Thornbury Voice February 2021

thornburyvoice www.thornburyvoice.co.uk

February, 2021 Issue 45

luke.hall.mp @parliament.uk

Here to help

FREE EVERY MONTH IN THORNBURY AND SURROUNDING VILLAGES

Driver killed on M5

A LORRY driver died after his vehicle overturned on the M5 between Bristol and Thornbury.

PAGE 3

New plans for Turnberries

Almondsbury couple Hazel and John Watson met Boris Johnson as they received their COVID-19 jabs at the 'super vaccination centre' at Ashton Gate stadium in Bristol. They were among the first to be vaccinated at the centre, which was visited by the Prime Minister on its opening day, January 11. Picture: Andrew Parsons/No 10 Downing Street

Covid vaccinations begin PEOPLE living in the Thornbury area have started being vaccinated against COVID-19, as the national programme reaches GP surgeries.

The first vaccinations to take place in the town were administered in the first week of January at Severn View Family Practice, at Thornbury Health Centre in Eastland Road, for patients from the Severnvale Primary Care Network, which also includes Streamside Surgery, St Mary Street Surgery, Almondsbury Surgery and Pilning

Surgery.

The Healthier Together partnership of ten local health and care organisations, which is organising vaccinations in the area, said that by mid-January, 19 local centres were acting as hubs across the Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset region, along with Southmead Hospital and Ashton Gate stadium, where a "super vaccination centre" has been set up.

Turn to page 2

THORNBURY'S Turnberries Community Centre could host facilities originally planned for the closed Armstrong Hall - casting the Chapel Street complex's future into more doubt.

PAGE 3

Caller wanted

POLICE are trying to trace a man who vandalised a doorbell camera which had just been installed to protect and elderly woman's home.

PAGE 6

Change for Marlwood MARLWOOD School is set to reduce its capacity to help make it an "attractive proposition" to families in nearby villages.

PAGE 11

Property experts working in the Thornbury property market since the early 1980’s, coping with fast markets, slow markets, boom or recession but always working our hardest to achieve the absolute best for our clients.

Please contact

Penny Skinner or Rowena Moncrieffe for further details‌

14 The Plain, Thornbury, 01454 858007 www.bondsofthornbury.co.uk

thornburyvoice

2

thornburyvoice March deadline

Our March edition deadline is February 17.

Thornbury Voice contacts Editorial

Advertising

Fiona Picton, Journalist Ken McCormick, Editor

Richard Drew, Publisher

contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk

01454 800 120 contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk

Your views Letters for publication can be sent to us via email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk We reserve the right to edit your letter.

Follow us on Twitter @thornburyvoice

Find us on Facebook Thornbury Voice

Local information South Gloucestershire Council www.southglos.gov.uk 01454 868009 Safer Stronger team sscg@southglos.gov.uk 01454 868009 Anti social behaviour team asbreporting@southglos.gov.uk 01454 868582 Streetcare/litter/vandalism etc streetcare@southglos.gov.uk

Environment/trading standards 01454 868001 Police www.avonandsomersetpolice.uk general enquiries: 101 Fire www.avonfire.gov.uk General enquiries: 0117 926 2061 NHS Health Call 111 Well Aware health & social care information www.wellaware.org.uk Tel: (freephone) 0808 808 5252

PUBLISHER’S NOTE: Thornbury Voice is independent. We cannot take responsibility for content or accuracy of adverts, and it is advertisers’ responsibility to conform to all relevant legislation. We cannot vouch for any services offered. Opinions are not necessarily those of the editor. Thornbury Voice is distributed each month to local residents. If for some reason you do not get a copy, please get in touch or collect one from local pick-up points. Feedback is welcomed, call Richard On 01454 800 120 or contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk

Complaints Despite our best efforts, we sometimes get things wrong. We always try to resolve issues informally at first but we also have a formal complaints procedure. If you have a complaint about anything in the Thornbury Voice, contact the publisher using the details above. We aspire to follow the Code of Conduct of the NUJ (National Union of Journalists), which holds journalists to a high standard of behaviour.

Further details of the complaints process can be found on the Voice website here, or can be obtained by contacting the Publisher.

A member of the

February, 2021

n NEWS

Covid vaccination drive is underway From page 1 Severn View was part of the third wave of vaccination sites announced by the NHS, as the new Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine is distributed across the country.

As the government announces plans to extend the vaccination programme to people aged over 70 over the next few weeks, people are again being urged not to call or visit their surgery to ask when they will be given the vaccine, but instead to wait until they are called in to have their jab.

The Healthier Together partnership said: "Staff are working tirelessly to ensure the necessary measures are in place for those most at risk to get their vaccine first.

"We ask for your patience and understanding; we are doing everything we can to stick to our timelines however we may need to cancel or amend appointments depending on delivery of the vaccine.

"Please be assured that no one will be left behind – this is the start of the vaccination programme and there will be enough for everyone.

“To support people to take up their vaccinations, community transport is available to take individuals to and from their appointment at a minimal cost.

This can be arranged through individual GP practices."

A spokesperson for the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group, which is part of the partnership, said each group of surgeries, known as a Primary Care Network (PCN), was planning vaccination days according to planned deliveries, with some organising them on consecutive days and some aiming to use an entire delivery

of vaccines in a day.

Patients of Severn View were advised not to go to the surgery for any other reason while the first round of vaccinations took place on January 7 and 8.

A message on the practice's website said: "Staff have been busy contacting eligible patients to book their appointments.

"Please do not call to book an appointment as we are only receiving a limited number of vaccines.

"We have prioritised those patients who are most vulnerable from covid to be vaccinated first and have contacted them directly."

The first vaccines administered in the region used the Pfizer/BioNTech jab, with the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab also offered from early January.

But the government's decision to delay second doses of the Pfizer vaccination from three weeks to 12, to ensure more people could quickly receive a first shot, meant that some patients had second appointments cancelled.

The decision to delay is controversial because, while evidence has been found that a longer gap can increase the effectiveness of the Oxford/ AstraZeneca jab, Pfizer says its vaccine has only been tested with a 21-day gap.

The Healthier Together Partnership said each PCN was being given discretion to either honour existing bookings for second doses of the Pfizer/ BioNTech jab or rearrange them for 12 weeks after the first.

The spokesperson said people who had been invited to have a jab at the Ashton Gate stadium centre but felt it was not convenient to travel there could wait to be invited to their local GP site.

Lets us know your views Email:

contact@ thornburyvoice.co.uk Got News? Call Richard 0n 01454 800 120

Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk

February, 2021

thornburyvoice

3

n NEWS

Driver killed as lorry overturns on M5 A LORRY driver died after his vehicle overturned on the M5 between Bristol and Thornbury.

Avon and Somerset police say the vehicle had just joined the northbound M5 from the M4 at the Almondsbury Interchange when it overturned onto the central reservation at about 8am on Sunday, January 17.

No other vehicles are believed to have been involved in the incident, which left the motorway closed in both directions between Thornbury and Almondsbury.

A police spokesperson appealed for witnesses to come forward and said: "Sadly, the driver of the lorry has died from their injuries and we’ll be deploying specialist officers to support their next of kin."

The road was closed for more than 13 hours as police carried out an investigation of the scene, the lorry was taken away and emergency repair work carried out by Highways England.

Anyone who saw the incident and has not yet spoken to the police should call 101 and give the reference number 5221 011 328.

Question mark over Armstrong Hall as Turnberries is favoured THORNBURY'S Turnberries Community Centre could host facilities originally planned for the closed Armstrong Hall.

South Gloucestershire Council, the Armstrong Hall Trust and the Turnberries' trustees have said they will "jointly explore the opportunities to provide facilities that have previously been delivered from the Armstrong Hall complex".

It leaves a question mark over the long-term future of the Armstrong Hall and Cossham Hall, in Chapel Street.

During the first national lockdown, the Armstrong Hall Trust announced that it would be "unable to reopen the Armstrong Hall Complex in the near future" due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Five jobs were lost, after a review of funding examined the “severe negative financial impact” of the pandemic and found a lack of further options for external funding.

An announcement from South Gloucestershire Council said the

The Turnberries Community Centre in Bath Road could provide facilities for community groups who previously called Armstrong Hall home. trustees had been advised that the financial impact of COVID-19 had "significantly reduced the likelihood of raising the £5 million for the redevelopment option at the Armstrong Hall complex that was approved 3 years ago", adding: "The Trust has therefore been exploring other options for delivering these community facilities for Thornbury."

South Gloucestershire, which owns the Turnberries, is working with both sets of trustees and Thornbury Town Council to "find ways to work together to provide space for community groups and activities for the future".

To advertise, contact Richard on 01454 800 120

South Glos cabinet member for corporate resources Ben Burton said: “The council welcomes the decisions by the trustees of both centres to explore joint working.

"We believe it will be worth the effort if the discussions are able to result in an improved range of facilities for Thornbury.

We don’t underestimate the complexities of such a project, but we will do everything possible to support this development.”

Thornbury mayor Jayne Stansfield, who is also chair of the Armstrong Hall Trust, said: “We know how much the

community values the Armstrong Hall, but we feel it is important for the future of Thornbury that, as the town grows, it has the community facilities to enable it to thrive.

"We will continue to investigate all possible options to create a venue that is suitable for the community, and that of developing Turnberries is one that seems most likely to succeed in the current financial situation."

A spokesperson for Thornbury Community Building Trust, which operates Turnberries, said: "As an existing thriving and financially viable centre, we welcome the opportunity to discuss how we can continue to develop to ensure the people of Thornbury have access to high quality community facilities that meet both our needs and the needs of the whole community."

Discussions will continue in the coming weeks, with options being shared with the community as soon as possible.

Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk

thornburyvoice

4

n NEWS RAPID tests for COVID-19 are now available to anyone living or working in South Gloucestershire.

Critical workers and community volunteers – including nursery workers, funeral directors, staff in essential shops and bus and taxi drivers – are being offered weekly tests, as the programme to find people who have the virus but no symptoms is expanded.

It comes as the number of cases of coronavirus in the area stands at more than double a month previously – and the total number of residents who have died with the virus passes 270.

The council says the rapid testing programme is aimed at finding people who have coronavirus but no symptoms, so that they can isolate and prevent the virus spreading.

The test involves taking a sample of saliva to look for signs of COVID-19, returning results within an hour.

The first testing site was set up at Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre on January 18 and a second site in Kingswood was

February, 2021

Rapid testing for South Glos residents as covid deaths pass 270

Sara Blackmore expected to be set up in the week beginning January 25.

Rapid tests can be booked online at beta.southglos.gov.uk/ book-rapid-flow-test.

They are separate from the tests for people who have coronavirus symptoms or have been advised to take a test, which are booked through the NHS by calling 119 or visiting www.gov. uk/get-coronavirus-test.

South Gloucestershire director of public health, Sara

Blackmore, said: “Anyone can spread the virus without having symptoms, which is why this new testing programme is an important new tool for us to identify people who may have the illness without knowing.

"With additional information we can take additional steps to help keep South Gloucestershire safe."

The most recent Office for National Statistics figures as the Voice went to press showed that during the week to January 12, 60 cases had been confirmed in Thornbury, with 16 in Alveston, Olveston & Oldbury, 37 in Almondsbury, Pilning & Severn Beach and 30 in the ONS's Charfield, Wickwar and Iron Acton area.

In almost all areas, case rates were more than double the level a month previously but were all

below the national average of 537.9 per 100,000 people.

For South Gloucestershire as a whole, the number of confirmed cases in the week to January 12 was 1,144 – down from 1,321 a week previously but more than twice the total of 525 four weeks before.

In total since the start of the pandemic, 11,459 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in South Gloucestershire – around one person in every 25.

The national rate is one in 19.

The number of South Gloucestershire residents who have died since the start of the pandemic had reached 273 by January 1 – just under one in 10 of the annual 2,825 deaths from all causes.

Some 54 deaths with coronavirus came in the last five weeks of the year.

LOOKING FOR LEGAL ADVICE?

� Solicitors Your LOCAL offer you friendly professional expert advice Divorce & Separation Family Law Employment Law Litigation & Dispute Resolution

FREE 30 MINUTE INITIAL MEETING CONTACT US TODAY

0333 320 8600 www.bevanevemy.co.uk standard rate call charges

Bevan & Evemy Solicitors is authorised and Regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority under ID Number 607770.

Got News? Call Richard 0n 01454 800 120

Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk

February, 2021

thornburyvoice

5

n NEWS

More children in schools for lockdown 3 MORE than four out of ten children are attending lessons at some schools in the Thornbury area, as staff, pupils and parents face new challenges in the third lockdown.

It comes as the amount of home learning organised online for other pupils is stepped up, with more live lessons via video links and increased contact and interaction, with more work being uploaded and marked than in the first lockdown last March.

Schools are also organising laptops, through both government schemes and donations, to give to families who do not have the necessary technology at home.

Schools have faced many challenges, from the short notice of the cancellation of the regular term to hours of work preparing to test secondary pupils for COVID-19, only to see those plans put on hold.

Castle School head teacher Joe Docherty said: “They say the best teachers are those who recognise that they are still learners. My days are increasingly heartened when I see and hear the ways in which school life is continuing in a regular daily way, for almost all of our students.” Castle teachers now hold live online lessons in every subject, with science teachers doing experiments on screen and pupils taking part in live workouts for PE. Children of critical workers and those with additional needs who are still going into school follow the same online lessons as pupils at home, but with additional support from staff.

At Tockington Manor School, class bubbles have returned, with 47% of children attending classes.

Different schools are delivering the required hours of learning specified by the government in different ways, using a variety of internet platforms.

Gillingstool Primary is using Oak Academy for lessons and Zoom for feedback and interaction. At Christ the King Primary, children are using Google Classroom for lessons and Zoom for class interaction.

Will Roberts, the chief executive of the Castle School Education Trust, oversees seven schools including Castle and Marlwood.

He said staff quickly learnt that it was important to enable each school to "do what works", to make a “blend of different approaches rather than a onesize-fits-all approach.”

All the schools that spoke to the Voice reported an increase in the numbers of pupils attending in person, when compared with

the first lockdown, as the rules allow more key worker families to send children to school and class more as 'vulnerable'.

At Tockington Manor School, 47% of children are now in, with bubbles created to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission.

Christ the King Primary has 41% of children attending, up from between 15 and 20% last March. Head teacher Mary Mainwaring attributes this partly to the change made by government to class children who do not have space or a laptop to work at home as vulnerable, allowing them to come in.

But there is still a significant shortage of equipment for those learning remotely. The Castle School has worked in partnership with The Computer Store in the St Mary Centre, Thornbury, which has provided reconditioned laptops, and parents have donated unused

devices through the Friends association.

Mr Docherty said the school has had 65 laptops from the Department for Education, which was "nowhere near enough to meet demand".

Gillingstool Primary School head teacher Caroline Carter also said families were "struggling with devices".

She has had five laptops delivered but is still waiting for another 16.

Despite widespread public concern nationally over the quality of food parcels for children on free school meals, the schools told the Voice they had had no complaints about parcels which have been provided by Integra, South Gloucestershire Council’s supplier.

They are however now all joining the national voucher scheme to give parents choice, and to avoid families having to travel to pick up parcels.

The next challenge on the horizon for school leaders is running COVID-19 testing on site for staff and pupils. This has already started at some schools, including Tockington Manor School. Mr Roberts said CSET was starting staff testing next week before looking at student testing, saying: "We’d like a bit more evidence of efficacy of the tests first.

"I want to be in position where we are ready to do that if there is a national green light on it. It is a useful additional control measure but it needs to be on top of everything else that we do."

Patchway - 01179062277 Gipsy Patch Lane - BS346QD

Yate - 01454315566

24/26 Station Road - BS374PW Work completed while you wait or pre-book and drop your vehicle off to us for a later collection

tyresdirectuk.com To advertise, contact Richard on 01454 800 120

Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk

thornburyvoice thornburyvoice

628

n NEWS NEWS ■

February, April, 2021 2017

Suspicious caller Food growing onisthe wanted police menu atby Thornbury open meeting

LUKE HALL MP MP for Thornbury, Yate and the surrounding villages Write to Luke at: Luke Hall MP, 26 High Street, Chipping Sodbury, BS37 6AH e: luke.hall.mp@parliament.uk w: lukehall.org.uk Promoted by Luke Hall MP, House of Commons, SW1A 0AA.

Gotadvertise, News? Callcontact Richard 0n 01454 on 80001454 120 800 120 To Richard

POLICE want to trace this man after a 'smart doorbell' filming callers to an elderly woman's home wasinterested damaged in – less than their own vegetables, fruit and salad ANYONE producing days to after installed.of the Grow Your Own Food Group in istwo invited an being open meeting The doorbell, which included Thornbury. a camera andwas live set alert The group upsystem, to share knowledge about food gardening and wasyear damaged on the eveningopen of meetings, which resulted in new last held two successful Decemberjoining.

9 in Eastland Avenue, members Thornbury.

With the start of the new growing season, the exercise is being It hadwith beenthe fitted by relatives repeated, event taking place in The Chantry, Castle Street, on of a resident, who30, is aged her Thursday, March fromin 7.30pm-9pm.

90s, after a suspicious caller tried to talk his way into her home at about 6pm on December 7, claiming he was "from the water board".

The doorbell CCTV camera When the doorbell was damaged it alerted the woman's captured this picture of a man before it was broken family. They called the police, who went to the scene but found whoever had damaged the doorbell had gone.

But before it was broken the doorbell recorded the image (above) of a man approaching it at 6.49pm.

He was wearing a black mask, blue hat, black jacket and gloves, and police said he looked similar to the man who called at the house two days earlier.

AThe CONCERT infamily Thornbury

by Cornucopia, a quartet of woman's have now put extra security measures in place professional horn players, will raise money for the town’s with advice from the police Safer Homes team.

Armstrong Hall development project.

Police want to hear from anyone who recognises the man in Music or bywho Mozart and his son - andtaken Haydn feature in the picture has-dashcam footage in will Eastland Avenue the performance in the Cossham Hall, Chapel Street, on Friday, between 5.30pm and 7.30pm on either December 7 or 9.

March 31.who can help should call 101 and quote the crime reference Anyone The5220 19th 276 century number 788.piece Bird of the Forest will also be played, with the evening Gordon Carr’s Chinese Songs.

Information canclosing also bewith given anonymously to Crimestoppers on will join up with local flute player Nicki Woodward 0800Cornucopia 555 111.

(Barnes), baritone Niall Hoskin and pianist Steven Hollas for the concert, tickets for which cost £12, with concessions available.

They are on sale in Thornbury Town Hall, High Street, or by phoning 01454 412272.

Horns of plenty in fund raising concert

by Cornucopia quartet

'Positive' talks over new health centre

Advertise your business in Thornbury Voice

TALKS over funding for the redevelopment of Thornbury Health Centre have been described as positive and productive.

The redevelopment of the former Thornbury Hospital site in the town would improve outpatient facilities, a new base for GPs and beds to help take the pressure of Southmead Hospital. Those backing the plans hope to see it built by 2024.

But the plan still needs £13.3 million from the government to go ahead.

A meeting involving Thornbury & Yate MP Luke Hall, health minister Ed Argar, and local council and NHS leaders was held in January to try and help move forward the plans, which still have several stages to go through before funding is approved.

Wednesday 14th June 2017 Centre built Mr Hall said: "It is vital that we get the new Health as soon as possible, so that our community can receive medical care Armstrong Hall, Thornbury close to home and without having to travel to Bristol.

"The areaavailable director for Bristol and South Gloucestershire at the Tickets from chloe-tony@hotmail.co.uk region's clinical commissioning group, which funds services, David Jarrett, said thecut meeting was "supportive and productive", adding: Fabulous price bargains from quality high street labels.

"As per ourAll long-standing ambition, have submitted a revised items are available for we purchase on the night. bid for redevelopmentCash of theorsite into anplease. integrated primary and card only community care centre."

Fashion Show Co Ltd. MP's update: SD Page 16

Contact 01454 800 120

Fashion Show

Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk Email:

February, 2021

thornburyvoice

7

n NEWS

Blaze sets back horse box pizza business A NEW Thornbury business selling takeaway food from a horsebox has had to delay its opening after a fire caused serious damage.

James Murray, who owns Hawkes House Café and Bar in St Mary Street, was nearly ready to open the ‘House Box’ which is a horsebox selling takeaway food including wood fired pizzas.

But a blaze in the early hours of the morning on January 14 destroyed some of the structure and it will now have to be partly rebuilt.

Avon Fire and Rescue Service said crews from Thornbury fire station were called out 3.55am to venture to bring in an income find the horse box on fire. during the COVID-19 pandemic.

They quickly put it out using He said: “The fire was pretty a hose and sent a message of devastating, but the damage support via their Facebook page, wasn’t as bad as we feared. which said: "Sorry to see our "We bought it about two or local business suffering despite three weeks ago and we were our best efforts. Hopefully they trying to tart it up and go from will be back up and running there. again ASAP." "The 21:57 horsebox concept is wasAW.qxp_Layout opening the new1 23/09/2020 WBJames Generic Page 2 new – we’re trying to get some

The horse box mobile pizza kitchen after the blaze. revenue in a different way.

“We had been testing the wood fired pizza oven inside during the day and we left a few embers in the corner and the base failed. It took 12 hours to take off.

"The fire brigade were amazing.

"We’ve started to rebuild it,

we’ve had to put in some extra long days and some extra work and will hopefully open on January 29."

When the blaze happened, James shared the news on his company Facebook page, where he received supportive messages.

He said: “Grateful we are all safe, grateful the fire brigade continue to be awesome through this pandemic. 2020/21 can kick us as much as it wants, but we won’t go down.”

James is planning to park the horsebox outside Hawkes House on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, serving lunches, coffee and wood-fired pizza in the evening.

For more details see @ houseboxfare on Facebook.

The fire followed an earlier blaze on the afternoon of January 5, when crews from Thornbury and Southmead put out a small fire on the first floor of a property in the High Street, which had started accidentally.

willowbrookshopping.co.uk

t r a t s h Fr BRADLEY STOKE SHOPPING

To advertise, contact Richard on 01454 800 120

Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk

thornburyvoice

8

n NEWS

February, 2021

COVID-19 support groups are evolving for lockdown 'business as usual' ORGANISERS of COVID-19 community groups set up for the first lockdown to help people with essential needs say their role is evolving, as many residents are more confident about how to manage.

One of the groups which was established last March, the Village Volunteers WhatsApp group covering the parish of Olveston, had 60 volunteers lined up within a day to help vulnerable people, as requests came in thick and fast.

Now there are still 40 volunteers – but public calls for help are rare.

Co-founder Martin Gibson, who is the church warden at St Mary’s in Olveston, said: “When the first lockdown came about no one knew what to expect.

"People exercised extreme caution around others, whilst at the same time needing personal contact to get shopping and medical issues resolved.

“With successive lockdowns, it seems that everyone is either more blasé or just better organised. No doubt some people are still in need of assistance and receiving

it, but it is likely that this is all done on the basis of previous experiences and contacts.”

Organiser of the Old Down Community Support, Di Buckley, which has a ‘members-only’ Facebook page and a WhatsApp group, also feels that people are more experienced.

She said: “In the first lockdown no one knew what they were doing and so they needed help to get every loaf of bread and every prescription.”

This time, just a couple of families have needed help getting their essentials because they’ve been self-isolating after testing positive for coronavirus, but the virtual groups are very busy with what Di describes as ‘chit chat’.

She said: “For example the kids are now home-schooling, and some people have posted that some internet providers are offering cheaper Wi-Fi access; someone’s posted that they’re off to the chemist if anyone wants anything, those kinds of normal things.

"It’s lockdown ‘business as usual’.”

People have got to know each other on the group as the months have gone by, coming up with ideas for covid-safe community events to keep the community positive.

Di said: “On Christmas Eve we joined in the international six o'clock bell ring, for people to come out on their doorsteps, and we did a socially-distanced village walk, with torches and lights, just to raise people’s spirits.

"For Old Down, it’s all about building a community.”

The I Can Offer (Covid19 Thornbury Support) Facebook group has had no requests for help for some time.

Administrator Ruth Williams believes this is because people are now very organised.

The group is still active, whoever, and anyone who needs help can contact volunteers via Facebook, by emailing thornburyicanoffer@gmail.com or by calling 0784 218 8448.

Relieve pain & live an active life with MBST MBST is an award-winning German innovation.

It uses MRI-based technology to stimulate internal tissue healing and provide relief for a range of injuries & conditions.

At the CURA Clinical practice in Westbury-onTrym near Bristol, we’ve used MBST to treat over 250 patients. We’ve seen a 90% improvement in our patients’ levels of pain and joint mobility.

Our most commonly treated conditions are: Osteoarthritis

Cartilage damage

Back & disc problems

Ligament, tendon & muscle damage

Bone conditions & fractures

Sports injuries

“I’ve been hugely impressed by the significant improvement in symptoms by my patients I have referred to CURA Clinical. This is a group of patients who, up until now, have few other effective options. I recommend it highly.”

Jonathan Webb MB ChB FRCS (Orth), Consultant Knee Surgeon

Hear what our patients say about MBST:

www.curaclinical.com

Speak to our Clinical Director, James Scrimshaw

0117 959 6531

Chiropractic | MBST Cell Regeneration Therapy | Laser Therapy

Got News? Call Richard 0n 01454 800 120

Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk

thornburyvoice

February, 2021

Relief as 'unsustainable' housing targets are scrapped be a political decision, rather than one forced upon the local authority by the housing targets.” Trapp’d had previously estimated that the government's abandoned higher housing target would have added “another 6 Buckovers” to the target for the area.

The council's Conservative administration raised its concerns publicly over the proposals before submitting its response to the consultation.

On hearing they had been scrapped the council's cabinet member for regeneration, environment and strategic infrastructure, Steve Reade, said: “We are delighted that the Government has listened to the strong representations we have made to reconsider the unsustainable new targets being proposed.

“We are ambitious in our delivery of new homes, and in fact continue to over-deliver, but we remain focused in our plan-led approach to create new communities across South Gloucestershire with sufficient local infrastructure to support them.”

A total of 1,979 homes were built in the area between April 2019 and August 2020, despite delays caused by the impact of COVID-19.

The Liberal Democrat group on South Gloucestershire Council put forward a motion opposing the proposed government targets, which won all-party support.

L & J Gulwell

Family Funeral Directors 1 Quaker Lane, Thornbury Bristol BS35 2AD Tel: 01454 418779 Fax: 01454 419764 Email: info@funerals.uk.net Web: www.funerals.uk.net

To advertise, contact Richard on 01454 800 120

Group leader Claire Young said the governments reforms still presented “huge problems", including "massively reducing the power of councils and the local communities they serve to decide the future of their local areas".

Explaining the government u-turn on the plans, a spokesperson from the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government said: “We’ve listened to the views of local people and the reforms will put communities at the heart of these decisions, while continuing to protect the Green Belt and prioritise building on brownfield and urban centre land.”

South Gloucestershire Council is currently running a consultation on its local plan, which is intended to shape development in the district for

Council cabinet member Steve Reade said the proposed targets were "unsustainable" the next 15 years and guide decisions on where large numbers of new homes and jobs should be provided.

The consultation is open until March 1 and people can take part by visiting www.southglos.gov. uk/Localplan2020. People who are not online can call 01454 868004 for more details about the consultation.

s

Weddings | Funerals | Bouquets | or just because…

n NEWS CAMPAIGNERS and politicians have expressed "relief" that government plans to more than double targets for new housing have been scrapped.

A consultation on the Planning Reform Bill proposed that the number of new homes to be built over the next 20 years in South Gloucestershire be increased from 23,000 to 51,000 – something critics said would make more large developments near Thornbury unavoidable.

But a change of heart by the government in December meant that South Gloucestershire would not be expected to help meet the new housing needs of neighbouring Bristol, prioritising use of brownfield and urban land for new schemes.

South Gloucestershire and Thornbury town councillor Maggie Tyrell said: "The Government’s decision to change the proposed housing numbers for South Gloucestershire is a relief, as their previous calculation would have completely swamped our communities and eaten up yet more huge swathes of our countryside.

“We can’t be complacent, though – there is still pressure to build large numbers and we need to be sure we’re meeting the needs of our communities, not taking pressure from elsewhere.”

Colin Gardner, spokesperson for Trapp’d (Thornbury Residents Against Poorly Planned Developments) said: “In practice this means no requirement for major new greenfield sites, such as the huge 3,000 unit car-based housing estate put forward for Buckover, near Thornbury.

"Therefore, if such a scheme finds its way into the new forthcoming Local Plan, it will

9

Beautiful flowers for any occasion…

Our Shop is open Tuesday to Saturday ~ 9.00am to 5.00pm Taking walk in and phone orders Delivering to BS35 and surrounding areas ~ Tuesday to Saturday from 9.00am to 5.00pm Holding socially distanced meetings for weddings and memorials should you wish to discuss plans Please call for prices or pop into the Shop in The Arcade, Thornbury

t: 01454 416111 e: flowers@joliesfleurs.co.uk Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk

thornburyvoice

10

February, 2021

n NEWS FROM STROUD AUCTION ROOMS

Auctionsonhold-but we'restill hardat work

L

IKE many businesses, Stroud Auctions had high hopes for the New Year, with a two-day auction scheduled for the first week of January. However, the new start we all hoped for has had to be postponed again, due to the government instruction for all auction salerooms to close to the public until further notice.

We take the safety of our customers and staff very seriously, and we decided that the only sensible option was to hold the auction at a later date. We are aware that some auctions have decided to go ahead with the ‘online only’ option, but our professional opinion is that this does not benefit either buyer or seller. We do not think it is fair to proceed with a sale where goods cannot be viewed before the auction or easily collected afterwards, and we especially do not wish to encourage any non-essential travel at such a critical time.

However, we can still offer home visits for all types of valuation, including those for probate purposes – the auctioneer is very careful to adhere to all the social distancing and safety guidelines and comes equipped with mask/ visor, gloves etc.

Don’t forget that Stroud Auctions can also help with house clearances and offer

A Beretta SO3 EL 12 bore over and under shotgun

professional advice on all aspects of the auction process, so please do not hesitate to contact us.

Our offices are staffed during the usual opening hours and we are answering all emails.

We are also continuing to offer free valuations by email, just send images of your item to valuations@stroudauctions.co.uk and our specialists will come back to you promptly.

We have a small staff working behind the scenes preparing future auctions, the catalogues for these will be online as soon as they are finalised. The catalogue for the next sale can be viewed via our website, where updates will be posted as things evolve over the coming weeks.

The next auction will comprise a very large single owner collection of vinyl records, also musical instruments, medals & militaria, guns and weapons, taxidermy and sporting items.

Guns and weapons specialist Stuart Maule particularly likes Lot 1957, a Beretta SO3 EL 12 bore over and under shotgun, and Lots 1680 and 1681 which are two extremely rare Tell Model 3 air pistols, unusually in 6mm and 6 1/3.

The sale following this will be paintings and pictures, books, ephemera, stamps, toys, ceramics and glass, cameras and binoculars, scientific instruments and weights and scales.

We will then hope to return to our published schedule!

Stroud Auctions would like to extend their best wishes to everyone: stay safe and we hope to see you as soon as it is safely possible.

STROUD AUCTION ROOMS Contact our specialist valuers for a free home visit or email valuations@stroudauctions.co.uk

To advertise, contact Richard on 01454 800 120

Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk

thornburyvoice

February, 2021

11

n NEWS

Smaller capacity Marlwood School will focus on villages MARLWOOD School is set to reduce its capacity to help make it an "attractive proposition" to families in nearby villages.

Castle School Education Trust, which runs the Alveston secondary school, is consulting on plans to formally reduce its public admissions number – the maximum number of 11-year-olds who can join each year – to 150 by September 2022.

That would give the school a maximum capacity of 750, down from the current total of 1,050.

However it recognises that numbers at the school have been considerably below capacity for some years, standing at 442 at its last Ofsted inspection just over a year ago.

CSET chief executive Will Roberts said: “Numbers are significantly lower than they were a decade or so ago because of new schools being built in Bristol and Bradley Stoke, so what we’re in the process of doing, as part of the £14 million capital investment into buildings at Castle and Marlwood, is to reduce the footprint to what is needed for the villages in the area surrounding Marlwood.

"We are amending the admissions number for the buildings we will have.

“When Marlwood opened in the 70’s, most of the children actually came from Bristol

Marlwood School has 'turned a corner' under head teacher Del Planter and not from the villages. What we want now is for it to be a smaller school which serves the local villages – we’re not trying to bus hundreds of kids in from Bristol.

“There are advantages to being large or small and we want it to be an attractive proposition for local parents whose children come from village primary schools.”

The school lost many pupils during a

Landcare Tree Nursery Old Sodbury

Independent traditional nursery open to the public and serving the trade Over 1,000 potted trees in stock Specimen trees and shrubs for screening Shrubs, Herbaceous perennials and Wild flowers Fruit trees and soft fruit Quality plants for your projects

Landcare Nursery Chapel Lane, Old Sodbury, BS37 6SJ Tel 01454 310664

www.landcaretrees.co.uk

To advertise, contact Richard on 01454 800 120

difficult period where it was struggling with the impact of budget cuts on its staffing, and back in May 2017 it was put into special measures by the education watchdog Ofsted.

But numbers entering the school in year 7 have been rising for the last four years, with almost 120 children due to start this coming September.

Marlwood has been hailed as turning a corner under the leadership of head teacher Del Planter, who was appointed at the start of the 2018/19 academic year.

The last Ofsted report praised his "ambitious vision" and said the school was ‘good’ in three out of four inspection categories, although it required improvement overall.

The £14m capital investment plan will address ongoing maintenance costs with buildings from the 1960s and 70s, across both the Castle and Marlwood sites, which Mr Roberts said were no longer fit for purpose.

The consultation on pupil numbers for Marlwood was due to finish on January 31, with more details available online at www. cset.co.uk/policies or by calling 01454 862581.

Finance options available!

BUY NOW, PAY OVER 12, 24 OR 36 MONTHS .. contact us

Specialising in .... n Resin driveways n Stone paving n Resin bonded n Tarmac

Showhomes wanted 5 and 10-year guarantees No job too big or small

n Block paving n Landscaping n General building

Get in touch for free estimates and quotes ...

www.stonewaypaving.co.uk | 01179 595894 E: info@stonewaypaving.co.uk

Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk

n AVON & SOMERSET POLICE ON KNIFE CRIME

Knife crime: A new way forward

I THINK it’s fair to say that the past year has been full of ups and downs and has left many of us wondering where our ‘normal’ life went. 2020 challenged all of us in so many ways and this was especially true for us in the police, as we adapted quickly to new legislation to help manage the Coronavirus pandemic, alongside our normal day to day duties to keep our communities safe.

Whist the pandemic did mean some types of crime such as burglary and road traffic incidents reduced temporarily, other crime types, particularly those which affect the most vulnerable members of our community such as domestic abuse, did unfortunately increase.

Despite the added pressure the pandemic has brought to our service, we haven’t taken our foot off the pedal when it comes to keeping our young people safe. Last year, we ran a successful project with a number of schools in Avon and Somerset which led to the creation of short, animated films exploring issues around knife crime.

The films, produced by secondary school aged children in partnership with students at UWE Bristol, are all original and thought provoking, and explore a range of themes such as the role of social media, bullying, speaking out if you suspect someone is carrying a knife,

By Sergeant

Craig Doyle

and the cyclical, retaliatory nature of knife crime. The films can all be viewed at www.avonandsomerset.police. uk/knifecrime and are a great starting point for conversations with young people about serious violence.

Some of the young people involved in the above films also made a documentary, in partnership with a local film maker, which explores how agencies must work together and listen to young people if we are to break the cycle of violence and calls for sustained, long term investment in youth services.

The film, called Knife crime: A new way forward, can also be viewed via the link above.

No matter where they lived and went to school, the young people involved in this project told us time and time again that their main concerns were the lack of safe spaces for them to go and their need for trusted adults to speak to.

It’s no secret that engaging young people in activities that interest them is a successful way to divert them

away from crime and anti-social behaviour and we’re thrilled that our successful Crime Prevention Through Sport initiative has received the funds needed to continue throughout 2021.

We have partnered with Somerset Active Sports Partnership (SASP) and West of England Sports (Wesport) who will help us to manage and administer the fund, meaning we benefit from their expertise and can join up with partners to ensure the smooth delivery of sporting activities for young people which will help to divert them away from unfavourable behaviours and into more positive and beneficial activities.

Thornbury, in recent months has suffered from a spate of anti-social behaviour and criminal damage incidents, which seems to have become more prevalent during the periods of lockdown.

Through collaborative working with residents, security staff and local schools, we have been able to identify and deal with the group of young people responsible for many of these issues and put in place interventions to prevent future offending.

As we move into 2021, we remain committed to working with our local communities to find opportunities to support young people and to help to keep them safe.

thornburyvoice

February, 2021

13

n THORNBURY CLINIC

Positive change...from the comfort of your own home

Penny Finnegan is a clinical hypnotherapist at the Thornbury Clinic.

She holds a degree in psychology along with a gold standard Hypnotherapy in Practice diploma.

IT'S not unusual for people to make new year’s resolutions to make positive changes in their lives, whether to take more exercise, improve their diet or try a new a career.

With the challenges we’ve faced over the last year due to COVID-19, and another national lockdown in effect, keeping focused on the changes we wish to make can sometimes seem hard on our own.

Last year, a YouGov poll found 25% of people who made New Year resolutions kept them. If, like

the other 75%, you struggle, then hypnotherapy may be for you, as it can help you develop a positive and robust mindset to embrace new challenges.

Hypnotherapy is a gentle form of therapy, aimed at directing a person’s imagination in a way that helps elicit changes in perceptions, sensations, feelings, thoughts and behaviours.

It’s a collaborative process that combines suggestion, focused attention, expectancy, belief and your imagination to evoke positive emotions, rehearse behaviour change and absorb new ideas and possibilities more easily. It aims to bridge the gap between a problem situation and the desired change.

And the good news is that it can be delivered from the comfort of your own home.

With the restrictions imposed on us due to COVID-19, providing remote hypnotherapy via video conferencing is a great alternative to face-to-face sessions.

There are many benefits of offering hypnotherapy online: it is convenient and accessible, irrespective of geography or mobility issues, and many people report that they feel more relaxed in their home environment.

It goes without saying that

n COMMUNITY NEWS Update from Thornbury Library LIBRARIES are continuing to work within current government regulations, with safety measures in place.

Services we are typically able to offer during this time include borrowing items using Click and Collect and limited computer access – we strongly recommend booking in advance.

All the information you need to plan your visit is on our website www. southglos.gov.uk/librarychanges or you can call 01454 865022.

Our free online library is always open 24/7: eBooks, eAudiobooks, eComics, digital magazines and newspapers continue to be available for library members to download anytime – visit www.southglos.gov.uk/ eresources for all the details. It now includes Who Else Writes Like? and, for children, Who Next? where you can find authors who write in a similar way to those you have already enjoyed reading.

Simply log in with your library card number and select South Gloucestershire.

If you are not already a library member you can join online at bit. ly/joinLW – membership is free. You will receive an online membership number, which will work for our digital services right away. Please enter an email address when you register, for greater control of your account.

Thornbury Library

To advertise, contact Richard on 01454 800 120

online therapy is not the same as face-to-face therapy, but the real question is whether it is effective. To date, the majority of research has been focused on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), with studies suggesting that online CBT work is a viable and effective alternative to face-to-face treatment. Encouragingly, a study was conducted in 2019 comparing a group of patients being treated with hypnotherapy for irritable bowel syndrome – one group given treatment via Skype and the other in person. Both groups showed positive and significant responses: 65% of subjects responded well to Skype hypnotherapy, compared to 76% for face-to-face.

If you want to kick-start some positive changes in your life, then the following steps can help: List your top three goals and

write down when you want to achieve each one by.

Write down at least one inspiring benefit for each of your top three goals, to remind you why you are making the change.

Commit and take action.

Choose one key action for each of your goals, with a date for each by which you commit to doing them.

Sign your name by them as an act of commitment.

Consider what you might need to let go of to make these changes: you may need to let go of limiting beliefs, bad habits or something else.

For help to make some positive changes in your life, book an appointment with a clinical hypnotherapist by calling the Thornbury Clinic on 01454 838366 or emailing info@ thethornburyclinic.co.uk.

4 Castle Street, Thornbury, Bristol BS35 1HB

Facilitating Recovery, Preventing Injury

Treatments we offer include: Sports injury treatment Injury assessment & treatment Sports massage • Relaxation massage Pregancy massage • Clinical Psychology

Tel: 01454 838 366

info@thethornburyclinic.co.uk www.thethornburyclinic.co.uk

Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk

thornburyvoice

14

February, 2021

n MESSAGE FROM AVON & SOMERSET PCC

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

S

HORTLY after the New Year, we all received the news we would be entering a third national lockdown.

Although unsurprising, I know it was not how we wanted to enter 2021 but, as I’m sure you will agree, the restrictions were and continue to be needed to avoid further harm in our community.

With cases rising to new heights, I welcome the Government’s decision to implement this lockdown to slow the transmission and ensure the NHS can cope. I urge you all to continue to stay at home to protect yourself and your loved ones from this fatal virus.

For those of you who might be frustrated with another lockdown and are tempted to flout the rules, please don’t. We

all know how lockdown works, and irresponsible and reckless behaviour will not be tolerated.

Avon and Somerset Police and their dedicated COVID-19 team have my full support in responding to breaches of the emergency regulations by engaging, explaining, encouraging and enforcing the law.

We might feel disheartened at the current situation but it is only temporary. With every vaccine administered, we are changing the odds against the virus and are one step closer to beating it. For this reason, please be responsible during the winter months and follow regulations.

For some of you, I know, home is not always a safe place, and as a community we all have a part to play in ensuring our

YATE: 01454 837677

Got News? Call Richard 0n 01454 800 120

family, friends and neighbours are supported during these difficult times. If you or someone you know is suffering from domestic abuse, please remember that lockdown and isolation rules do not apply. If you need to leave your home because you are worried about your safety, you can. You are not – and never will be – alone.

Young people continue to be further impacted by the pandemic and are now not able to attend school or college. Alongside the difficulties of home learning, young people are more at risk of criminal and sexual exploitation online, and also might be vulnerable to abuse at home. It is our duty to look out for our children and young adults; they might not always recognise the signs of

With Police and Crime Commissioner Sue Mountstevens abuse or feel like they can speak up about it – we need to be their voice and offer them much-needed support.

If you are ever concerned for your safety or safety of someone you know, the police and support services are there to help. Please remember you never need to suffer in silence.

MOBILE: 07922 069253

Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk

thornburyvoice

February, 2021

15

n NEWS

Top honour for policing the pandemic THE officer in charge of the region's police response to coronavirus has been honoured for her work.

Avon and Somerset Assistant Chief Constable Nikki Watson was awarded the Queen's Police Medal in the New Year Honours list.

The award recognises her role in leading the policing response to the COVID-19 health crisis, which has included enforcing lockdown restrictions and cracking down on speeding drivers on quiet roads to providing back up ambulance drivers for the overstretched NHS. ACC Watson said: "I always wanted to Avon and Somerset Assistant Chief make a difference and it is an honour to serve Constable Nikki Watson the communities of Avon and Somerset.

"To receive the QPM for following my Police in 1987. In more than 30 years' service vocation makes me feel extremely grateful she has pounded the beat in uniform, worked and proud. as a detective in the CID and commanded the "There are many others whose dedication East Somerset police area. and support have been key to how we have Her career has included working with the coped with policing during this pandemic, Director of Public Prosecutions to create a not least our communities, who have given pilot programme to tackle domestic abuse up so much to follow the regulations and by addressing perpetrators' behaviour at an guidance. early stage.

"I want to take this opportunity to say She has also worked to improve access to thank you."

Winter ad.qxp_Layout 1 19/09/2020 Page 1 ACC Voice Watson joined Avon and Somerset 22:57 drug treatment for offenders and is the Avon

A HAPPY RETIREMENT IS JUST ROUND THE CORNER

and Somerset lead for gender, which has seen her supporting a campaign to demystify the effects of the menopause in the workplace, with more than 400 officers and staff members now trained to provide support to colleagues.

As an assistant chief constable her current responsibilities include overseeing the force's investigations and operations and chairing the Local Resilience Forum, which brings different agencies and organisations together to plan and prepare for civil contingencies and major incidents.

Also awarded the QPM is Superintendent for Bristol Andy Bennett, who is recognised for his work tackling hate crime and bringing policing and communities closer in the city.

He said: "I am humbled to receive this award, particularly at a time when so many are working tirelessly to help others during the pandemic. I also want to recognise those members of the community who have been prepared to take a step forward, to talk to us and help to break down barriers so we can move towards our goal of truly representing the diverse citizens of Bristol."

The QPM is awarded to police officers for distinguished service or gallantry.

abbeyfield-bristol.co.uk

RETIRE YOUR WAY IN EASTER COMPTON

Privacy, company, independence, support‌ Retirement living the way you want it. Studios and one-bed flats to rent in our supported houses. Happiness starts with a viewing.

BRISTOL AND KEYNSHAM

YOUR 4th WEEK IS FREE!*

Call 0117 973 6997

ALSO IN HENLEAZE | REDLAND | HANHAM | KEYNSHAM

To advertise, contact Richard on 01454 800 120

*Terms and conditions apply

Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk

thornburyvoice

16

February, 2021

n LOCAL MP

Thornbury Health Centre plan moves forward

A

S local NHS services lead our fight and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, behind the scenes hard work has continued to put together a strong bid for £13.3 million funding from the Government to redevelop Thornbury Health Centre.

The proposal, submitted to the Department of Health in December, would see a redeveloped Thornbury Hospital site, providing greater primary care and outpatient services, enhanced mental health support, facility housing for the three local Thornbury GP practices, social care and NHS beds and a proactive ‘frailty hub’, which would focus on the elderly community receiving care in their own homes.

This would mean that residents in Thornbury, Yate and the surrounding towns and villages can access the care they need, closer to home and without having to travel outside the area, and helping to relieve pressure on Southmead Hospital.

Our community has been waiting for this to be a reality for far too long.

Therefore, I am pleased to inform Voice readers that I have brought the Health Minister to South Gloucestershire (virtually) and chaired a meeting of all the senior health directors and key decision makers to finally move the redevelopment of Thornbury Health Centre forward.

The meeting was successful, and was a great opportunity to bring the relevant bodies

together to discuss the £13.3m bid and timeline for our Health Centre.

This follows my discussions with Matt Hancock last December and his subsequent pledge for national support to help us deliver it.

If this bid is successful then we will progress to Stage 2, the master planning and outline business case, followed by Stage 3, the full business case completion. This will then mean that we are on track to deliver the health centre in 2024.

If this bid is successful, there will be a clear timeline for Thornbury Health Centre becoming a reality.

I can assure readers that, as we enter 2021, improving our local health services even

Luke Hall MP writes for Thornbury Voice

further with this vital Thornbury Health Centre is a top priority for our community and remains a steadfast part of our positive plan for South Gloucestershire.

As ever, I will keep you all updated on the progress of this bid and our positive plan for South Gloucestershire.

In the meantime, if you have anything else that you are concerned about then please do not hesitate to get in touch, at luke.hall.mp@parliament.

Will Writing & Estate Planning A Will lets you protect your family’s inheritance and decide how your assets are shared out – if you don’t make a Will, the law says who gets what.

Please feel free to call us during office hours on: 0117 952 0698

or email

info@elm-online.co.uk www.elm-online.co.uk We have a Bristol-based team of trained Will writing consultants who provide a home visiting service and can take your instructions in the comfort of your own home.

Mirror Wills Single Or Couples FROM £99.00

Making Secure Plans for Uncertain Futures

Got News? Call Richard 0n 01454 800 120

Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk

thornburyvoice

February, 2021

17

n COMMUNITY NEWS

Tower clock returns at St Mary’s church MANY new and exciting things have been happening at your parish church over the last year, despite Covid restrictions, that will make the building more userfriendly and adaptable for future community use, as well as for the usual services.

Probably the most exciting and useful thing to have taken place is the installation of a completely new audio-visual system. This includes a permanent projector and drop-down screen, together with repeater monitors to cover the side aisles. All this will come into its own once the pandemic is over and large community services will once again be taking place in our church, such as Remembrance Sunday, annual carol concerts and St Mary’s School services.

We are also now able to live stream services to our new YouTube channel. Most Sunday services will be streamed and can be found by searching for "St Mary’s Music". There are quite a few St Mary’s churches in the UK, so search carefully! The live streaming is particularly welcome to those who are still shielding and unable to leave their homes.

To improve access, especially for those with a disability, we have re-laid the entrance path to remove the step into the church, and, in early 2021, we should have our new glass porch doors installed.

We are also really pleased to welcome back our church tower clock, which is nearly 200 years old and has been away for a major overhaul. The old hand-wound pendulum weights have been replaced with new electricallyoperated ones and the hourly chime is now working again.

To improve visibility inside the building, we have replaced all the old lighting with LED dimmable lights, and we are now also able to highlight the wonderful stone arches of this Grade I listed building.

Once the current lockdown is over, vaccinations completed, and it is safe and possible to do so, we would love to welcome you to any of our services across the Benefice, or just to visit our beautiful buildings. All are welcome!

In the meantime, the new shiny red noticeboard outside St Mary’s shows ways of keeping in touch.

We must mention that all the above work has only been possible due to the generosity of former Thornbury resident Nesta Robinson, who left us a very generous legacy in her will, as well as a grant from ChurchCare towards the renovation of the clock.

We look forward to seeing you in our lovely building at one of our many services or events.

Rev Joy and the Churchwardens

St Mary's Church tower and clock

Inspirational competition A COMPETITION has been launched to inspire the next generation of engineers, scientists and environmentalists.

The South Gloucestershire-based National Composites Centre is launching a virtual poster competition to all Year 8 pupils, with the winning team given the chance to visit the high-tech centre at Emersons Green to see how the materials developed there shape our lives. Students need to imagine that the year is 2121 and that they are designing a city on a new planet to for the first humans to inhabit.

Schools who would like their pupils to take part can find out more at the National composites centre STEM poster competition website, at bit.ly/3qD16Tf. The submission deadline is February 5, with the final taking place on March 17.

18 High Street, Thornbury, Bristol BS35 2AH

www.foxhillsjewellers.com

• Refurbishments • Kitchens • Bathrooms • Tiling • Interior & Exterior Decoration

J.A. Property Services E: japroperty01@gmail.com

T: 0117 431 5132

To advertise, contact Richard on 01454 800 120

M: 0797 390 5323

Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk

thornburyvoice

18

n COMMUNITY NEWS

Donation to group

A THORNBURY charity has received a donation to increase security at its site from the area's police and crime commissioner.

Krunch South West has been given £4,000 to fund an alarm system and CCTV for the group's pod at the town's skatepark.

It was one of 19 voluntary organisations and community groups who have supported local people since the height of the pandemic to share more than £55,000 in the most recent round of funding from PCC Sue Mountstevens’ Community Action Fund.

Ms Mountstevens said: "I continue to be overwhelmed by the innovative ways local people are addressing concerns in their communities, especially under such extraordinary circumstances. I hope this additional funding goes some way in supporting local people and helping local organisations recover from such an unprecedented challenge this year."

February, 2021

Over 700 Years of Service Around the Globe YOU probably know them best for standing outside local supermarkets in the autumn, collecting for the annual Poppy Appeal – but there is more to this group of local individuals than meets the eye.

The 65 members of the Thornbury and District branch of the Royal British Legion includes men and women who have served in all branches of HM Armed Forces: Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force.

Collectively, this local branch has so far racked up an incredible total of 741 years in uniform.

Their service has spanned the globe, from the Arctic to the Falkland Islands, from the Far East to the USA and from Scotland to Australia.

They have been deployed in wars, conflicts, policing duties and humanitarian aid, which to name but a few include service in Korea, Suez, Malaya, Borneo, the Cold War, Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia, Kosovo, Northern Ireland and mainland Britain for everything from floods to firefighter strikes.

More recently, local members have been heavily involved in fighting on the home front defending us against the COVID-19 pandemic. In supporting the NHS, they led and set up the Nightingale hospitals

and have been key to setting up and managing covid test sites.

Most of the branch members are veterans but some are still serving, and not all members of the Royal British Legion have ever served in the Armed Forces: that is not a requirement for joining the Legion. All that is needed is an interest in supporting Armed Forces personnel, veterans and their dependants.

If this is you, and you are interested in joining the Royal British Legion, whether you have served in the Armed Forces or not, please contact rblthornbury@ gmail.com. You can also find us on Facebook – look for Thornbury & District Branch Royal British Legion.

Or, if you know someone locally who is either currently serving in the Armed Forces or who is a veteran, and who needs help or support, please contact the Royal British Legion on their helpline 0808 802 8080, online at www.britishlegion.org.uk or call the Veterans Gateway on 0800 802 1212.

John Black Thornbury & District Branch, Royal British Legion

Chinese porcelain blue and white 'Yen-Yen' vase Fine Art Auctioneers & Valuers Our friendly and experienced team continue working throughout Lockdown, offering a full range of services, including: •

• •

Online Auctions with telephone and commission bidding

Free valuations by email and telephone Valuations for probate and insurance

Please contact us for more information

COVID SECURE www.csrauctions.com 01934 830 111 info@csrauctions.com Clevedon Salerooms, The Auction Centre, Kenn Road, Clevedon, Bristol, BS21 6TT

Got News? Call Richard 0n 01454 800 120

Valued over email ~Marketed internationally~ Sold for £5,000

Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk

thornburyvoice

February, 2021

19

n NEWS

Council investigates developer's gravel road ELDERLY residents at a new housing development cannot put their bins out on collection day because they cannot drag them through the road's gravel surface, it has been claimed.

A councillor has taken up the fight on behalf of the occupants of the small development in Rangeworthy after they complained.

Redmay Grove contains five detached bungalows and lies at the end of a private road off Wotton Road, not far from Rangeworthy village hall.

South Gloucestershire Council granted planning permission for the new homes in 2017, but developer Rangeworthy Management Ltd was required to fulfil a number of conditions.

It had to get its plans for surface water drainage to prevent flooding signed off by the authority before starting to build the bungalows, planning documents show.

And it had to make sure the first 13 metres of the private road were made of a “permeable bound surface” before the first occupants moved in.

But residents say the entire road is still topped with gravel and is almost unusable by wheelchair users, mothers with pushchairs and elderly people with walking aids or trying

“It’s been brought to my attention that these can cause a number of problems,” she told cabinet members in December.

“And at one such development in Rangeworthy, shortly after the residents moved in, the developer felt the need to change the type of aggregate used because cars and delivery lorries were getting stuck.

“But even with the new aggregate it makes it difficult, verging on impossible, for wheelchairs, pushchairs, bicycles or elderly The access to the development at Rangeworthy residents using walking aids to move over it.

“Some of the residents are over 70 and they simply cannot drag their bins through the gravel for 120 metres to get to a collection to move their bins, says councillor Claire point on bin day.

Young, whose Frampton Cotterell ward “So this surface, while it’s absolutely includes the village. permeable, is clearly not suitable as a surface The council is investigating a possible for a development like this.” breach of planning conditions, a spokesman The council said it was investigating said. a possible breach of planning conditions Cllr Young said developers sometimes related to the surfacing. use gravel as a “cheap” way to meet drainage A spokesperson said: “We are currently requirements on private roads in new investigating the matter in the normal way developments. and our planning enforcement team will be The Liberal Democrat told members considering if there is any action which needs of the council’s ruling Conservative to be taken forward with the developer.” administration that aggregate top surfaces, while suitable for drainage purposes, were

By Amanda Cameron, Local Democracy not necessarily suitable from a user's point Reporting Service of view.

Solving all your legal problems…. locally….

For You:

Our new Thornbury branch is open

Accident and Injury | Cohabitation | Conveyancing | Court of Protection | Crime Disputes | Employee Relocation | Employment Family Law and Divorce | Medical Negligence | New Homes | Notary Public | Probate | Probate Disputes | Wills and Mental Capacity

For Your Business:

Business Disputes | Business Employment | Business Relocation | Commercial Property | Commercial Services | Crime Debt Recovery | New Homes Developers | Notary Public

Get in touch: 01454 204899

Wards Solicitors, 41 High Street, Thornbury BS35 2AR Email: contactthornbury@wards.uk.com Offices in: Bradley Stoke | Central Bristol | Clevedon | Henleaze | Keynsham Nailsea | Portishead | Staple Hill | Thornbury | Weston-super-Mare | Worle | Yate

To advertise, contact Richard on 01454 800 120

wards.uk.com Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk

thornburyvoice

20

February, 2021

n NEWS

More Metro Mayor candidates unveiled

TWO major parties have announced their candidates to stand in May's West of England mayoral elections.

Current Metro Mayor Tim Bowles, the first person to hold the position created in 2017, announced last year that he was retiring from politics.

Labour and the Liberal Democrats have already selected former MPs as their candidates to replace Conservative Mr Bowles.

Now the Greens have announced that Jerome Thomas, the deputy leader of the party’s

opposition group on Bristol City Council, will contest the election for them.

He has pledged to make "well-paid green jobs, affordable warm homes and low-carbon green transport" his priorities, adding: "Good implementation of green policies in these areas is key to our future health and prosperity."

Jerome said: "“I believe, working with people across the region, that these policies can be practical and achievable without costing the earth.”

Shortly before Christmas the

Conservatives announced that Samuel Williams would be their candidate for the Metro Mayor election.

Samuel, who lives in South Bristol, was previously his party's candidate for the Bristol mayoral election, campaigning on a platform to scrap the mayoral role entirely in the city.

As Metro Mayor, in charge of an area including South Gloucestershire and B&NES as well as Bristol, he says he would "prioritise the region becoming a leading light in growing an ecologically sustainable and

TH

OR

NB

UR

Y

open daily WalK-in oRdeRS & deliVeRy Monday - SatuRday 11:30aM - 2pM & 4:30pM - 9pM Sunday 4:30pM - 9pM Gluten FRee aVailaBle Sunday & Monday lunch: until 2pM & eVeninG: until 8pM ORDER ON-LINE TO PRE-ORDER & PREPAY FOR COLLECTION OR DELIVERY www.deepbluerestaurants.com SOCIAL DISTANCING MEASURES IN PLACE 26A High Street, Thornbury, BS35 2AH

Got News? Call Richard 0n 01454 800 120

commercially viable economy", and also backs plans for a free port – a low or no-tax zone to encourage economic activity – for the city.

Samuel is the founding director of communications firm Hodos Consultancy.

Last year the Voice reported that Dan Norris, who represented Wansdyke and was a minister in Gordon Brown's government, had been selected as the Labour candidate, while ex-Bristol West MP Stephen Williams, who was a minister in the coalition government from 2010-15, had been chosen by the Lib Dems.

The metro mayor is the political head of the West of England Combined Authority, which has responsibility for regional transport, strategic planning, economic growth and adult skills.

Volunteers needed A THORNBURY preschool is looking for a volunteer to take on the role of treasurer.

The role is, which is for someone with a good strong knowledge of numbers and spreadsheets who can also talk at committee meetings about budgets and financial issues, is one of the latest requests for help made via Thornbury Volunteer Centre.

A local care and health provider is looking for someone who can communicate using BSL to support and advise their communications team, as well as providing a translating service for service information including videos, leaflets, website and social media content.

A volunteer secretary is also needed to set up and take minutes at meetings for a local Thornbury partnership. The role also involves inviting attendees and distributing minutes for the meetings, which take place every two months.

For more information please email Thornbury Volunteer Centre at mail@volunteerthornbury.co.uk.

Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk

February, 2021

thornburyvoice

21

n MOTORING

A guide to pre-owned cars with Richard Cooke

Second-hand Style Bertone Beauty

I

SHOULD probably be on a diet.

I definitely should do more exercise.

I blame this perennial problem on the creeping onset of middle age, or a slowing metabolism. Both are lame excuses.

Car manufacturers also wheel out reasons why their products are getting bigger and chubbier.

This includes enhanced safety systems, stiffer bodyshells, four wheel drive transmissions and automatic gearboxes. Extra weight is inefficient though – I know this each time I try to stagger up a hill on my irregular runs.

Alfa Romeo learnt the lesson when they teamed up with GM to build the fat, sluggish 159.

The chassis suffered from some unsightly love handles that the gorgeous bodywork struggled to contain. That sleek body was also

writing all sorts of cheques the asthmatic engines couldn’t ever hope to cash. The result, back in 2005, was a car far too slow, thirsty and underpowered.

Today things are better thanks to turbocharging, but the trend for SUVs means more power and fuel consumption, rather than less weight. Alfa is as stuck in the Crossover SUV rut as everyone else.

Worse still, they don’t even have a competitor for the German coupes from BMW (4 series) Audi (A5) and Mercedes. What if you, the savvy used car buyer, could get hold of a lightweight, practical Alfa coupe, and all for very little cash? Enter the stunning Alfa GT. The GT was based on the flyweight 147 and 156 when it came out in 2003. It weighed around 1,300kg whilst still offering seating for four and a large boot.

My test car is the 2.0 ‘JTS’ petrol, good for 165hp and about 135mph. 0-60 is in the mid 8 seconds, but it feels faster somehow. I think this is because the engine just wants to rev the whole time, aided by a slick (but long-throw) 5 speed manual gearbox.

JTS is Alfa-hokum for Direct Injection. In 2003 this was big news, as by directly injecting petrol into the cylinders manufacturers hoped to achieve lower emissions and fuel consumption and higher power. Today direct injection is everywhere, and does produce real fuel and emission benefits.

Typically Alfa only succeeded in producing more power (the JTS engine is up 15hp on the previous Twin Spark).

No matter – the engine is a peach. The Bertone-designed body looks fabulous. Even better, prices start low: a pristine 2.0 won’t cost more than £5k. The 3.2 V6 is already up at £10k, and has ‘classic’ written all over it.

That’s the good news. The bad is that GTs are at least 11 years old now, and all will be knee deep in a perpetual cycle of repair.

An industry friend summarised the issue neatly to me years ago: A 50k mile Alfa should be approached with the caution you would have for another car with double that mileage. Maybe it’s a good lockdown purchase then?

You can look at it without having to add any miles!

The GT buyer’s checklist

includes: 1) Cambelt change intervals (every 36k miles). £500, and do the fragile water pump at the same time. 2) Oil burn – normal but assume 1 litre per 1k miles, check and top up with the good (and therefore expensive) stuff. 3) Suspension. Made from finest Italian chocolate, it will need constant attention. 4) Clutch health. A replacement requires the gearbox to come out, costing at least £1k. 5) The JTS eats ignition coil packs for fun; easy to replace but not cheap at £100. Not funny either, when they only last 30k miles.

Buying a GT is an exercise in due diligence. Look for a car with a history file that needs its own chapter headings and index. The seller must convince you they’ve not just maintained the car, but loved it. Otherwise you could be stumbling into someone else’s money-pit. Get a good one, though, and you won’t want to let it go. Today Alfa don’t offer anything with such a perfect, low-set driving position, naturally aspirated rev-hungry engine and lightweight chassis. You can have it all for less than the cost of a leasehire deposit.

What to pay: Alfa GT 2.0 JTS 2003 – 2010; £3k - £5k

www.filton-central.co.uk To advertise, contact Richard on 01454 800 120

Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk

thornburyvoice

22

n LOCAL HISTORY

February, 2021

Handel Cossham: The Thornbury boy who became a mining magnate HIS name can be found on roads, a hall and even a hospital – but how much do you know about Handel Cossham? Historian David Blackmore, of the Mangotsfield Residents Association, looks back at his life. Part 1 looks at how Cossham became one of the area's most important industrialists, owning a company mining nearly 1,000 tons of coal a day from collieries in Bristol and Gloucestershire.

HANDEL Shepherd Cossham was born on March 31 1824 in Thornbury High Street, the son of the town's carpenter and joiner, Jesse Cossham, and his wife, Sarah.

It was often said that Handel – named after the composer it is said his father greatly admired – was born in the same house as his father, grandfather and great grandfather. Previously known as Miss Saisey's Cottage, it now carries a plaque proclaiming it as the birthplace of this "non-conformist Preacher, Industrialist, Geologist, Politician, Educationalist and Public Benefactor".

After moving to Ryeford, near Stroud, when he was a year old, he returned to Thornbury in 1830, attending the local Dame school and Sunday school, building his passions for education and preaching that we will explore in part 2.

Documents drawn up when he later donated a hall (which now bears his name) to the people of Thornbury stated that he left the town in 1845, "to fight the battle of life", moving first to live near a colliery in Yate, where he worked as a clerk, and gained knowledge of mining and geology.

Although he studied mining working “almost night and day”, he found time to preach at the colliery.

In January 1848 Cossham married Elizabeth Wethered, his employer's daughter, going into partnership with her father and brothers. They set up business at Parkfield – between Pucklechurch and what is now Lyde Green – and Shortwood in 1851.

Over the coming decades, as coal fuelled the industrial revolution, the business prospered.

In 1863 Speedwell and Deep Pit at St George were acquired by the partnership and in 1864 the Kingswood Colliery followed. They

also took out a lease on Brandy Bottom, near their Parkfield mine, in 1871, sinking the New Pit shaft and building its horizontal engine house.

The shaft at Brandy Bottom colliery had been first sunk in 1837, with much of the work done by young children, whose small size enabled them to get along the narrow passages, where they would pull heavy tubs of coal along using chains.

Coal hauled up at Brandy Bottom was loaded on to wagons, initially on the Dramway, a horse and gravity railway that delivered it to barges on the river Avon for use in Bristol and other cities.

Cossham connected Brandy Bottom underground to his nearby Parkfield Colliery and at some time renamed the complex as ‘Parkfield South': as a long-standing member of the Temperance Association, the name Brandy Bottom had to go.

In 1864 Cossham purchased the bulk of the 210-acre Hill House Estate, in Staple Hill. It was broken up and auctioned ten years later, divided into some 60 building lots and auctioned off.

In 1879 his in-laws decided to sell up, and Cossham snapped up nearly all of their shares, forming a limited liability company, the Kingswood & Parkfield Colliery Company Ltd, which came under his control along with Charles S Wills, of the tobacco family.

He was soon a wealthy man, having also bought the mineral rights of the St George area of Bristol in 1875. The company now controlled almost 3,000 acres of freehold minerals, yielding a daily output of nearly 1,000 tons of coal and employing over 1,500 workers.

Unusually for a mine owner, Cossham was concerned for the welfare of his workers and introduced many safety measures, such as stone or brick-lined shafts,

Got News? Call Richard 0n 01454 800 120

Portrait of a young Handel Cossham, in 1848 before legislation made them compulsory.

He was held in high esteem by his colliery workers, building a rank of local pennant stone cottages for them in what is now Cossham Street, Mangotsfield, and the 'Parkfield Rank' in Pucklechurch.

After Cossham's death in 1890 his mining interests were held in trust for his wife, who died in 1896.

His coal interests in the area were acquired in an auction in 1900 by the Bedminster, Easton, Kingswood and Parkfield Collieries Ltd, which had been specifically formed for this purpose.

But the company was soon struggling, with all of the region's mines on the decline after the opening of the Severn Tunnel in 1886, and consequent availability of cheaper coal from South Wales,

making them uncompetitive.

By the First World War Brandy Bottom had closed and the other pits were being operated by a receiver, before being bought by Somerset Collieries and renamed the East Bristol Collieries Ltd. The Parkfield Colliery was almost exhausted and closed in 1936, by which time just 80 men worked there. The site was auctioned the following year, including the manager's house, buildings and around 20 acres of land.

In part 2: Cossham the preacher, educationalist, politician and benefactor *Elements of this article were produced with the help of Thornbury Roots website, www. thornburyroots.co.uk

Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk

thornburyvoice

February, 2021

23

n SPORT

Town's suspended season could be abandoned UNFORTUNATELY the New Year has not brought any relief from pandemic restrictions, and the announcement of the latest lockdown has meant that “non-elite” football has been suspended at all levels until at least the end of February.

This has meant that training sessions and matches for all of Thornbury Town’s teams, both juniors and seniors, have been

cancelled. Whilst previously there had been some concessions for juniors to continue training and playing, this has now been rescinded.

At this stage it is looking more and more likely that it won’t be possible for any of the club’s teams to complete the season, even if it were extended until the end of May. The Bristol & District League,

AERIAL MAN

in which the Reserves and A team compete, has already confirmed that matches due to be played in the latest two lockdowns will be declared void and won’t be rearranged. It is not clear at this stage what decisions will be made by the junior leagues.

The Hellenic League and FA have also confirmed that completing the 2020/2021

season is becoming increasingly doubtful. They have committed to asking clubs their views, to see if there is any possibility to play out this season, or alternatively advise how and when the season will be concluded. It was expected that a decision from the FA Council would be made towards the end of January.

Malcolm Carr

PLUMBING

GARDENING Horticulture, Landscaping & Garden Clearance

www.theaerialman.co.uk

• Digital Aerials • Fully Guaranteed • Repairs • Satellites • Free Quotes • OAP Discount • Additional TV Points • Humax Recorders

Lalu’s Gardening Service Call 07490 514641/ 01454 616034

22, Orchard Rise, Olveston, Bristol, BS35 4DY 11 years experience ✻ hedge trimming ✻ tree felling ✻ tree trunk excavating ✻ creating lawns & patios ✻ artificial grass laying ✻ patio cleaning (by hand not jet wash which loosens slabs)

Affordable Prices - Reliable Service

✻ Fully insured ✻ Own power & hand tools ✻ Own transport ✻ Qualifications in tree surgery and heavy lifting & manhandling

CARPET CLEANING

GROUNDWORKS

01454 660046

Taps, Washers Toilets, Cisterns Leaks, Blockages Tanks, Overflows Lead Pipes, Stopcocks….etc…

OAP DISCOUNTS and NO VAT

0117

956 4475

TREE SERVICES D. ATTWELL

   

• Patios • Tarmac • Fencing • Turfing • Decking • Drainage • Driveways • Blockpaving • Foundations • Site Clearance • Concrete Bases • Stump Removal



LANDSCAPING & TREE SERVICES All Garden Works Undertaken All Foliage Removed – Roots Destroyed Patios Laid – Slabbing – Decking Block Paving – Gravelling – Fencing Wood Chippings – Clearance – Garden Walls Drives & Patios Jetwashed & Resealed • FULLY INSURED • LICENSED WASTE CARRIER

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



OVEN CLEANING     

RUBBISH CLEARANCE Garden, Clearance House, Garden, Office Clearance House,House, Garden, OfficeOffice Clearance

House, Garden, Office Clearance - all Plus all other Plus All Your Other Waste Removal Needs too!

House, Garden, Office Clearance -- Plus other House, Garden, Office Clearance Plus all other Plus Your Other Waste Removal Needs too!

Plus All All Your Other Waste Removal Needs too!

On-average Average cheaper than a skip.

On cheaper than aa skip.

OnAverage cheaper than skip. removal On average cheaper waste removal On cheaper than aa skip wastewaste removal -Average On average cheaper than than skipa skip

07592 003 Tel: 07592 506 003003 Tel: 07592 506 Tel:Tel: 07592 506506 003 1/4 Load 1/4 £89 1/4 Load Load £89 £89 Half Half £139 Half Load Load Load £139£139 3/4 Load 3/4 £179 3/4 Load Load £179£179 Full Load Full £199 Full Load Load £199£199

www.junkmonsters.co.uk www.junkmonsters.co.uk

To advertise, contact Richard on 01454 800 120

Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk

m hise l, e. ing

as ble.

If you are caring, a team player, and can empathise and communicate well, join our local care force.

We’ve seen an increase in demand for care and support workers and have lots of vacancies available. The work is incredibly rewarding, and you will help and support others to be as independent as possible.

You’ll learn on the job and be provided with training and opportunities to gain qualifications.

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

South Gloucestershire  www.proudtocaresouthglos.org.uk 

proudtocare@southglos.gov.uk

Bristol  www.proudtocarebristol.org.uk 

proudtocare@bristol.gov.uk

North Somerset  https://bit.ly/ proudtocarenorthsomerset 

proudtocare@n-somerset.gov.uk

o learn who are

and the local area our local

Proud to Care South West is supported by