thornburyvoice
New MP, new leader
Claire Young (centre) celebrates with fellow Lib Dems including Maggie Tyrrell after her general election victory
THORNBURY has a new MP, after the Liberal Democrats won the town's parliamentary seat from the Tories in the general election.
Claire Young's win over Conservative Luke Hall means she has given up her position as leader of South Gloucestershire Council, with Thornbury ward councillor Maggie Tyrrell being elected to take her place.
Ms Young overturned a Tory majority of 12,369 from the 2019 election to win the Thornbury & Yate
constituency by 3,014 votes.
Reform UK came third, with more than 7,500 votes, and Mr Hall pointed to divisions within his party as the reason for its landslide defeat across the country.
Cllr Tyrrell, who has been a member of South Gloucestershire Council since it was formed in the 1990s, takes charge of the authority after more than 30 years of representing Thornbury.
Full story: Pages 4&5
Please contact Rowena Moncrieffe for further details…
West End treat
STUDENTS brought the smash hit musical Les Misérables to the stage for their annual school production.
Page 13
Armstrong Hall's £350,000 offer
THE wife of a billionaire has offered the charity that owns Thornbury's Armstrong Hall a donation to help reopen it.
PAGE 3
Carnival battles rain
THORNBURY Carnival battled heavy rain and wind to give the town another weekend of music and entertainment to remember. PAGE 7
Mast misery
A THORNBURY resident has spoken out about a huge new mobile phone mast that 'dominates' her view.
PAGE 6
thornburyvoice
Cycle path approved
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A member of the
A NEW cycle path linking Thornbury and Alveston has been given planning permission, despite concerns it could cause anti-social behaviour.
The two-way cycle track, with segregated footpath, is intended to provide a safer alternative to the steep, narrow and bending road at Alveston Hill, allowing people to walk or cycle from Alveston to Thornbury Leisure Centre safely.
Construction is expected to start next spring.
But some South Gloucestershire councillors criticised the plans, with one saying it would be used as "racetrack" by electric scooter riders.
A neighbour living next to the route also raised concerns about security.
The council's development management committee narrowly voted on July 4 to approve planning permission for the path, which is 712 metres – just under half a mile – long.
Andy Whitehead, from the council’s transport department, said: “Many people can’t drive and rely on parents or other people to drive them around, and this particularly impacts young people.
"Cycling is a very cheap and reliable mode of transport, which has huge benefits on health and the environment.
"Many people don’t consider it a viable option, citing most often that it’s too dangerous to cycle on our roads.
"This proposal seeks to address that, providing a safe, comfortable and attractive alternative to Alveston Hill. This is a distance that many people can and will travel if the conditions are right."
The plans received support
from cycling campaigners, who said the B4061 Alveston Hill is dangerous and unpleasant to cycle or walk on, with cars frequently coming fast around narrow bends.
But the plans also sparked some concerns among locals.
Resident Nancy North said: “My husband and I aren’t opposed to the route in principle, we’re keen cyclists and recognise the health and safety benefits to the wider community.
"Our major concern is security.
"Avon and Somerset Police have raised concerns about the risk of anti-social behaviour along the route, and especially around the seating areas."
Conservative councillor Paul Hughes (Bitton & Oldland Common) said: "Who the hell is going to go up there on a daily basis, unless they happen to be Chris Froome?
"You’ll have people using it as a leisure thing with youths and all sorts of people flying up and down that hill using it as a racetrack."
Afterwards council cabinet member for transport Chris Willmore said: "The current situation on Alveston Hill for people walking, wheeling or cycling is perilous, as well as being precarious for motorists who encounter someone cycling on those steep bends.
"Creating safe off-road facilities like this new greenway will help encourage more people to consider active travel for local journeys, which will help reduce traffic on our busy roads, improving air quality and the local area."
By Alex Seabrook, Local Democracy Reporting Service
n NEWS
Donor's £350,000 offer to reopen Armstrong Hall
THE wife of a billionaire has offered the charity that owns Thornbury's Armstrong Hall a donation to help reopen it.
Maggie Lansdown, whose husband Steve is the cofounder of financial services firm Hargreaves Lansdown and owner of Bristol City FC, has written to the Armstrong Hall Trust, which owns the complex in Chapel Street, offering £350,000 to pay for renovations.
It is believed the money could be enough to make the repairs needed to start running some events at the complex, which also includes the smaller Cossham Hall, ahead of a more comprehensive improvement scheme.
The trust, which shut the complex during the pandemic four years ago, was due to make a decision at the end of July, after the Voice went to print between two options for the Armstrong Halleither reopening efficiently while planning longer-term refurbishment, or selling the site and building a new, 300-seater hall at Turnberrie's Community Centre.
Before making its choice the trust held a public meeting at Thornbury Methodist Hall on July 19, which was attended by more than 100 people.
Last year the trust outlined three different visions for the future of the hall, and set up working groups to examine each one.
As well as the refurbishment
and Turnberrie's options, one working group looked at the viability of a complete rebuild on the current site.
But the meeting heard this had been ruled out because of the huge cost involved - up to £10 million - and the length of the project, which could take until 2028 or 2029 to finish.
During her presentation Jill Dimond, of the members of the working group looking at the refurbishment option, said that, with a minimum cost of £350,000 to start, it was "the
group, said this would cost around £2m, and could be ready by 2027.
Armstrong Hall Trust chair James Murray, who led the meeting, repeatedly assured residents that a decision had not been made before the meeting, which was intended both to keep residents up to date and to hear their views to inform the final decision, which would be made by the trustees - who are
More than 100 people were at the meeting at Thornbury Methodist Church Hall
Lib Dems reclaim seat as Tories collapse
THORNBURY has a Liberal Democrat MP again, nine years after the party lost out to the Conservatives.
Claire Young took the Thornbury & Yate seat from Conservative Luke Hall on July 4, at the third time of asking, having also stood for her party in 2017 and 2019.
The Frampton Cotterell councillor and – at the time of the election – South Gloucestershire Council leader defeated Mr Hall by 3,014 votes.
Ms Young overturned a majority of 12,369 from the 2019 election. Her party had previously held the seat and its predecessor, Northavon, from 1992 until 2015, when Mr Hall beat Lib Dem Steve Webb.
It was one of 79 seats won by the Lib Dems on a night of nationwide electoral disaster for the Tories, who saw big names such as Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg and former Prime Minister Liz Truss lose their seats, as Labour secured a majority of 172.
After the result was declared Ms Young said it was a "truly historic night" for her party, with "gains around the country in places we would never have expected".
She thanked party leader Ed Davey and the "wonderful people here in Thornbury & Yate", adding: "Thanks for sharing
your concerns with me, and for the warm welcome I've received across the constituency over the last few weeks and the last few months.
"It's as huge privilege to be elected to represent you in Parliament, and I look forward to standing up for everyone, however you voted.
"I will be a strong voice for our communities, especially on tackling the cost-of-living crisis, ending the sewage scandal and fixing the health and care crisis."
Defeated Mr Hall congratulated his successor, and wished her the best in representing the constituency.
He said: "I very much hope that I fought a positive campaign, based on the issues that people
in our community care about the most, but the desire for change has been great, and this is clearly a horrendous night for the Conservative Party.
"Divided political parties, focussed upon themselves rather than the issues that matter to our constituents get punished at the ballot box, and quite rightly so.
"I have always believed that South Gloucestershire is the best place in the country to live, work and raise a family, and I am hugely grateful to have had the opportunity to serve for the past nine years.
"I am proud of the progress we made together, and will continue to do whatever I can to support our community."
A strong performance by
Reform UK, the party led by Nigel Farage, saw its candidate Andy Banwell come third, with 7,529 votes – more than twice the size of the Lib Dem majority.
The Party's predecessor, the Brexit Party, had not stood in Thornbury & Yate in 2019 after deciding unilaterally not to stand against Conservative MPs.
Reform pushed Labour, who were concentrating their resources on other target seats nearby, into fourth place, with the Greens coming fifth.
In-tray fills up for new MP
CLAIRE Young was presented with her first local crisis hours after the election result was declared early on July 5.
That morning the operator of Yate’s tumble dryer factory, Beko, announced it was considering closing the plant, with the loss of around 150 jobs.
Beko Europe said the plant had been "operating at a significant loss for some time", and it was considering closure "in response to changing consumer demand and competitiveness challenges posed by the site setup".
Ms Young told the Voice: "Beko contacted me the morning after the election and I met them in the early afternoon for an initial
discussion.
"I'm hoping to meet them on site again in the coming weeks."
Another issue the new MP said she wants to take early action on is the NHS.
Ms Young said she had written to the new Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, calling for a meeting to progress plans for a new Thornbury Health Centre.
She said: "The town of Thornbury has been badly let down, with promises of new health facilities broken, downgraded and broken again.
"Back in 2004, health chiefs said the town’s hospital would be replaced with a rehab centre and an upgraded primary care facility, to
supplement beds at Southmead Hospital.
"Instead it was run down and closed with a promise of a new health and well-being centre, with diagnostic facilities, but this did not happen.
"Last year the then Secretary of State announced funding but based on 2018 prices which, with the effect of inflation, won’t even cover the cost of a basic replacement of the dilapidated health centre currently in use."
Ms Young said thestate of the health service, including "difficulties getting GP appointments, delays for hospital appointments, long waits for ambulances, lack of NHS dentists", was the most common issue that cropped up on doorsteps during the campaign.
Claire Young speaks at the declaration Luke Hall makes his speech
n NEWS
Thornbury's Maggie is new council leader
A COUNCILLOR who has served Thornbury for more than 30 years has become the new leader of South Gloucestershire Council.
Liberal Democrat Maggie Tyrrell was elected at a meeting of the council on July 17.
The vote followed the resignation of fellow Lib Dem Claire Young, who stepped down from the position after being elected as Thornbury & Yate's new MP at the general election.
Cllr Tyrrell is one of only two members to serve on the council since it was created 29 years ago and also served on predecessor Northavon. In total she has represented residents of Thornbury for 37 years.
The other ever-present South Gloucestershire councillor, Mike Drew (Lib Dem, Yate North), nominated her as leader at the meeting.
The joint Lib Dem/Labour administration unanimously voted in favour of Cllr Tyrrell but opposition Conservatives voted against.
Cllr Tyrrell said: "It’s an
enormous privilege to be elected as leader to this council and I want to thank my colleagues for putting their trust in me and electing me to this privileged position.
“I would like to pay tribute to my predecessor Claire Young. She served this council very well and was an excellent leader and was very diligent in all she did, so I thank her sincerely for her service.”
Council co-leader Ian Boulton
Tyrrell
(Lab, Staple Hill & Mangotsfield) said: “I’m very happy to second Maggie as leader of the council.
“Having known Maggie for a while – we’ve worked together co-chairing scrutiny – I’m sure this will be a seamless transition.”
Tory group deputy leader Cllr Liz Brennan (Frenchay & Downend) told the meeting: "Maggie is a longstanding member who has always executed her duties as a councillor with
kindness, dignity and a keen sense of fair play.
“Despite this, the Conservative group will be voting against the nominee presented to us tonight.
“To be clear, this is not a judgement on the nominee herself, but on the manner in which the joint administration has conducted itself over the past year."
For the time being Cllr Young will remain a Frampton Cotterell ward councillor but says she will stand down entirely from the council in due course, so she can "focus on doing one job well".
She said: "The important thing is to do this in a way that doesn’t cause unnecessary problems for the Council or most importantly the people in my ward.
"I would like to take time to progress issues raised by residents and other outstanding commitments before finally resigning as ward councillor."
By Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service
Metro Mayor says he can do two jobs
METRO Mayor Dan Norris insists he can "do both jobs" after being re-elected as an MP.
Mr Norris has returned to Parliament after defeating Conservative Jacob ReesMogg in the North East Somerset & Hanham constituency.
He says he plans to combine both offices at least until the next scheduled West of England Mayor election next May.
Mr Norris was the Labour MP for the Wansdyke constituency, covering largely the same area as North East Somerset & Hanham, for 13 years from 1997.
He lost the seat to Sir Jacob in 2010, when the boundaries shifted and it was renamed North East Somerset, losing its South Gloucestershire wards.
The former Leader of the House of Commons held North East Somerset for 14 years, with a majority of 14,729 in 2019.
But on July 4 Mr Norris won the redrawn North East Somerset and Hanham seat by 5,319 votes from Sir Jacob, a notional swing of 19.5%.
Immediately after his election Mr Norris said he would "reflect on what has happened and work out how I can best serve the people of North East Somerset & Hanham and the West of England".
On July 9 he was at a meeting with the
Dan Norris
Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister for England’s 12 regional mayors at 10 Downing Street.
Mr Norris, Sir Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner were the only politicians at both that meeting and an assembly held the previous day for the 412 Labour MPs elected on July 4 in Westminster.
He said: “Until at least next May I will do both jobs. And that makes sense, because
to call a by-election when you’ve got an electorate of about a million people is a hugely expensive thing.
"To have an election only to have it a few months later would be nonsensical."
In an interview with ITV, Mr Norris said he needed time "to work out how I can do both jobs and whether that’s possible in the longer term".
He said he would be "taking soundings" but there were precedents for people having two political jobs, such as MPs being ministers, which was "very similar".
Dan Jarvis, who has been an MP in Barnsley since 2011, was also the Metro Mayor of South Yorkshire between 2018 and 2022.
Mr Norris said: "I’m not going to make a decision now. I don’t have to do that. I think it’s important to get a real sense of it and make an informed and sensible decision."
Metro mayors are expected to be given more power by the new government – those at the July 9 meeting were asked to draw up “local growth plans” to identify local specialisms to contribute to a national industrial strategy.
By John Wimperis, Local Democracy Reporting Service
New council leader Maggie
(right) with co-leader Ian Boulton
The new 5g mast in Morton Way.
New mast 'dominates' views
A THORNBURY resident says she is shocked she and her neighbours were not consulted about a huge new mobile phone mast that 'dominates' her view.
Dianne Smith says she came home from a shopping trip on June 20 to find the 5G mast had been erected in Morton Way, about 50m from her home.
She said: "I cannot believe that something of this nature and magnitude can be erected without proper consultation with those people whose quality of life will be so detrimentally affected.
"We had no prior knowledge of this being done and it now dominates the view, looming over us in the westward direction."
Dianne contacted South Gloucestershire Council, who told her a consultation had taken place earlier in the year.
She said: "I was told that I was not consulted as apparently my house wasn’t close enough to the location of the mast. I am shocked that this can happen so close to residential properties."
Other residents who were consulted wrote to object to the 18m (59ft) mast.
Writing on the council's planning website, Paul Howard said: "The proposed mast, at 18m, would be materially higher than all other structures in the immediate area including trees, and would be a stand-out feature and not in keeping with the area.
"Surely there are other locations that are away from houses and have less environmental impact?"
Gillian Dunkley also objected, writing: "For the same reasons that other sites were rejected as being in the vicinity of heritage assets, the proximity to the hamlet of Upper Morton and its listed properties, this mast will be in line of sight.”
Permission for the mast was granted on March 7 by council officers using delegated powers, just after a month after the application went out for consultation on February 5.
Plans were submitted in
January by network operator EE followed several unsuccessful applications.
The company said in its planning statement: “Whilst it is acknowledged that this location is close to residential properties it should be noted that this cannot be avoided, given the entire area is residential and this dense population of dwellings is the exact reason that coverage needs to be improved."
A South Gloucestershire Council spokesperson said the authority had written to all residents who were in properties "directly affected" by the mast.
In total 20 residents were consulted and 11 responded –eight objecting, two supporting and one neutral towards the plan.
Among those writing in support was Paul Gardiner, who said: "5G will improve our communication, enabling seamless video calls, quick downloads and making real-time collaboration a norm. "Improved connectivity is especially crucial in emergency situations, enabling faster response times and more effective coordination among emergency services."
Thornbury Town Council was also consulted but did not object.
Town councillor Jayne Stansfield said she and her colleagues had objected to three previous applications for masts last year, on Park Road near Manorbrook Primary School, on Knapp Road and on Gloucester Road.
All were objected to on grounds of appearance but the
Gloucester Road bid, which was withdrawn, was also objected to on the basis that it could affect road safety at the junction with Butt Lane.
Cllr Stansfield said: "There were proposals to install the 5G mast at various locations around the town. Thornbury Town Council considered and responded to each in turn, but accepted that ultimately the 5G mast would be installed somewhere within the town as the company has a right to install communications infrastructure.
She said the successful application "addressed the council’s response to the previous application on Gloucester Road," adding: "It also considered that the mast would ultimately be installed somewhere within the town and perhaps future options would be worse."
Dianne has also raised concerns over the mast's potential impact on health and the local environment.
However the council is not allowed to consider the alleged health effects of 5G, with Ofcom stating that electromagnetic fields near towers and base stations are "well within the internationally agreed levels".
The government's online advice on health issues says: "Independent expert groups in the UK and at international level have examined the accumulated body of research evidence.
"Their conclusions support the view that health effects are unlikely to occur if exposures are below international guideline levels."
Picture: Barry Hicks
Singing and dancing in the rain
THORNBURY Carnival battled heavy rain and wind to give the town another weekend of music, and entertainment to remember.
Organisers say thousands of people attended the event on July 5 and 6, "despite the challenging weather and the competing excitement of England’s progress through the Euros".
Final attendance figures are still being totted up, but despite the downpours the carnival committee says the event had "incredible support from the community".
Carnival chair Liam Williams said: "Undeterred by some pretty heavy rain at times, both on the Friday and Saturday, residents and visitors alike gathered in high spirits to celebrate this community event."
Friday saw Thornbury Swing
Band and singer Shair Lloyd pave the way for Robbie Williams tribute Maximum Robbie, whose merging of jazz with the familiar hits got the crowd dancing.
Saturday saw a variety of entertainment, from skate and BMX stunts to circus skills lessons, stalls from 30 local traders, charities and organisations, and a 60-vehicle 'show’n’shine' display.
Liam said: "The Carnival Committee were hugely grateful to those that brought their pride and joys to be shown.
"Seeing so many local traders and vehicle owners engaging with our event, despite the weather, was greatly welcomed.
"Having community involvement is at the centre of the carnival committee’s motivation and as we have changed the
shape of the event, it has always been central to our thinking that we continue building on these important community contributions."
Liam said the Circus Sensible big top was a definite hit with the children, who were able to watch shows, learn new skills and stay in the dry at the same time.
The main stage variety show was hosted by Nigel Lane of Thornbury Radio, with local musicians, dance troupes, and theatrical groups entertaining the crowd through sporadic rain.
Liam said home-grown highlights included inaugural Battle of the Bands winner Chris Auburn, local ska band Tatty Syrup, another local band, and DJ Kit Kat, who is aiming to be a professional DJ.
Ed Sheeran and Foo Fighters
tribute acts supported headliners Disco Inferno, who had all age groups dancing on the main stage, hosted during the evening by committee member Ellie McDonald.
Liam said: "The volunteers who put this event together gain some incredible support from the community.
"Whether helping directly by undertaking roles to help set the event up, run it or take it down, or, by bringing your vehicle, business or family, we could not make the event happen without you.
"We are immensely grateful for your support.”
More information and pictures from the carnival can be found at www.thornburycarnival.com
All pictures courtesy of Thornbury Camera Club.
Circus skills.
Picture: Mike Ashfield
Zumba. Picture: Simon Meeds
BMX display.
Picture: Martin Cox
DJ Kit Kat. Picture: Simon Riches
Thornbury Swing Band and singer Shair Lloyd. Picture: George Collett Children in facepaint. Picture: Mervyn Reed
Judgement day for Thornbury In Bloom
THORNBURY'S bid to be judged 'Champion of Champions' in the South West now lies in the hands of the judges.
Volunteers from Thornbury In Bloom took a team from the Royal horticultural Society around the town on July 11 to show its best side.
After winning the contest's coveted Portman Cup last year, Thornbury's displays, and its environmental and community activities, are up against the displays Babbacombe, Bath, South Swindon and Yeovil in the ‘Champion of Champions’ category.
Thornbury In Bloom chair Kath Greenman said: "Our town looked beautiful, the mayor was in attendance and we were blessed with glorious weather.
"After a short presentation at The Hacket, the tour started at the Love Bed at the top of Grovesend.
"We then we visited Jim and Janet Hollister’s spectacular front garden.
"From there we stopped at the fabulous Annie and Betty (boats opposite the Anchor) then made our way to Manorbrook School to view their allotments, walk through their magical woods
and talk with the very engaging children and School Head, Mr Stanley.
"Next was Oakleaze Road shops and Green and then onto the magnificent Rock Street Gardens to view the colourful
array of amazing perennials.
"After stopping at the enchanting Ring of Thorns, it was on to the Community Composting site and Thornbury Farm wood, followed by a quick stop at DAGGS allotments.
"We then walked down the High Street, taking in our many wonderful displays, including the memory wall, Castle Court, The Plain and the splendid Pump.
"It was then onto Thornbury Castle - what a treat that was - then back to The Swan in Thornbury for a lovely cream tea.
"The Judges enjoyed the tour very much and said we didn’t disappoint them however we must now wait until October 8 to hear how we’ve done!
"Thank you so much to our sponsors, supporters, donors, volunteers and indeed everyone who helped make the event so successful.
"Whatever the result, Thornbury shone for the day and we should all feel very proud."
Getting the younger generation involved
DID you help your grandparents in the garden?
Kids love to get involved, and pick up so much information whilst bonding with the older generation.
Thornbury in Bloom support gardening in schools, as we feel strongly that this is a dying art and we need to look to the future for these children.
We have found two schools this year who have truly engaged their pupils in growing veg! It’s wonderful and inspiring, and makes us very happy.
Parents and grandparents often have so much to offer when it comes to gardening skills. All Thornbury schools have enough space to grow a few vegetables - and what a lovely break from the classroom it offers.
A very motivated parent at Manorbrook School reached out to Thornbury in Bloom earlier in the year with a vision to get the kids planting.
We were able to support her with some compost and a few plants left over from our Bring & Buy plant sale in May but she carried all the enthusiasm and motivation needed and the head teacher, Mr Stanley, fully supported
her dream.
Ali has lured her friend Carolyn to help and they have fun taking the young children out of class in a regular timeslot to tend to their raised beds.
They have a variety of plants growing but the bed we love the most is their Dinosaur Herb Garden where the young children are encouraged to play and touch the plants (and dinosaurs)!
Manorbrook also have allotments for each year group run by Lucy Adams, Teaching Assistant, as a key part of their after-school Gardening Club – there’s a healthy bit of competitiveness creeping in here.
Mr Stanley waters the vegetables most weeks over the warmer months and the children love to join him in their lunch breaks.
Each year group grew potatoes, onions, radishes, peas, broad beans, squash and more. Some of the original plants were donated by parents when they had surplus.
The children and staff at Manorbrook should be very proud of their impressive results.
If you have knowledge, enthusiasm, surplus compost, seeds or seedlings (next spring) and want to help inspire the next generation into growing vegetables please do get in touch with Thornbury in Bloom, at ThornburyinBloom91@gmail.com, or your local school.
You could brighten the future of the today’s children and give them an outdoor passion.
Thornbury In Bloom volunteers meet the judges
The Thornbury In Bloom Schools Team writes about their work in the town
Harvesting at Manorbrook's allotments
Charlotte's litter-picking party
WHEN Charlotte Bertram was asked what she wanted to do for her eighth birthday, her answer was a surprise: “Help save the world.”
The Crossways Junior School pupil decided that it would be a great idea to get her friends out litter picking and, along with her friends, collected rubbish in bin bags from around her neighbourhood.
Mum Sally said: "Charlotte loves animals and the natural environment and wanted to do something that would improve her local community.
"The party was a great success, and two bin bags were half-filled with rubbish.
"Not only that - her friends loved the activity, and got to take their new litter pickers home with them so they could continue the good work in the future!"
Charlotte Bertram (centre, kneeling) and her friends with their litter pickers
Turning grass cuttings into energy: the Greenprint project
You might have noticed changes to how some of the green areas and verges in your local area are being managed. It’s because of an innovative project called Greenprint, being trialled in South Gloucestershire, working in partnership with West Sussex County Council.
Greenprint is part of ADEPT Live Labs 2, a three year, UK-wide £30 million programme funded by the Department for Transport and developed by the Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning and Transport (ADEPT), that aims to decarbonise the local highway network.
By cutting the grass less often and collecting the cuttings, instead of leaving them on the ground, Greenprint will investigate using the cuttings to generate clean heat and power, alternative fuels, and asphalt additives.
Figures from the charity Plantlife show that over 700 species of wildflowers grow on verges, accounting for nearly 45% of the UK’s total plant diversity. The cut and collect approach will also reduce soil fertility, helping to support wildflowers, insects, and allow the soil to store more carbon.
Yate was the pilot area where the process began last summer. Working with local town and parish councils, South Gloucestershire Council has now extended the trial into six more areas.
For more information about the project visit www.southglos. gov.uk/greenprint
Bus service rescued
A BUS service linking Thornbury to Dursley has been rescued after its operator ceased trading.
Transpora South West suddenly stopped running all of its services in the region in July, with no notice or reason given.
They included the Service 60, run on behalf of Gloucestershire County Council between Dursley and Thornbury and covering Wotton-under-Edge and Charfield.
Now Stagecoach West has announced that it will step in to operate the service, along with another route Transpora ran in Bristol.
Chris Hanson, Managing Director of Stagecoach West, says: “Following the sad news that Transpora has ceased operations we are glad to be able to step in and save these two vital services for our communities in Bristol and Gloucestershire.
“We look forward to welcoming our new customers on board in the coming days”
Cllr. Philip Robinson, Gloucestershire County Council said: “It’s a shame to see any business cease trading but our priority here has been to secure the service for our passengers and I’m pleased to see that we’ve been able to do this successfully with no gap in service.”
Stagecoach has pledged to maintain the timetable previously operated by Transpora –information on the new services, timetables and fares can be found at www.stagecoachbus.com.
Another service, the 84/85 linking Wickwar and Charfield to Yate, has no "long-term funding options" and will no longer run after September 1.
South Gloucestershire Council says it is working with the West of England Combined Authority and Gloucestershire County Council to "explore alternative travel options".
The Combined Authority has announced that a new WESTlocal bus service for the Cotswold Edge is expected to start on September 1, described as "a flexible, two-hourly service covering Hawkesbury Upton, Wickwar, Charfield, Chipping Sodbury and Yate, running Monday to Saturday".
Potholes emergency could close roads
POTHOLES on country lanes in South Gloucestershire are becoming “extremely difficult” to fix due to a shortage of cash and worsening weather.
Council bosses are now planning to declare a “highways emergency” and are warning some lanes could be closed this later year.
Climate change means the winters in England are wetter, colder and stormier, all of which causes potholes to form more quickly. South Gloucestershire Council is struggling to keep up with road maintenance, particularly on country lanes which previously were less of a focus.
The council only spends a third on maintaining the roads of what money is needed to keep the condition of the roads from getting worse.
At the end of last year, council bosses feared a wet, cold and stormy winter could wreak havoc on the district’s roads.
Although the weather this winter proved not as bad as they had feared, the roads are still getting damaged more quickly than the pothole gangs can fix them. Council bosses are now due to discuss how to respond to the dire state of the roads in a cabinet meeting on
A report to July's cabinet meeting said: "The impact of climate change means wetter winters, hotter summers and
seasonal extreme events are becoming more frequent and will, in the long term, only speed up this deterioration.
"The accelerated rate of deterioration means more roads are having to be treated at the reactive stage and therefore at a greater cost.
“This then means there is less funding available to provide preventative surface treatments at the earlier stages of decline. While the need for diversion of funds and closing of some rural lanes was not required, the long list of lanes whose condition is in much need of repair remains.
“These are currently being monitored and it’s likely that some road closures will be needed before the next winter. What is more concerning is the ability to address the remaining lanes with the funding available.”
The amount the council has for fixing potholes falls far short of the estimated £15 million which is needed.
The longer roads are left to deteriorate, the more expensive they then become to repair. One small country lane cost more than £80,000 for preparation works to surface it, and there are around 80 other lanes within South Gloucestershire in a similar position.
By Alex Seabrook, Local Democracy Reporting Service
The Thornbury Town Trust has a ground floor one bedroom flat with lounge, kitchen and shower room, available in Thornbury.
Applicants are required to be over 60, single or widowed, and of good character. Applicants should be resident in Thornbury and able to live independently.
There are four flats in the block and residents pay a monthly maintenance fee to help with running costs.
The Trustees will take into account the applicant’s financial circumstances and their housing and social needs.
If you are interested please contact: Sally Bertram, Clerk to the Trustees, to establish eligibility. You can ring 07835 110766, email sallytowntrust@gmail.com or write to: Thornbury Town Trust, C/o Thornbury Town Hall, High Street, Thornbury, BS35 2AR.
Tyler's mum makes fundraising climb
THE mother of a young Thornbury man who was killed in a lorry crash has climbed a mountain to raise money for a charity which gave her family vital support.
Gemma Showering and eight other relatives and friends of Tyler Carley have so far raised more than £700 from sponsorship of their trek up Pen Y Fan in Wales.
The group, which included Tyler's 11-yearold brother Kylan, climbed through driving rain to complete the climb on July 7.
They were raising money for 2wish, a bereavement charity which helps the families of young people who have died.
Tyler, who was 20, died in December when the lorry he was a passenger in overturned on the A4174 Avon Ring Road near Mangotsfield.
His family have set up a foundation in the former Castle School pupil's memory to support charities that offer help to bereaved relatives, and have started a series of events.
Gemma, who lives in Thornbury, said: "When it happened there was no-one to turn to and you were left to fend for yourself. You haven't got a clue what to do."
Gemma said Sandra Davies, the landlady of the Swan pub in Thornbury, put her in
touch with 2wish, as she started arranging coffee mornings as the charity expanded its operations from Wales into England.
Sandra had already organised a charity bingo night and raffle to raise more than £1,000 to support the family following Tyler's death.
Gemma said: "The work 2wish do is just amazing. They offer so much, it's just incredible.
"My youngest son is doing play therapy, I've had some counselling and it's nice that
they're on the end of the phone when you need them – they're just there.
"Anybody is able to get support from them, even Tyler's friends – some of them are only 20 themselves, and they're struggling.
"They do so many things and rely on donations as a charity."
Gemma has met other bereaved families at the coffee mornings.
She said: "You get to hear everybody's stories – although they are all different, everybody's in the same position."
The idea to climb Pen Y Fan came from Gemma's niece Layla, and soon her other niece, Mollie, best friend and step-dad also offered to join in the three-hour climb.
Gemma said: "The weather was terrible –it was absolutely tipping it down.
"None of us had ever done it before but thinking of the reason why we were doing it kept us going."
As the Voice went to print the event had raised £785 online for 2wish. The donation page is still open at tinyurl.com/ msfenmw7.
For more details of upcoming events visit the Road Forward – Tyler Carley Foundation Facebook page.
Your Outstanding Care Home in Thornbury Your Outstanding Care Home in Thornbury
Some of Tyler's relatives at the top of Pen Y Fan
Young runners raise £1,100
A GROUP group of nine friends from a Thornbury school have raised more than £1,100 for charity with a muddy run.
The friends are in Year 3 at St Mary’s Primary School.
They chose to run the Cancer Research UK 5k Pretty Muddy Kids Obstacle Race at the end of June in honour of the aunt and grandmother of one of the classmates, who both died from breast cancer before she was born, and her godmother, who was successfully treated.
Team Fierce Flamingos and Friends included seven Year 3 children and two siblings.
Kelly Instrell, a parent of one of the children taking part, said: "They completed the 5k obstacle course in under an hour – getting very muddy in the process!
"They had to scuttle under muddy nets, squeeze through muddy tunnels and wade through paddling pools filled with muddy water, all whilst having water and mud sprayed at them by the marshals.
"The children are extremely proud of their achievement and the money they have raised for the charity. They have already started planning for next year’s event!"
The Fierce Flamingos team
Protest as new sites added to blueprint
PROTESTERS staged a demonstration against proposals for thousands of homes on the Green Belt in South Gloucestershire.
The demo, organised by South Our Green Spaces South Gloucestershire (SOGS-SG), was held before council leaders approved the next stage of a 15-year blueprint for the future of the district, including where more than 22,000 homes could be built.
A group of about 50 people, bearing placards, marched in the rain to a South Gloucestershire Council cabinet meeting in Kingswood on July 15.
Residents urged councillors to rethink the strategy, which includes thousands of homes on green fields in Shortwood, Siston and Warmley.
Proposals for 22,241 homes to be built from 2025 to 2040 are contained in the latest version of South Gloucestershire’s Local Plan, which is now open for fresh public consultation, after which the document will be finalised, consulted on again and then sent to government planning inspectors.
The latest version adds 17 new sites, with a total of 1,751 homes, to the previous draft published last November.
None of the latest sites are in the Thornbury area, but they will
be added to a previous list which includes allowing development on a site for 40 homes in Thornbury on a field west of Bristol Road, and 15 homes west of Park Farm.
Sites that could be earmarked for development in Alveston include a field between Alveston Hill, the cemetery and Thornbury Golf Centre (60 homes), between Strode Common and Vattingstone Lane (100 homes), between the A38 Greenhill and Hazel Lane junctions (46 homes), and between Thornbury Cricket Club and the A38 north of Berkeley Vale Motors (16 homes).
Sites for up to 775 homes around Charfield and 152 around Cromhall are included in the strategy, along with a site for 20 homes at Vicarage Lane in Olveston.
The biggest change would be to Almondsbury, with land at Woodlands Golf Course opened up for building 800 homes, possibly rising to 1,230 after 2040, and 430 proposed on fields between the A38 and the M4/M5 Almondsbury Interchange.
A report to July's cabinet meeting said the new extra sites had been added to give the council a “buffer” in case some proposed developments did not go ahead.
It insisted that these still were not enough to meet any of Bristol’s unmet housing needs and that South Gloucestershire could not do anything to help its city neighbour, although the council had fulfilled its legal “duty to cooperate” with Bristol when drawing up the blueprint.
SOGS-SG member Martin Thomas told the cabinet: “Bristol’s housing need should be kept inside Bristol and it should be building up, not out into the countryside."
Thomas Garland said: "South Gloucestershire Council seem determined to press ahead with this hugely environmentally damaging Local Plan."
Liz Brennan (Con, Frenchay & Downend) told the meeting: “SOGS members represent a lot of people in South Gloucestershire who are concerned about what the development plan will mean for their communities."
Cllr Brennan said her group opposed the Local Plan, and their priority would be to protect the Green Belt.
Cabinet member for planning Chris Willmore (Lib Dem, Yate North) said: “In a worstpossible case, if all the sites the council was looking at were to be released, it would be a 2% loss to the current Green Belt, but we’re working to get it down as low as
we possibly can.”
She said 20% of South Gloucestershire residents lived in insecure, unaffordable housing with no chance of getting on the property ladder and renting often required 70% of their income, with a one-bedroomed flat in Kingswood costing £1,000 and month and a room in a shared house £750.
Cllr Willmore said: “We’ve got to do something about that, and the only way we can do that is by producing higher numbers of social rent and affordable housing for local people."
Council co-leader Ian Boulton (Lab, Staple Hill & Mangotsfield) said if the authority did not have a Local Plan, all green spaces in the district could be targeted by developers.
The latest public consultation will run until September 13.
Details can be found at www. southglos.gov.uk/newlocalplan.
Following feedback, the final version of the Local Plan will be prepared and consulted on again next January.
It is expected to be submitted next June for examination by a planning inspector, which is likely to take place in October of that year, with a view to adoption by April 2026.
By Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service
Marlwood's West End magic
STUDENTS at Marlwood School brought smash hit West End show Les Misérables to Alveston for a sold-out run.
The school's rendition of the show, bringing the themes of social and political struggles of 19th century France together with moral questions over right and wrong was done with "great understanding and maturity".
Friends of Marlwood School's Jo Baxter said: "The talent amongst the Marlwood students is amazing, the songs are not easy to sing, let alone the ability to convey the emotion behind them, and yet time and time again the main characters did this, as well as being well supported by the strong ensemble cast.
"All the lead characters performed just like they were the Royal Shakespeare Company in that first 1985 production.
"The creativity in the production is also paramount to its success, as the audience took their seats either side of a runway, it as if we were about to see a fashion show. However, what we witnessed was a runway that morphed from the ‘chain gang’s’ workplace, to the streets of a French village, to a church, to an Inn and so it continued throughout the night.
"It was great that Marlwood’s very own Samba band came on before the barricade scene to enhance the drama of the moment."
Jo paid tribute to the work of director Becky Ferguson, assistant director Ian Blunt and musical director Katherine Everett, supported by Nicki Barnes and Anneka Spring, as well as lighting designer George Parsons, production manager Katie Jones, sound engineer Ben Humphries and costume supervisor Alison Bagnall.
Jo added: "Once again, the magic of these annual productions is that they are also a great example of team building, creativity, working in collaboration with external people as well as community support.
"The tumultuous applause not only from the audience, but also from these young people in appreciation of their efforts, is not only a joyous event to hear and behold; it is something that will live with these young people and community far beyond Ofsted Reports and GCSE results."
Scenes from Marlwood School's production of Les Misérables
n LOCAL MP for Thornbury & Yate
A privilege to serve you
THANK you to local people for placing your trust in me to be your new MP.
It is a huge privilege to be elected to represent the place I’ve made my home for the last 25 years, and which I have previously served as Leader of South Gloucestershire Council.
I’m excited to see what we can achieve together, and am committed to being a strong voice for our area in Parliament.
I’d also like to thank my predecessor for his work as our MP, and wish him all the best for the future.
Throughout my campaign, I spoke to people across the length and breadth of the constituency.
On the doorsteps you raised with me the issues that mattered to you the most. Unsurprisingly, one of the
biggest worries was the NHS and social care.
On the day I was sworn in as an MP, I wrote to the new Health Secretary to ask for a meeting on Thornbury Health Centre. I’m calling on him to fund the facility the town needs.
I am also working with my fellow Liberal Democrat, Brian Mathew MP, to raise the financial concerns of the Three Shires Medical Practice.
Another big issue was the state of the economy.
Just hours after the result was declared, I was talking to Beko about their plans to close their Yate factory, with the potential loss of 150 jobs. I will work with the firm and others to support all those affected.
There are of course many other issues to tackle, including the scandal of sewage in our rivers, improving local bus services, and addressing the underfunding of our schools.
Many people are still struggling with the cost-ofliving crisis, and it will take time for the economy to recover.
I will champion your needs and support all the people in Thornbury and Yate – whether you voted Lib Dem or for another party.
It is fantastic to be one of 72 Lib Dem MPs. As the largest liberal voice in Parliament for
over a century, I am confident we can make a difference.
I’ve had a whirlwind start to life as an MP, and have already started recruiting staff, securing office space and finding venues to hold surgeries out in our different communities.
Please bear with me while I get up and running. If you would like to get in touch, please email me at claire. young.mp@parliament.uk.
Claire Young MP writes for Thornbury Voice
Claire Young at Thornbury Carnival
Pupils shut road for school run
STUDENTS at the Castle School in Thornbury set up a temporary road closure during pick-up and drop-off times.
The closure of Park Road during the morning and afternoon school run for a week at the end of June was intended to make other pupils walk or cycle to school instead.
The move was part of the school's campaign to encourage 'active travel', run with awards scheme Modeshift with support from South Gloucestershire Council’s road safety and sustainable travel team.
It was also intended to improve air quality and make journeys to school safer.
Deputy head teacher Katherine Wilson said: "The action from the school’s Active Travel Ambassadors team hopes to send out a clear message to cut down the use of private cars for journeys to school."
"Other aims are to cut down road danger from traffic, cut down anti-social behaviour from inconsiderate parking and dangerous manoeuvres, boost walking, cycling and active lifestyles for students and reduce congestion and pollution from vehicles waiting with their engines running."
Ms Wilson said the scheme, which saw the road closed from 8.15-8.45am and 2.50-
3.20pm for five days, had support from some parents, who believed it would make the environment outside of the school much safer, and support climate change action.
Park Road was closed from the junction
n NEWS FROM THE METRO MAYOR
A jam-packed holiday at home
WE are now fully in the swing of summer and, while the weather this year has been unpredictable at best, we should (hopefully) see some warmer, dryer days ahead.
The school holidays are getting underway, and readers who have yet to book a holiday but are still eager to relax or have some adventures – whether that’s connecting with nature, or soaking up some art – are in luck.
In order to get a dose of wholesome fun, you really don’t need to go, well, anywhere.
For when it comes to our summer holidays, there really is no place like home.
Who knew that the solitude of the West of England could help recharge all our batteries?
Who realised that we could all feel reinvigorated by strolling through the gorgeous hills of our picturesque countryside – a walker’s paradise – where you can see for miles?
And who appreciated that from nationally-acclaimed galleries and museums to festivals and sporting activities – think of those regular summer fixtures at Gloucester-
shire Cricket Club, and Bath City FC – all the family can have a healthy dose of fun, right here in the West?
Well, the secret is out! The West of England is consistently rated as a top staycation destination, and for good reason.
From play and learning at family-friendly favourites like We The Curious, which I am delighted has now reopened after two long years, to hidden gems such as Saltford Brass Mill or Kingswood Museum – who I am backing through my mayoral fund to help smaller tourist sites – this incredible region is jam-packed with top places to explore and enjoy.
That’s why I am encouraging all of you to once again make the most of our fantastic local attractions and sites, and get behind them this summer.
My Explore Local campaign has already helped bring thousands of tourists back to our great region, but there is a way to go.
Tourism numbers have gone up by nearly 10% since I launched the campaign,
with the school staff entrance to just before the junction with Alexandra Way.
Residents of Park Road within the closure points were allowed access, along with school buses dropping off and collecting students, but other vehicles were kept out.
Ms Wilson said: "The Castle School promotes and encourages active and sustainable travel to and from school and has achieved the Modeshift STARS Excellent accreditation.
"We were one of four secondary schools invited to the National Modeshift STARS Final.
"The aim of this campaign was to improve local air quality and to make it safer and easier for students to walk and cycle to school.
"We are grateful to South Gloucestershire Council, Active Travel Ambassadors (ATA) and local residents and schools for their support with our campaign."
The ATA programme provides young people aged 11 upwards with confidence and skills to address transport issues affecting their school community.
Ms Wilson said at least one resident had hailed the scheme as an “excellent initiative and idea”, telling staff: "It's horrendous down here in the mornings.”
Metro Mayor Dan Norris writes for the Voice
but are still down slightly versus before the pandemic.
So if this is the summer of the great British ‘staycation’, let’s take full advantage by visiting the truly amazing attractions we have locally.
We are so lucky to live in such a brilliant part of the world. Let’s all get out there, soak in the atmosphere (and sun, fingers crossed!) and enjoy a proper local staycation.
A big bonus of keeping it local and travelling less far is we can save some cash during the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, which I know is still tough on residents, and help save the planet too.
Castle School children patrol the closure
n MESSAGE FROM POLICE AND CRIME COMMISSIONER
Time to hear your concerns and ideas
WE are now in a time of change and of opportunity.
After weeks of being out campaigning over evenings and weekends and an exciting general election, I’m looking forward to working with the new government and all new and returning local MPs.
I welcome the government’s commitment to boosting police numbers and making neighbourhood policing more visible.
The King’s Speech also demonstrated there will be action on anti-social behaviour, shoplifting and on tackling violent crime, specifically on male violence against women and girls and knife crime.
I am pleased to say I will be spending a community engagement day in South Gloucestershire in mid-August, where I’ll meet with community groups and support services for victims of crime.
This visit is an opportunity for me to get out, meet people faceto-face and hear your concerns and
ideas about policing in your area.
I will also be holding a public forum in the evening on Thursday August 15.
I feel strongly that being out in the community is vital to understanding how we solve the unique challenges we face. The details to book on to the forum will be added to the website, www. avonandsomerset-pcc.gov.uk, soon.
This meeting will also help me to shape ideas for my Police and Crime Plan, but it won’t be the last opportunity to have your say.
The draft plan will be published next month for consultation, giving you a chance to share your views on both the plan and how it’s implemented.
During July, I launched a new initiative called Police Question Time (PQT), designed to make it easier for you to voice your opinions on local policing.
I will be posing questions monthly about the performance of Avon and Somerset Police to Chief
Constable Sarah Crew.
The first session was live streamed on the Avon & Somerset Police & Crime Commissioner
Facebook page on July 17, and you can watch a recording there.
Another new initiative I’m pleased to announce is free bystander intervention training, helping night-time economy workers to recognise the signs of sexual harassment to those working in this sector, like pubs, nightclubs, and hospitality.
You can sign up to the in-person or virtual sessions at tinyurl.com/ ywrppa2v.
Ensuring safety in our communities requires proactive measures.
By empowering night time economy workers with bystander intervention training, we can enable them to play a key role in creating safer nightlife environments.
This training is essential for preventing male violence against women and girls, and fostering a
secure and enjoyable atmosphere for everyone.
Together, let’s keep building a safer, more inclusive community.
I look forward to meeting many of you across South Gloucestershire and working with you over the coming weeks, months and years to achieve our shared goals.
In the meantime, please feel free to reach out to me and my office with any questions, concerns, or suggestions you may have at www.avonandsomerset-pcc.gov.uk.
n ADVERTISING FEATURE
Riding The Wave
The Wave is a slice of the ocean, inland near Bristol. Offering perfect, guaranteed waves for surfers of all abilities, it’s the perfect place to learn to surf this summer.
This year the launch of the 'Little Rippers' session allows for children as young as four to learn to surf. Or if you just want to get in for a splash, Play In The Bay is a summer favourite. For others looking to kick start their surfer journey, look no further than a beginner lesson. Already a keen surfer? The Wave offers great sessions from intermediate to expert every day.
But The Wave is more than just surfing. With free parking and free entry, families can spend a day at The Wave with or without getting wet. The play park and skate ramp keeps kids of all ages entertained for hours, and the shoreline café and restaurant offer all day dining, great tasting coffee and a licensed bar. And if you didn't want to drive home… book a night in a glamping style safari tent located right next to the lake.
The Wave is an unmissable trip this holiday. Visit The Wave just off Junction 17 of the M5, near Cribbs Causeway.
Arts festival headliners unveiled
NHS anaesthetist, comedian and author Ed Patrick will be among the star performers at this year’s Thornbury Arts Festival.
Folk duo Filkin’s Drift, who made headlines globally when they completed an 870-mile concert tour on foot around the coast of Wales, will also play at the event this autumn.
Ed Patrick has written for and performed on BBC Radio 4, as well as appearing at venues across the UK, including at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
He comes to Thornbury as part of his debut Catch Your Breath tour, sharing its title with his book, which follows his journey from bewildered medical student to unflinching anaesthetist on the NHS frontline.
His show - for over-16s - will be part of a programme that is currently being finalised by the volunteer group behind the arts festival, for the last weekend in September and first weekend in October.
The team booked Filkin’s Drift after being impressed by the duo’s radical approach to sustainable touring.
The pair - Seth Bye and Chris Robertswalked with their instruments strapped to their
backs and played at nearly 50 venues during the 60-day Wales challenge last year.
The musicians are renowned for their live performances on guitar and fiddle, and are expected to attract a large audience to enjoy their Thornbury show.
Meanwhile, the Bristol Gilbert and Sullivan Operatic Society are set to stage a concert version of The Pirates of Penzance and there will be a couple of daytime talks, including one on the conservation work of Bristol Zoological Society.
By popular demand, local historian Meg Wise, will also lead a Sunday walk entitled God, Gossip, Scandal and Riot around Thornbury.
Information on performers, speakers, dates, times, venues and ticket sales will be revealed during the summer, with the festival website www.thornburyartsfestival.org.uk updated as details are confirmed.
With the Armstrong Hall still closed, the festival committee has again had to look at alternative venues in order to stage the event. They include some in Thornbury but also halls in nearby villages.
Lynne Hutchinson
Tony releases short story collection
FORMER police officer-turnedwriter Tony Domaille has just released a new collection of short stories called I Know a Place.
The collection includes dramatic and comical tales, awardwinners, and a number that Tony adapted to become award-winning plays like Even Numbers, which won the Derek Jacobi Award for New Playwriting in 2023 and Life in the Cloud, the recipient of three awards at the Bristol and Avon One Act Festival in 2021.
Tony, a long time Thornbury resident, says he turned to writing as "it was a great release from some of the things I would see at work, and it helped me stay sane".
His first story was published in a magazine and was inspired by his late grandmother who “was a huge character, could play the piano by ear, and make up wonderful stories on the spot"
He added: "Indian Summer Sunshine was about an evening out with her when she was misbehaving."
Tony is currently working on what he described as "a light comedy but with some serious messages about life".
He says it is a time travel story but adds: "As has happened quite a few times, I started writing the novel and then became convinced the story would be better as a fulllength stage play.
"I’m halfway through writing the script now, with a working title of The Thing About Time."
Even Numbers also won the UK Community Drama Festivals Federation Award in 2023 - an award Tony in 2022 with his play Normal For
The title story from his new collection, I Know a Place, won the Mid-Somerset Festival competition in 2023.
Tony has a regular slot on Thornbury Radio on Tuesdays from 7-8pm with the JTP Theatre, a group he formed with his son and brother.
The group is producing an evening of four award-winning short comedies in November at The Swan in Thornbury, Grace Court in Thornbury, and the Memorial Hall in Oldbury, between November 21 and 23.
I Know a Place is available now from Amazon.
Ed Patrick
Armstrong Arts group
OLD Baby Mackerel will bring bluegrass to Thornbury in September.
Playing high-energy, footstomping Bluegrass, the band features some of the UK’s best Bluegrass musicians.
Be prepared to be transported back in time to the early 20th century and across the Atlantic to North America where songs dramatized the small-town fascination with locomotion, religion and the exhilaration of a good night out.
Gathered around a single condenser microphone in the
Bluegrass style, the sounds of banjo, guitar, mandolin, fiddle and double bass blend lightningfast rhythm, virtuosic solos and evocative harmonies to get knees bouncing and elbows swinging. Your good night out awaits when the band will be performing at the Methodist Church Hall, High Street, Thornbury on Saturday 7th September at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £15 from AAGThornbury@gmail.com or 01454 850933.
Jane Parfitt
thornburyvoice
n WHAT'S ON
AUGUST
August 5
n ALVESTON GARDENS ASSOCIATION meeting at Alveston Jubilee Hall, 7.30pm. Speaker Mandy Bradshaw, 'Finding the angle at Chelsea'.
August 6 and 20
n CIRCLE DANCING to music from around the world, traditional and modern. Thornbury Methodist Church Hall, Castle Court, 6.30- 8.30pm. New dancers welcome, no experience or partner required. More details at vickislade1@outlook.com or call 07516 999384.
August 31
n KRUNCH SUMMER FEST AND SKATE COMP at Thornbury Skate Park, 2-6pm. Inflatables, climbing wall, graffiti workshop, glitter tattoos, carnival face paint, circus activities, birds of prey, bushcraft, well-being tent, music, food and more. Skate competition hosted by King Ramps, including pro rider demonstrations, cash prizes and workshops. Free entry - small charge for some activities. All welcome.
REGULAR EVENTS
Monday
n SEVERN VALE FLOWER CLUB meets on the second Monday in the month at 2pm in St Mary's Hall in Eastbury Close, Thornbury, for classes, demonstrations and competitions. For more information contact Sally on ssjjtaylor@hotmail.co.uk or Hazel on 01454 885213.
Tuesday
n CITIZENS ADVICE South Gloucestershire sessions at Thornbury Town Hall Tuesday 10am-noon. No appointment needed.
n JUST SEW IT SEWING CLUB, every Tuesday 6.30-9.30pm at the Chantry Community and Arts Centre Castle Street, Thornbury. Come along and sew with others bring your sewing machine & materials/pattern. Call Carrie 07753 236095.
n THORNBURY MEMORY CAFE is open on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month (except August) from 10.15-11.45am. Methodist
Church Hall, High Street, Thornbury. More information from Sue Rowley on 01454 412941 or Louise Wright on 07800 776998.
n SUNBEAMS TODDLER GROUP, 1.30-3pm every Tuesday in term time, Thornbury Methodist Church Hall (off Castle Court). All families welcome, no need to book, £2 per family includes snack and drink.
n THORNBURY TOWN BAND Friendly community brass band, rehearsals at Thornbury URC Tuesday evening's 7.30pm-9.30pm. New players very welcome. www.thornburytownband.com. email: info@thornburytownband.co.uk. Turn up or call Anna for more information on 07960008843
Wednesday
n THORNBURY ROYAL BRITISH LEGION, Coffee and Chat, second Wednesday of the month, The Swan, Thornbury High Street, 10-11.30am. All welcome
Thursday
n THORNBURY GOOD AFTERNOON CHOIR, Thornbury URC,
Chapel Street, 1-3pm. For info visit www.goodafternoonchoir.org, email gac@grenvillemusic.co.uk or call 01761 472468.
Friday
n HAVEN MEMORY CAFE, Thornbury United Reformed Church, Chapel Street, first and third Fridays of the month from 10.15-11.45am. More details from Stuart Hill on 07913 241437 or Sue Walton 07794 370903.
Saturday
n THORNBURY PARKRUN, 9am, Mundy Playing Fields. Free.
n THORNBURY ROYAL BRITISH LEGION VETERANS Breakfast, second Saturday of the month, 9am at The Swan, Thornbury High Street. All welcome.
Sunday
n THORNBURY ROYAL BRITISH LEGION branch meeting, last Sunday of the month at the Wheatsheaf pub, Chapel Street, 12.30pm. All welcome.
n THORNBURY LIBRARY
THORNBURY Library is hosting Marvellous Makers, this year's Summer Reading Challenge for children aged 4-11.
Visit the library during August to join – it’s fun and free.
Children can collect a free activity bag to get them started. They then read books of their choice over the summer holidays and collect stickers to complete a collectors’ poster.
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Those who complete the Challenge will receive a medal and certificate along with a voucher for a free swim at their local Active Lifestyle Centre, provided by Circadian Trust.
Over 6,300 children took part in South Gloucestershire last year. Summer creative craft sessions will be held on Wednesday August 14 and 21, from 10.30am to noon each day.
The library hosts Ukrainian storytime sessions every Monday at 4pm. Zoya, a Ukrainian teacher, shares stories, reading and more from Ukraine.
Lego club meets every Saturday from 9.30-10.30am – no booking required. Create your own Lego masterpieces and display them in the library for your family and friends to see.
Rhymetime takes place every Monday and Friday, from 9.30-10am.
Book group Have You Read…? meets on August 2 from 2pm-3pm: a book group for everyone with no set novel to read, just an hour of chat and refreshments.
A computer volunteer is ready to help with your IT and online questions on Thursday mornings, with one-to-one sessions available from 9.30am.
People can enjoy a free hot drink in the library every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday from 9.30am-4pm, use the computers or WiFi with your own iPad or phone, read a book, a newspaper, browse the shelves, enjoy a communal puzzle or just relax.
The library is open 9.30am-5.30pm on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and 9.30am-12.30pm on Saturday.
Open access is from 8am-7.30pm every day.
For bookings and home library service call 01454 868006, email thornbury.library@southglos.gov.uk or visit the website www. southglos.gov.uk/libraries.
n COMMUNITY NEWS Tennis courts reopened
STRAWBERRIES and cream were served alongside the tennis balls at a launch event for Thornbury's newly-refurbished public courts at Mundy Playing Fields.
Children had the chance to challenge town mayor James Murray to a game of tennis, while spectators enjoyed scones and clotted cream.
The event on June 22 was arranged by Thornbury Town Council to celebrate the launch of the revamped public tennis courts, partlyfunded with a grant from South Gloucestershire Council, using money paid by developers as part of planning deals.
The courts are now operating a "pay and play" booking system that the council says will allow players to guarantee a court and provide extra income to support the upkeep of the courts.
A town council spokesperson said: "We recognise that people have got used to being able to book whatever they want to do, and our public consultation showed that the majority of people think it is a good idea to be able to book a court, even if that involves paying a fee.
"What we also noticed at the event was that many people had not realised that there were public courts at the Mundy Playing Fields, tucked away at the back."
Courts can be booked through the Thornbury Town Council website.
People booking will be given a code which can be used on the gate's entry pad to allow entry. Courts cost £5 per hour per court, with a reduced £3 fee for players on a lower income.
For more information visit the Thornbury Town Council website at www. thornburytowncouncil.gov.uk.
Thornbury Lions
THORNBURY Lions held their changeover dinner at the end of June, when Terry Hunt stepped down as president and welcomed Pete Fish into the role.
Terry thanked members for their support during his tenure, during which over £30,000 has been donated to charities and disaster appeals.
The club thanked Terry for leading the club over the past 12 months and wished Pete every success.
Terry is one of the founding Charter members of the club 37 years ago, during which he has been President for five years and secretary for 32.
One of Terry's recent initiatives was the ‘Books for Schools’ campaign, which resulted in 12 local primary schools and two secondary schools receiving much-needed funds to purchase books.
This was greatly appreciated by the schools.
The club also took part in the 2023 Lions ROAR contest involving local schools, which is an inspirational education competition run in partnership between Lions clubs and ‘8BillionIdeas’.
The successful Lions bookshop is in its 13 year, with customers coming from far afield.
The shop generates funds for Great Western Air Ambulance, JIGSAW, Krunch South West, Castle School Friends, Thornbury in Bloom, Scout groups, Olveston Bowling Club, Thornbury Area Youth Music and various Thornbury Town Football Club teams, to name a few.
This will be Pete’s fourth year of being president, having previously steered the club through the challenging COVID years. He plans to continue the success of the shop and attract new members, whilst continuing the club’s social activities.
To continue our support to the local community, our future and the shop, we need new members. If you would like get involved and make new friends, why not come along to one of our meetings and see what we are about?
You can message us via our contact page at www.thornburylions.org, on Facebook or visit our bookshop in the St Mary Centre, which is always looking for new volunteers.
Kevin Simpson
Severn Vale Flower Club
OUR Competitions Afternoon in June was wellsupported.
The judge for the afternoon was Fleur White, from Somerset.
We had so many entries in each class, it was hard to pick a winner.
The winners were:
Class 1 – 'Upstairs and Downside': Susie Rees won the Kay Evans trophy award. It was nice to see how members depicted the title.
Class 2 – 'Afternoon Tea': Julie Barnes won the Kathleen Hawkins award.
Class 3 – 'Garden Glory': Susie Rees also won the Carmen Pitts award.
Class 4 – 'Treasured Jewels': Jo Whiteman won the Nancy Robbins award.
Class 5 – Maureen Christopher won the single flower.
Congratulations to Norah Bamfields, whose photo of her 23 grandchildren was chosen as best in 'All Dressed up'.
Congratulations to the winners, and well done to those who entered the competitions.
While Fleur had the difficult job of picking the winners, members all enjoyed tea and nibbles. Sally thanked Fleur for agreeing to judge our competitions, which was not easy.
On Monday July 8 members and visitors all enjoyed our afternoon tea, which was supplied by The Deli.
There were sufficient leftovers for members to take some home. Members were asked to bring flowers arranged in jam jars to decorate the tables.
Each table then chose the best jars, which were entered into a competition. Sally provided each table with two quizzes for the entertainment. which was fun but noisy.
Members all agreed it was a successful and enjoyable afternoon.
On Monday August 12, Ali Finch will be our demonstrator. The competition is called 'Toying with Flowers'. Doors open at 1.30 for 2pm.
Jo Whiteman
Thornbury mayor James Murray takes on a young player
Terry Hunt and Pete Fish
n LETTERS
Lithium batteries are risk to life and countryside
I WAS saddened by the tone of the article on the proposed battery farm at Earthcott Green (Voice, July), which I feel implied a "not in my back yard" attitude.
This was about a dangerous toxic substance, in the wrong place.
Immersa, the company behind the plans, claim their 200-megawatt compound would protect schools and hospitals from power failure.
If power lines are down due to increasingly severe storms, the electricity in the batteries will not be able to get anywhere.
It will, in fact, require thousands of these compounds to be built throughout the country, using a toxic substance that is mined using fracking.
Lithium batteries have become widely integrated into modern technology and smaller electronics, such as mobile phones and laptops.
Companies like Immersa are fuelling a belief that lithium is vital to reaching zero carbon in the UK, but at what risk to life?
London Fire Brigade have responded to lithium-related incidents on average once every two days, and considers lithiumion battery fires to be the fastestgrowing risk in the capital.
Lithium batteries have also caused great concern for UK's waste management in recent years, with a surge of fire incidents in dustcart and household waste recycling centres.
When fires do occur, they tend to escalate very quickly and produce highly toxic gases.
Lithium is useful for small appliances, but it can never be right to cover the whole country with mega-polluting, high risk batteries.
There are alternatives.
Marion Reeve Parish councillor, Alveston
Come to our Summer Fest
ON August 31 Krunch will once again be running Summer Fest and the Skate Comp at Thornbury Skate Park.
Activities will include inflatables, a climbing wall, graffiti workshop, glitter tattoos, carnival face paint, circus activities, birds of prey, bushcraft, well-being tent, music, food and more.
There will also be a skate comp taking place, hosted by King Ramps, including pro rider demonstrations, cash prizes and workshops.
The event is free to enter but there will be a small charge for some of the activities and to participate in the skate comp.
After the success of Summer Fest 23 we are delighted to be bringing this event to the community again.
Last year over 500 people attended to help us celebrate our 10th anniversary, and with many
local contributors taking part as well, it was an event the really bought the community together. We will definitely be keeping the same flavour for Summer Fest 24, with a few additional surprises, including the Thornbury Rotary Club Duck Race!
Everyone is welcome.
Penny Baker, Centre Director, Krunch South West
Thanks for donation
THE Thornbury and District Cancer Research Committee UK would like to thank the Severn Vale Quilters for their generous donation of £1,600 presented to chairman Tony Flintoff from the proceeds of their last exhibition, in memory of two of their late members who had passed away from the disease.
We are most grateful for this gift, which will provide funding for further research into the 200+ different types of Cancer.
Lynfa Fisher CRUK Press Officer
Thornbury and District Sea Cadets
THORNBURY and District Sea Cadets have celebrated the organisation's 168th official birthday.
Cadets and adult volunteers sang a lusty, if less than tuneful, rendition of 'Happy Birthday' before blowing out the candles in their base behind Castle School Sixth Form.
Founded in 1856 as the Naval Lads’ Brigade, to help orphans of the Crimean War by passing on nautical skills and training, girls have benefitted from the same opportunities since 1942.
Nobody knows the exact date the first unit started so we use the day in 1899 when Queen Victoria became Patron, and gave £10 to the Windsor and Eton unit for uniforms.
Here at TS Battleaxe we are a bit more recent, having been founded in the 1980s.
We are immensely proud to be members of the world’s oldest uniformed youth organisation - 168 years of helping Britain’s young people grow and develop is no mean feat.
Petty Officer (SCC) Will Edge, 1st Lieutenant and second-in-command of the unit, said: "The range of activities on the water and ashore always amazes people from aviation to seamanship and from engineering and cooking to first aid."
To find out how to become involved, either as a cadet (aged 10 to 18) or an instructor, get in contact via our website www.sea-cadets.org/ thornbury.
We have a comprehensive training programme for both cadets and potential instructors, so prior knowledge is not important.
We will be enrolling new cadets in early September.
Petty Officer Christopher Batt
Thornbury Rotary
THORNBURY Rotary has just delivered tons of donated tools to a charity that refurbishes
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them and sends them to Africa where they can be put to good use.
Tools With A Mission (TWAM) is a Christian charity that collects unwanted usable tools, refurbishes them and sorts them into trade tool kits, which are sent to the developing world where they equip individuals with the skills needed to completely transform their lives and communities.
Refurbishing and recycling saves over 1,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually.
In 2023 TWAM sent over 15,000 kits to Africa to support farmers, builders, carpenters, plumbers, electricians and mechanics.
They also accept sewing machines and fully working computers.
Thornbury Rotary would be delighted if people can support TWAM by having a declutter and then donating tools that would otherwise be discarded.
Anyone who would like to help can contact Robin Cole-Morgan on 01454 414281
He will arrange to pick up the tools and advise on which types can be used by the charity.
Thanks to everyone who has supported this valuable project. Your donations make a real difference.
Mark Wilkinson
Sea Cadets and officers blow out the candles on the cake
Tournament remembers boxer Jude
BOXERS from around the country attended a tournament in Thornbury held in memory of a talented young boxer.
The 10th Bristol Box Cup, organised by Downend Boxing Club, of Fishponds in Bristol, took place on June 22-23 at Thornbury Leisure Centre.
This year the tournament was dedicated to the memory of 19-year-old national champion, England international and former Bristol Box Cup champion Jude Moore.
Jude grew up in Fishponds, and died suddenly in March last year following a medical episode in Hertfordshire, where he was training with the Hoddesdon Boxing Club.
A total of 180 boxers, born in 2010, 2011 or 2012, from all over England, Wales and Northern Ireland attended the tournament, which saw 70 contests take place across the two days.
Representing Downend were Lacey Holloway, aged 12, Rudi Watts, 13, Miley Conors, 11, Finlay Haskins, 12, and Michael Knight and Rio Toomey, both 13.
Gold medals – bearing an image of Clifton Suspension Bridge – were won by Lacey Holloway, who was also voted female boxer of the tournament, Miley Conors and Michael Knight.
n NEWS
A well-deserved silver medal, after two hard bouts, went to Finlay Haskins, with bronze medals for Rudi Watts and Rio Toomey.
The winners of the Bristol Blue Glass boxing glove, for the best club, were Hoddesdon Boxing Club.
The best international boxer award went to Cole Pikulski, of Pantside ABC, and best male boxer went to Moken Mills, of Crewkerne ABC.
Glenn Catley, the former WBC supermiddleweight champion, was in attendance.
He said: "The Box Cup is now firmly established in clubs' calendars across Europe, and we are excited to have our city’s name associated with the celebration of school-age boxing."
Downend Boxing Club has to thank all the wonderful volunteers of Downend boxing who worked so hard to make the event possible, also Kathryn James and her team at Sported, all of whom brought more top-level sport to the area.
Craig Turner
European glory for taekwondo team
A MARTIAL arts team from Thornbury is celebrating after members took home a medal haul from the European Championships.
Students from Thornbury Taekwondo Academy competed in the International Taekwondo Federation (ITF) event, held at Sports Wales National Centre in Cardiff from July 18 to 21.
The competition had a range of categories, including power breaking, patterns and sparring for juniors and adults.
The team is part of the federation's UK Region 7 and members were among 160 participants from 15 countries at the event, which is held every two years.
Winning students included Esme McCarthy, a second-degree black belt, who won gold medals for patterns and sparring.
Esme, a law student who works part time as a legal assistant with the Co-op, was also part of the women’s team representing Great Britain, winning gold, silver and bronze medals in the different categories.
Ben Turner, another second-degree black belt, took home gold for patterns and silver for sparring. Ben, who works as a neurological physiotherapist, was awarded best overall male, having gained the most points.
Kieran McDermott, a third-degree black belt who works as a trainee solicitor, achieved gold for sparring.
Stuart Leppard, a sixth-degree black belt and former world silver medallist, fought for silver in sparring and patterns.
Joel Cassar, a fourth-degree black belt, came away with gold for sparring, while Sam Cole, an engineer with Airbus, won silver for first degree black belt patterns.
The men’s team won silver in patterns and breaking.
The team members attend black belt clinics and squad training every other Saturday, as well as weekly classes with the club, which was
set up 23 years ago.
Instructor Vaughan Buxton, a 7th degree black belt and a British, European and World title holder, said he was proud of everyone who took part.
Vaughan said: “The students trained hard in the run-up to the competition and gave it their all. I’m proud of their dedication and it’s an amazing achievement to take part in the European Championships.
"It was great to see students from Thornbury represent Team GB on the international stage in such an elite sporting event."
To qualify, competitors had to be national champions in their own countries and registered black belt holders.
Only five per cent of ITF Taekwondo students are said to take part in competitions.
But the team at Thornbury regularly competes both nationally and internationally.
The club, with members as young as four, holds classes at Thornbury Leisure Centre on two evenings per week, along with black belt and squad training at Turnberrie's Community Centre every other weekend.
For more information, call 07866 685099 or email info@thornburytkd.com.
Downend Boxing Club members Miley Conors, Frankie Haskins (helper), Lacey Holloway, Finlay Haskins, Georgia Pring (helper) and Rio Toomey at the Box Cup. (Above right) Jude Moore
Students from UK ITF Taekwondo Region 7 who took part in the European Championships
n
Thorns prepare for new season
WHILST everyone is waiting for the summer to arrive, preparations for the new football season are well underway.
Thornbury Town are approaching their fourth season at Hellenic League Premier Division level, step 5 of the National League system.
First team manager Richard Joyce has been pleased with the way preparations for the new season have been going.
Most of last season’s squad have remained loyal to the Thorns and, with the addition of a few new faces, all at the club will be hoping for an improved season this time around.
Pre-season friendlies started at the beginning of July with a trip to Cheltenham Saracens.
Despite seven squad members being missing, Town drew 2-2 with their hosts, with goals from Joe Guest and Nathan Sage.
Other friendlies have been arranged against Welsh team Caldicot Town and Southern League side Bristol Manor Farm.
Whilst League fixtures for all of Thornbury’s senior sides were still awaited as the Voice went to print, the draws for the FA cup competitions have been made.
In the FA Cup, Town make a short trip across the bridge to play league rivals Lydney Town on Saturday August 3.
If successful, they then face a trip to Highworth Town or Bishops Cleeve in the next round.
In the FA Vase, Thornbury have been given a bye in the first qualifying round and will enter at the second qualifying round stage, with a home game against either newly promoted Malmesbury Victoria or Longlevens. This fixture is set to take place on September 21.
In the FA Youth Cup, the
under-18s have a home fixture in the extra preliminary round against Cheltenham Saracens during August. They will be competing in the FA Youth Cup for just the third time in the club’s history.
Season tickets for the new season are now available at a very reasonable £70, which includes entry to all 19 home league fixtures and friendlies and is a significant saving on the gate price.
The Reserves' first season in the Premier Division of Bristol Premier Combination following promotion will begin in September, along with A team and U18s league fixtures.
Fixtures for the Veterans side and the newly formed Ladies team are still awaited.
With the clubhouse extension now completed and in use, and other ground improvements in the pipeline, the Club’s committee look to consolidate
their place at this level of football.
The Thorns junior sides and the new clubhouse made the national news when a BBC film crew chose to film at the Mundys during the England v Netherlands Euros semi-final, with footage being shown during the 6pm and 10pm news bulletins. All great publicity for the club!
We are always on the lookout for matchday helpers to assist with the many tasks associated with staging a game at the Mundys.
If you enjoy your football and would like to help out at a friendly, local club, simply come down to a game and make yourself known to any of the club committee members or contact club chairman Jake Shutler on 07713 750816.
Malcolm Carr
