, you may live in Bedminster or Ashton, you may feel you have a social obligation, you may be passionate about BS3 ... whatever it is, please do give what you can, as every penny will help to bring this project to fruition and once again make its mark on Bedminster - but in a much more positive way.

Said Tina: “I am aware that some funding has also been secured by the Dame Emily Park Project with similar aims of remembering Bedminster’s mining history, and have begun discussions with local councillors about how the two projects can support each other.”

Bedminster

Spring Open Day

Friday 26th April 2024

Preschool to Year 8

Ages 3 - 13

Come and discover life at Clifton College Pre-Preparatory and Preparatory School. You will have the chance to meet staff, tour the classrooms and explore the wider facilities. Children encouraged to come along!

If you can’t attend our open day, book a personal tour at a time convenient to you at: cliftoncollege.com

Flights booked, international passport ready. Don’t forget your travel jabs!

Booked your foreign trip? Do you need travel jabs or Antimalarials?

After a particularly wet and damp winter, travelling can offer escape, adventure and much-needed relaxation, plus discovering local food and culture. No surprise that many people will make plans, ticking off bucket-list foreign destinations, head off to exotic destinations, whether for a gap year travel, volunteering or a career break – and also work travel. Whatever the inspiration reason for the trip, it is vital to do so safely.

Discovering another country’s health system is not usually on your wish-list or a memory to cherish. Remember those Channel 4 documentaries, 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 cover invalidated (‘I did

not know they required me to have travel jabs!’).

The unplanned additional cost and anxiety then become an endless expensive nightmare.

Many countries will have health risks that require vaccinations for protection.

First thing is to contact your local GP to find out about availability for NHS travel health appointment and also obtain records of your previous vaccinations. Many people will now have those available on their 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.

Last-minute? 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 menstrual periods

while on holiday and to prevent altitude sickness. Not travelling but need vaccinations to protect you from Chicken-Pox, Meningitis B or any other work-related risks? We can help.

To get advice or book an appointment:

Call Bristol Travel Clinic on 0800 7723575

Complete the online query form at www.bristoltravelclinic.co.uk

Or drop into Bedminster Pharmacy today.

We’ll get you ready for wherever your journey takes you.

Register now for the 2024 South Bristol Arts Trail

Calling all creatives – if you would like to take part in this year’s South Bristol Arts Trail, it’s time to register!

Saturday 14 & Sunday 15 September will see the streets of BS3 once again filled to the brim with creativity as the South Bristol Arts Trail is back for 2024.

New to the area and wondering what the South Bristol Arts Trail is?

The South Bristol Arts Trail is a free weekend event, open to everyone, and takes place once a year in venues across Southville, Bedminster and Ashton. Each year over 100 local artists exhibit. Artists open their homes and studio spaces, as well as exhibiting in community venues from schools and shops to cafés and community centres.

From performers, painters and papercraft to ceramics, sculptures and sketchers, the Trail celebrates the breadth of creativity locally, with something for all to enjoy.

Fancy taking part this year?

Join the celebration of our local area and take part this year

‘A great opportunity for new artists or creatives to showcase their work in a really supportive and positive environment. Thank you!’ said one exhibitor. Applications will be open to all Bristol artists – whether you’re a prolific potter or new to Bristol’s creative scene, we’d love to welcome you to join us. Find the full details and apply online from 8 April via www. southbristolarts.co.uk

Any questions? Get in touch with Fiona via contactus@ southbristolarts.co.uk

Debut play for new theatre co – ‘Nail House’ to show at Acta Community Theatre n ADVERTORIAL

Inspired by their experiences in the Tobacco Factory Theatres’ Acting Lab course, a group of theatre lovers have formed their own company – Lab Rats Theatre – and are putting on their first play together.

On 11–13 April Lab Rats Theatre is staging the play ‘Nail House’ at Acta Community Theatre in Bedminster. For most of this local cast, this will be their first time taking on a whole play since school and, just to up the ante, the play they have chosen is a piece of new writing by local theatre maker James Anderson, who’s also directing.

Described as ‘A light-hearted delve into gentrification… ’the play was originally inspired by the mass developments at St Catherine’s Place and Bedminster Green, and the potential effects it may have on East Street and the surrounding area.

‘Under the shadows of the cranes and ever-rising breeze blocks, sits an emporium of the old, unwanted and

discarded. But within beats the heart of an endangered community. This is Connie’s place and she’ll fight tooth and nail to preserve what she has collected. But change, they say, is inevitable…’

Ciaran, who plays Josh, said: “It’s been really exciting putting into practice what we’ve been learning over the last year. This is my first play ever! I’m nervous but excited and I’m with a group of people that share a lot of trust and support. It’ll be great!”

The production is entirely selffunded and any profits from the evening will go to Acta and its invaluable work of bringing theatre to all.

Tickets are available on Eventbrite and the company looks forward to your support.

For ticketing info, go to: https:// labratstheatre.eventbrite.com

Four family members to run Paris marathon for charity…

A man from Dundry who has never run a marathon before is planning to run two in two weeks in April, in a bid to raise £4,000 for a charity very close to his heart, Children’s Liver Disease Foundation (CLDF). Tom Barker, 38, will be joined by wife Rachael, 37, brother Lucas and his girlfriend Lucy, both 29, for the Paris Marathon on 7 April.

Two weeks later, Tom and Lucas will run the London Marathon.

The family fundraising challenge is prompted by a sudden and serious trauma suffered by Tom and Rachael’s daughter, Clara, two years ago when she was just two.

“It all happened quickly,” said Rachael. “Clara was at nursery and I got a call from them saying they’d noticed the tops of her legs looked a bit yellow when they were changing her nappy. I took her straight to our GP who advised we head to the Emergency Department at Bristol Children’s.

“There, doctors told us they believed that Clara was suffering from acute liver failure. Two days later, she was listed for transplant, and six days later, she received her new liver. If she’d

had to wait any longer, she may not be here with us today.

“… the hospital staff told us about Children’s Liver Disease Foundation. The charity provided information which helped us understand what this meant for Clara and we also called them a couple of times for advice and support.

“We stayed at Birmingham Children’s for eight weeks and only managed two weeks at home before Clara was admitted again as it looked like her body might be rejecting her new liver.

“Thankfully, this was caught early enough and was able to be treated. Everyone told us the first six months after transplant would be really hard but at times it felt impossible. In truth, it was about a year before we started to get used to our new way of life.

“After a year of relative stability and seeing Clara live the life we all hoped she’d be able to, it felt like time to give something back and raise awareness of children’s liver disease.

Tom, Lucas and Lucy decided they’d like to run the London Marathon for CLDF but after being unsuccessful in the ballot, thought they’d give Paris a try.

It was at that stage I had a rush of blood to the head and said I’d join them! So we started our training plan and a few weeks later had a call from CLDF to say that a couple of charity places had become available. It was too good an opportunity to miss, so now all four of us are running the Paris marathon and Tom and Lucas are doing London two weeks later.

“... marathon training is tough, especially when it’s wet and cold outside. I just keep thinking that we got through the worst time in

our lives so we can get through this. It’s just one foot in front of the other with the help of podcasts and lots of jelly babies!

“Fundraising has been going well – people have been so generous and we’ve already smashed our £4,000 target.

Knowing that we’ll be helping other families who’ve been through our experience is a real motivator, so we just want to raise as much as we can.”

Michelle Wilkins, head of services at Children’s Liver Disease Foundation, commented: “CLDF is the only UK charity dedicated to fighting all childhood liver diseases... To do this, however, we rely on voluntary donations, so we are delighted to hear about this amazing effort from the Barker family!

“It’s great to hear that Clara is now doing well. Her family’s fantastic fundraising will enable us to continue to be there for her and for other children like her in the future.”

You can support Tom, Rachael, Lucas and Lucy by going to:

www.justgiving.com/team/ ClaraRose

n NEWS FROM BS3 COMMUNITY – THE CHARITY THAT RUNS THE SOUTHVILLE CENTRE

BS3 Community Care – connecting local people who need care and support with independent care providers and personal assistants.

A new care service is coming this summer! We’ll be working with self-employed independent care providers and other wellbeing services to bring an alternative solution to traditional home care agencies, through an ‘Introductory Service’. This will allow more flexibility and convenience when searching for care that suits the needs of local people – all in one place!

So, if you are looking for care and support for yourself, a loved one or someone you work with – we’ll help find, connect and introduce you to each other.

We are currently recruiting people across Bristol and the surrounding areas who are interested in becoming self-employed care providers with BS3 Community Care. Go to our website for more info: bs3community.org.uk/community-care

AND THE CHESSEL

CENTRE

or contact our care & wellbeing manager via carla.snell@bs3community.org.uk or 07534 954087.

Talk: 100 Years of Public Health Advertising

Join us on Tuesday 9 April in our Milford Hall at

6.30pm for a talk on public health advertising, spanning 100 years in the UK. This visual and engaging lecture will be delivered by our head of communities, Emmeline Rodman, followed by a group workshop at 7.10pm to discuss what wellbeing means to BS3 residents. The talk is suitable for ages 16+ and is FREE to attend. Visit our Eventbrite page to book: https://bit.ly/3V5WRll or call us on 0117 923 1039.

Easter Stay & Play

Join us this Easter holiday for two Easter/ spring-themed Stay & Play sessions with our fun, friendly playgroup at the Southville Centre.

They are on Wednesday 3rd & Wednesday 10th April 10.30am-12pm. The sessions include themed crafts, games, and sensory play. Refreshments and snacks for the children are also included.

To book, go to: https://bit.ly/3TqT0hs

Tom and Rachael are pictured with their daughter, Clara

More than a ‘click’ or ‘pop’

Ever find yourself tilting your head to one side, feeling that urge to hear a ‘click’ and experience a moment of relief? It’s a bit like playing the piano, isn’t it? Imagine my 18-month-old child merrily bashing away at the keys. She’s having fun but we definitely have to turn the keyboard volume down. It’s far from the delicate symphony that Chopin might coax from the same instrument.

This analogy isn’t too far from the truth when it comes to our spines. Just as anyone can make a sound on the piano, many of us can twist or bend in certain ways to cause our joints to pop.

While there’s an undeniable rush of endorphins, this self-manipulation is the equivalent of random piano bashing—it lacks the precision, the artistry and, crucially, the understanding of what each note – or in this case, adjustment – truly means.

A chiropractic adjustment, performed

by a professional, is akin to a maestro at work. It’s not just about the ‘click’ or ‘pop’ but about the expertise, the precise application of force at the right time, in the right place. This isn’t just noise;

it’s music. Such adjustments aim not just to relieve discomfort but to realign the spine, reset the nervous system, and restore balance throughout the body, encouraging natural healing and promoting lasting wellness.

So, if you find yourself regularly seeking that quick ‘click’, much like our little pianist might hammer at the keys, consider what you’re truly achieving. Is it harmony or just temporary noise?

If your body is consistently signalling for attention, perhaps it’s time to step back from the piano and let the maestro take over. It might just be the right moment for a chiropractic check-up – to transform your own dissonant chords into a harmonious symphony of wellbeing.

Charles Herbert Chiropractor | Director | Kasa Chiro

0117 370 2680

www.kasachiro.com

Bristol City Council planning department ‘under designation’

Hundreds of planning applications are stuck in a backlog and face months of delays

The planning department at Bristol City Council could get out of special measures in just six months if sufficient progress is made. The government has placed the council ‘under designation’ due to hundreds of planning applications stuck in a backlog and facing months of delays.

This means developers planning to build between one and nine homes can apply directly to the government’s Planning Inspectorate for permission, bypassing the council. The designation doesn’t affect householder applicants or plans for major developments of 10 or more new homes.

The backlog of applications has come down from its peak last summer, but last month there were still 600 without an assigned case officer. Councillors on the growth and regeneration scrutiny commission were updated about the issue on Thursday, March 7.

Alex Hearn, director of economy of place, said: “It’s obviously not positive at all; we recognise that. It’s also important to recognise that there’s a lot of progress being made in the service. As of February, the backlog was down to about 600 cases without a case officer. That’s well below the peak we saw in the summer of last year.

“The officers in the service are doing a brilliant job and are very committed to getting the backlog down to zero, which we hope to be able to do by around summer. This doesn’t mean that we’ve been stripped of our powers.

“We’re working with the government around our action plan to get us out of the designation. Once our action plan is approved and delivered, if we can show two clear quarters of sustaining good performance, there’s every chance that we can have the designation rescinded.”

John Smith, executive director of growth and regeneration, added: “It reflects historically that we have had significant issues in planning, and that’s caused delays to applicants and we’re very sorry about that.”

Opposition councillors called for more action to tackle the crisis in the planning department.

Commenting on the designation, Conservative Councillor Richard Eddy, chair of the development control A committee, said: “It’s hardly a surprise to anyone who has followed closely the ‘log-jam’ in Bristol’s planning system over the last few years. Every time I attend the meetings of the Planning Users Group… I hear of continuing problems and delays in the service.

“This is handicapping Bristol’s regeneration and the provision of new jobs, economic investment and housing.

“Officers have the full support of elected members in seeking to reduce this backlog and recruit the necessary professional planners to remedy the unacceptable delays. Indeed, under chief planner Simone Wilding, appointed in May 2023, there have been significant reductions in the planning backlog and new officers have been put in place, but more needs to be done to resolve the fundamental problems.”

Green Cllr Tony Dyer added: “The actions required will have an impact on the planning process far beyond the end of the current administration and the current model of governance.

It is therefore vital that any proposals agreed between BCC and [the government] have the full support of all political parties to ensure continuity into the committee model of governance.

“At the very least, party group leaders should be kept closely informed to scrutinise the process required to ensure cross party agreement on what actions are necessary to deliver compliance.”

By Alex Seabrook Local Democracy Reporter

n FITNESS

Energy flows where attention goes

Actions speak louder than words. If I stay up late mindlessly watching TV, I am telling myself that I don’t prioritise my sleep or rest. I will struggle the next morning, be tired all day and not hold the same focus. And yet I make promises of a healthy sleep routine most weeks.

Our actions can highlight to us where we want to spend our time, what we prioritise, and where we will see results.

Now that I own that SUP board and have pencilled in some weekends with friends, I have set the wheels in motion for a lifestyle and hobby I want to have in my future. There is excitement as plans soon start snowballing into a reality and more opportunities arise.

When we spend time nourishing our bodies with a healthy meal we have cooked, the mindful act calms us, our gut is happy and we stay energised for longer. When we book that strength class instead of always talking about it, we set in motion the change we want to see in our bodies and minds.

Energy flows where attention and action go. So where are you putting your attention this spring? What is it communicating to the body and mind? And are those the outcomes you want?

By Leanne Copley, Sona Pilates

The Walk and Talk initiative is now available to women aged 18 or above who live or work in Bristol

Avon and Somerset Police is inviting women to meet with female police officers or PCSOs to show them areas in which they feel vulnerable or unsafe in their local communities.

Walk and Talk lead for Bristol, Acting Inspector Jonathan Scott, said: “From feedback in the initial Somerset trial, we have seen that the Walk and Talk initiative has been really well received and we are pleased to say that we are now able

to offer them in Bristol.

“If there are particular areas in your neighbourhood that make you feel unsafe, or that you avoid, then a walk and talk is a way to meet with a female police officer or PCSO and show them these areas, explain experiences you have had, and also a chance to ask any questions you may have.”

The Walk and Talk initiative was initially launched as a trial in Somerset in September 2023, and is now available throughout the Avon and Somerset area.

To find out more, visit: www. avonandsomerset.police. uk/apply/walk-and-talk/

Join the community conversation

How can we improve BS3’s parks and green spaces? (And do they need improving?)

Action Greater Bedminster’s Community Conversation in April will offer an opportunity to talk about the parks and green spaces we have in BS3, and how we can direct some of the significant amount of funding expected from developers in the form of Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and S106 towards delivering improvements in the neighbourhood.

At a public meeting last July as part of the BS3 beyond 2025 project about parks and green spaces, a number of actions were identified and this session aims to clarify those

and identify which would be suitable for CIL/S106 funding projects.

We particularly welcome Friends of Parks groups as well as residents and others who would be interested in taking these actions forward.

We’ll also hear from Ben Barker of the BS3 Wildlife Group who’ll share his asset gathering project which aims to capture both the wildlife and the habitat gains and losses.

Join the discussion on 15 April, 7-8.30pm actaCentre, Gladstone Street BS3.

actiongreaterbedminster. org.uk

facebook.com/action greaterbedminster/ twitter.com/greater bedmin/

0300 323 0700 info@wecr.org.uk www.wecr.org.uk

‘Bristol City Council has spent years failing its SEND children’

Campaigners have warned that a bailout plan to rescue Bristol’s spiralling special educational needs budget will “make life a whole lot harder” for disabled children. Under the new plan, Bristol City Council must agree to spend millions less on supporting children with special needs.

The council secretly applied to the government for a £53 million bailout, and a decision is expected imminently from the Department for Education. But parents of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) warned the bailout wouldn’t solve systemic problems.

Labour mayor Marvin Rees repeated claims he made last week that the DfE prevented the council from discussing its application in public, despite government sources contradicting those claims. He was warned by two mothers of children with

SEND that the bailout reforms could make issues worse, during a full council meeting on Tuesday, March 12.

Fiona Castle, from Bristol SEND Justice, said: “The council entered into negotiations in July last year, and other councils who entered into negotiations at the same time published information about their agreements. I strongly suspect that the council has chosen not to do that because of the amount of opposition that other councils are facing for the Safety Valve programme.

“Bristol City Council has spent years failing its SEND children, and has now used in my opinion undemocratic and unnecessary methods to hide the fact that for SEND children and families in Bristol, life is about to get a whole lot harder.”

Fiona Preece added: “The agreement does nothing to

address the fundamental problems of a broken mainstream system, which is stripped to the bone. There are no teaching assistants; there’s no specialist teachers. A lack of maintained specialist places is why there are kids travelling miles to schools outside of Bristol.

“The healthcare system is on its knees with waiting lists for diagnosis and support, years long. The Safety Valve forgives some of the debt, but it doesn’t fund the systemic reform needed to provide the laudable aims of inclusion, early intervention and local schools spaces.”

Demand for SEND support is rising across the country, with many councils struggling to afford to pay for that support. In Bristol, the council’s schools budget faces a whopping £56 million deficit as the cost of

providing SEND support has risen much faster than the money the council receives for spending on education.

Under the Safety Valve programme, the government would write off most of that deficit, but the council would need to carry out major reforms to bring its spending down. Opposition councillors warned this would inevitably lead to “spending less on the most vulnerable children”, and criticised a lack of special school places and huge backlog of applications for education, health and care plans.

More details about the Safety Valve programme, and how the reforms will affect children with SEND, are expected to be published next month in a cabinet report.

By Alex Seabrook Local Democracy Reporter

5 ways to improve lighting in your garden

Garden lighting can totally transform your outdoor space – and how you use it. As your local electrician in Bristol, I have helped many families improve their gardens with garden lighting installations.

Here are my top 5 tips for improving the lighting in your garden:

1. Safety First

This is often overlooked but you need to consider how you and your guests will move around your garden. No one wants their evening

ruined by an accident, so be sure to add good lighting to steps, paths and any trip hazards.

2. Highlight Favourite Features

If you have a particular feature in your garden that you love, highlight it! Trees, sculptures and ponds all look beautiful when lit up.

3. Add Atmosphere

The lighting you choose will affect the overall atmosphere. Choose bright task lighting where you need to see clearly, such as food prep areas. Add softer, mood lighting like fairy lights to areas where you would prefer to create a cosy feel.

4. Layered Lighting

Lighting works best when layered. Combining low-level lights amongst your beds, with festoon lights on your pergola, and feature lighting on your trees will create a beautiful effect.

5.

Have Fun!

Garden lighting allows you to experiment with different styles. Choose the lighting you love and have fun!

Have any questions about garden lighting? Contact me, Jason, at www. fairwayelectricalbristol.co.uk where you will also find lots more useful tips and information.

Hedda comes to Bristol

This month, as part of a UK tour, Hedda by Here to There Productions comes to the Tobacco Factory. Hedda is a new version of Henrik Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler and is a play about power, control and societal expectations.

I spoke to the director and writer Andrew Whittle to find out more about the play and how it might impact today’s audiences…

What drew you to adapt/write and direct this particular version of Hedda Gabler?

I was familiar with Hedda Gabler and I had read a number of the adaptations that exist but was not 100% enamoured with any particular one, so I thought I might try for the first time my hand at adapting a play.

I found that I enjoyed the process and came up with a script which I hope has honoured and captured Ibsen’s intentions but is easy to follow for the audiences of today.

The tale of Hedda shocked audiences in the 1890s but how will it shock and resonate with audiences today?

I am not sure that it will shock audiences of today. An essential problem for the character

of Hedda is that she is trapped in a marriage to a man she does not love and is utterly dreading the thought of years of boredom that lie ahead of her. Her problems are ones that do not face modern couples. What may disturb audiences is what she does to attempt to eliminate a risk to her financial security and to control and manipulate another individual for her pleasure. To those that do not know the story, the end may perhaps come as a shock –it did to me when I first saw it!

What do you hope audiences take away after the show?

I hope they will appreciate that it is a cracking story. It is fast-paced and Hedda’s life unravels in such a short 36-hour period.

It is a story that is more humorous than people might expect and the plot is a compelling one, and I hope audiences will appreciate that a play dating back to the late nineteenth century can still resonate, can draw you in and can hold your attention to the conclusion.

With a new film adaptation of Hedda due to be released this year, do you think there is a new audience for Hedda and Ibsen?

Yes, undoubtedly. I think many will not know anything of Ibsen. Those who see the film later this year will be drawn to the story and maybe a good number of people will want to go and see his work when it is staged.

Ibsen has certainly not lost any popularity with actors. In fact, Matt Smith can be found in the West End at the moment in Ibsen’s An Enemy of the People.

You can see Hedda from 17-20 April at the Tobacco Factory.

Jacqui Ham, Acting Out

Bristol is for recycling* No.1

We saved

52,000 items from going to waste via our three reuse shops, including 410 mobility aids and 3.3 tonnes of paint.

Last year, we collected

71,000 tonnes of recycling and garden waste saving the city £5.2 million in disposal costs.

2,000 homes were powered by biogas produced from the recycled food waste we collected.

4,000 bags of litter collected through community litter picks we supported.

Gave back over £30 million in social value.**

n WILDLIFE Lucy Likes Hedgehogs

A BS3 Wildlife Group member is turning her garden into a wildlife haven

By Ben Barker, Secretary, BS3 Wildlife Group

BS3 Wildlife Group member Lucy had seven lodgers when I visited. Some are rescue hedgehogs sent to recuperate chez Lucy and Adam and, once recovered, they can wander in and out of her garden. There were babies last year… more to come?

A favourite activity for Lucy is to sit out on a warm evening and just watch the hedgehogs come and go.

Lucy also reports occasional sightings of foxes, various birds and butterflies and frogs in her small pond – and there was lots of spawn when I visited. She has a solitary bee hotel and is planning on a bat box once she can find someone who will fix it.

Lucy is part of the growing number of local people who are ‘doing something’ to make Greater Bedminster Urban Nature Reserve a reality, but Lucy is doing much more than her ‘bit’.

All this in a small garden in one of the most urbanised neighbourhoods in Bristol! Lucy is part of the BS3 Hedgehog Group (bs3.hedgehog.project@ gmail.com). As well as saving hedgehogs, the group is in contact with schools so that children can see that hedgehogs are not just in books.

Of course, others focus on different creatures or plants. One member recently sent us a report on dandelions. There are over 250 species in the UK and he aims to photograph them all! Others are happy to make their gardens more attractive and see what turns up, or perhaps they are developing wild patches in the local park.

If you want to help, contact mywildbedminster@virginmedia.com

Open Studios 2024

Enjoy free entry for to Bristol’s largest independent artists’ studios

Once a year the large grey shutter of BV Studios is rolled up and all are warmly welcomed inside to explore the workspaces of over 100 local creatives. In the space formerly occupied by the Wiltshire Print Works, you’ll now find Bristol’s largest independent artists’ studios, BV Studios.

The nondescript 30,000 square foot warehouse is nestled in an industrial corner of Bedminster, surrounded by Windmill Hill City Farm opposite Asda, and The Bristol Loaf to one side and Victoria Park to the other. Extraordinary to those in the know, but relatively anonymous to passersby, the building hosts an eclectic community of artists and small creative businesses.

BV has provided affordable and secure studio spaces for a diverse community of artists and creatives since 2010. Studio holders include painters, performers, weavers and writers to framers, film-makers, illustrators and upholsterers.

Walking through the door into BV is a feast for the senses. The smell of fresh paint and printmaking ink, the sound of printers, cameras and sewing machines in action as well as textiles, books and prints to pick up and enjoy.

The foyer will be open for food and drink, where you can grab a coffee and a bite to eat from some of Bristol’s independent food traders. Make a weekend of it and enjoy the delights of Windmill Hill City Farm or a stroll around Victoria Park while you’re here.

Our annual Open Studios event offers a glimpse into a substantial and alternative creative working environment, and an opportunity to purchase work by talented artists and skilled makers.

It only opens once a year, so it’s quite the party!

The studio warmly welcomed over 4,000 visitors last year and can’t wait to see you this April. Find out more about BV Studios at www. bvstudios.co.uk

LOCATION & TIMINGS

37 Philip St, Bedminster, BS3 4EA

Friday 12 April 6pm–10pm

Saturday 13 April 11am–5pm

Sunday 14 April 11am–5pm FREE entry

WHAT’S ON

31 March, The Hanging Stars Hen and Chicken. Tickets on sale via www.thehangingstars.com/shows

Spring 2024, Walking Brunel’s Bristol Harbourside Tour. Dates to be released soon. £12 guide price https://bit.ly/496fSZh. Meet 10.30am on selected dates; 2.5 hours, covering 4 miles of the Harbourside. Discover the stories behind some of Brunel’s greatest works and learn how Brunel’s Bristol projects changed not only the city but the whole world.

Various dates, Raising Cary Grant – the Bristol Footsteps of Archie Leach Walk the streets that Archie knew as a boy and that Cary returned to again and again, for the rest of his life. Meet: Statue of Cary Grant, Millennium Promenade. Mainly flat, suitable for wheelchairs, 1-1.5 miles, ends Castle Park. Cost: £12, advance booking only. For dates and times, go to https://bit.ly/4c1cpwN

Mondays 5-6pm, Gardening sessions, Dame Emily Park. Everyone is welcome; no experience necessary! Bring your own gloves. Tea and cake provided! Contact: dameemilypark@gmail.com

Tues 9 Apr, 6:30pm, Feeder: Live + Signing, Rough Trade Bristol. Price from £14.56 via https://bit. ly/3wU1lkU. This unique event

celebrates the release of Feeder’s latest album ‘Black/Red’ released via Big Teeth. Tickets include a copy of the new album on your format of choice to be collected from Rough Trade Bristol on the day of the show.

First Wednesday of the month, South Bristol Gardening Club. St Paul’s Church, Coronation Road, Southville. Annual membership £25. A friendly club and new members are very welcome. The club has a varied series of talks and visits planned for 2024. Club members enjoy free regular talks from expert speakers and subsidised visits to gardens throughout the year. To join, go to https://bit.ly/3w6xjKB

Thursdays 2-4.45pm, Forest school, Dame Emily Park. Developing a sense of awe and wonder about nature, so together we can save it. Contact info@forestchild.co.uk

Thursdays, Gardening for Wellbeing, Redcatch Community Garden. A free weekly gardening group to support your wellbeing, to enable you to meet people and so you can enjoy being outdoors. Tea and coffee included. Every Thursday, 10.30am-12pm. To book your place, email kaya@redcatchcg.com or call/ text 0785 863 0507

Fridays, Women’s Craft Club. FREE,

Join our club!

Knowle Angling is a sociable and family friendly local fishing club established in 1923, which provides fly fishing in the Chew Valley and surrounding area.

The club has four lakes that are stocked regularly with trout supplied by Bristol Water which are superb quality fish. The club also has six miles of fly fishing on the river Chew, with stretches of the upper Yeo.

Whilst using worm at certain times of year is allowed on the Chew, the majority of the members only use the fly.

There is usually a good mayfly hatch on the Chew and there is a good head of both wild brown trout and stocked rainbows all of which will rise to dry flies in the

11am to 1pm, Arnolfini, Second Floor, Reading Room. Run in partnership with Bristol Refugee Festival at Arnolfini where women from all backgrounds are welcome to go along, have a cup of tea and get crafty. All materials are provided. community@arnolfini.org.uk

University of Bristol Botanic Garden – various dates and times. Wednesday is DAISY day – (Donate As It Suits You). Choose an entrance donation that is affordable to you, £1, £3, £5 or £7. Dogs are not permitted in the Botanic Garden, with the exception of assistance dogs, https:// botanic-garden.bristol.ac.uk/planyour-visit/

From 15 April, Tulip mania at Dyrham Park. Daily from 15 April til 6 May. 10am–4pm. Free (normal admission applies). Booking not required. This spring there will be tulip themed displays, guided walks, talks, crafts and the first year of the

right conditions.

All our waters are set in the beautiful countryside of the Chew and Yeo valleys, with Pensford, Chew Magna and Chew Stoke the key local villages. With our combination of waters, the club offers excellent fly fishing 365 days a year, provides excellent value fishing and welcomes new members.

For more information and membership details, please see knowleangling.co.uk

newly created ‘Dyrham’ tulip growing in pots around the newly laid parterre. The events mark the house’s links to Dutch history and culture dating back to the 17th century.

https://bit.ly/3w7rL2t

Bath Assembly Rooms Guided Tours, Daily from now. 10am, 12pm and 2pm | Price: £10 (free for NT members). Booking via 0344 249 1895 or www.nationaltrust.org. uk/bath-assembly-rooms. Learn a little about the future plans and be taken through the Ball Room, Great Octagon, Tea Room and Card Room and discover some of the history behind the building. Tours last approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour.

25-26 May, Love Saves The Day. Ashton Court. Tickets from £56.52 (6 for 5): https://bit.ly/49qbUKM Taking place over the Bank Holiday weekend and featuring CamelPhat, Rudimental, The Streets and Sub Focus.

Residents survey of Bellevue Road

By Councillor Ed Plowden

In January 2022, Bristol City Council consulted on several proposals to improve bus reliability on the Wells Road in Totterdown, with many of the proposals causing concern to residents. Proposals included closing roads, making other roads one-way, and a potential 24-hour bus lane.

After a long consultation process, almost all the proposals have been dropped, apart from the potential closure of the junction of Bellevue Road with Wells Road. Residents here were concerned that this will create traffic bottlenecks accessing the Totterdown hill.

Green Party councillors Ed Plowden and Lisa Stone have worked in partnership with TRESA, the local residents’ association, to conduct a door-to-door survey to understand local opinions and concerns.

86% of residents who responded so far oppose the road closure, with only 36% concerned that rat-running is a problem. Anecdotally, few people believed that the proposal would have any material effect on the bus lane.

When asked about other local issues, many people had concerns about the effect that commuter parking has had on the local area, and how this may worsen when the University campus to the side of Temple

Bellevue Road junction with Wells Road

Meads is completed.

Cllr Lisa Stone said, “Almost everyone we listened to was concerned about the proposed closure and the impact on the local area. Few people could understand why it was needed.

“It is important to note that this is still only a proposal, and a formal consultation process will be needed before the changes can be made.”

Lisa went on to encourage more people to participate, “The survey is still open and available for people living in the immediate area to complete, please go to: bit.ly/49Gu6A6 or email me or Ed Plowden for a link.”

Garden design competition

Could you design this year’s Greater Bedminster Good Front Garden Award?

Each year our volunteer judges deliver thousands of good front garden awards across BS3. Designs are now being invited for the 2024 award. The final design will be chosen by public vote in May.

Send your designs to bloomingbedminster@ outlook.com by Friday

12 April.

The design should be A4 sized – but can be portrait or landscape. There will need to be some space for the Blooming Bedminster logo and our sponsor’s logo. Other than that, it’s over to you, but this year the organisers are looking for a really colourful design.

For more information visit bloomingbedminster.org.uk

n WICKED WITCH

In witch I deny liability

Back when it was cold, I got woken by Himself moving about. I pretended to be asleep but he was obviously in some distress. I turned on the light and peered over at him. He was sitting on the side of the bed not moving. I got up to assess the situation. His face was grey and his eyes strangely vacant. I poked his arm, asking, “Are you ok?” No response. I shouted it a bit louder followed by, “Oh my God, are you having a heart attack?” Nothing.

All my lifeguard training came into action. I grabbed him by the shoulders and shook him. “Can you hear me?”I shouted. He finally responded by whispering those

awful words, “I’m going to be sick.” This sent me into instant panic. I ran around the house like a manic clucking chicken. I couldn’t find a bucket so grabbed a bin, emptied it over the floor and raced back holding it under his nose. After a few minutes, the colour returned to his face, the bin was not required and I relaxed. But what had happened?

Well, during the cold winter our heating conked out. To keep us toasty, I’d thrown an extra duvet on the bed. Double duvet was a winner until that fateful night. I’d woken in a hot sweat and kicked

off the top duvet; it landed in a heap on top of Himself’s feet. When he rolled over, his foot got tangled under the weight of this duvet, his knee twisted and tendons snapped! The resulting sudden extreme pain sent him into shock.

He later told me that when I was shouting at him, my voice sounded far away, like I was at the bottom of the Avon Gorge and he was at the top, with the goats. Shock kills; he was lucky. I didn’t admit liability. Crutches were sourced and Himself hobbled about for a week or so. He was just getting back to

normal when we travelled to our van by the sea. The season had just started and I was making the bed when Himself appeared in the bedroom doorway asking if I needed any help. This was most unusual. As I frowned at him, I gave the duvet a huge flick, a mighty glorious up and down wave causing the duvet to rise up and flap down with a satisfying crack. “Aaagghhhh,” cried Himself as the duvet flicked him in the eye causing him to stumble backwards, twisting his knee again. Who knew duvets were so dangerous?

n KIDS EAT FOR FREE

Your handy guide to some of the local eateries offering free children’s meals this April half-term and beyond...

Beefeater & Brewers Fayre

Kids eat free breakfast and 3-course kid’s menu for £6.99. Up to a maximum of two children under 16 (aged 15 and under) can eat breakfast free per adult purchasing a Full Premier Inn Breakfast.

www.beefeater.co.uk/en-gb/ school-holidays

www.brewersfayre.co.uk/en-gb/ school-holidays

Bella Italia

Kids Eat Free all day every Thursday and for £1 between 4-6pm, Sunday to Wednesday Meals are suitable for 2-11-year-olds. See www.bellaitalia.co.uk/kids for terms and locations.

Dunelm Pausa Café

Kids eat free at Pausa Cafés inside Dunelm stores. You can get one free mini meal deal for every £4 an adult spends in the in-store café.

www.dunelm.com/info/about/ pausa-coffee-shops

Hungry Horse

Enjoy selected Kids’ meals for just £1 and larger meals for only £1.50 with every full paying adult every Monday.

www.hungryhorse.co.uk/deals/kids-eatfor-1

Morrisons

One free meal from the kids’ menu with any one adult meal with a value of £4.50 or over. Offer only applies when you purchase any one adult meal with a value of £4.50 or over. The child must be under 16 years of age and present at the time of purchase. Kids meal includes piece of fruit and Tropicana Kids Orange or Apple drink or bottle of water.

https://my.morrisons.com/kids-eat-free--tscs/

Premier Inn UK

When an adult orders a full Premier Inn Breakfast or a Meal Deal, up to two under16s eat breakfast for free. The offer does not apply to the breakfast box (where offered).

www.premierinn.com/gb/en/why/food/ breakfast.html

Sizzling Pubs

Monday-Friday, kids can enjoy a kids’ main meal for £1, with the purchase of each adult main meal bought in the same transaction. This offer cannot be used in conjunction with the breakfast or any other offer or set menu. All food must be ordered at the same time.

www.sizzlingpubs.co.uk/offers/kids-eatfor-1pound#/

Travelodge

Up to 2 children aged 15 or under eat FREE for every full paying adult (does not include breakfast box). Check specific restaurant for times.

www.travelodge.co.uk/about/breakfast/

Please check the relevant restaurant for any terms and conditions.