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October, 2020 Issue 41
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What now for huge development site? Affordable homes plan approved
PLANS for 13 new affordable homes in Alveston have been approved, despite objections from neighbours who currently park their cars on the site. PAGE 5
Charity job losses The site proposed for a new nuclear power station, with the old Oldbury plant in the background. Picture: Horizon Nuclear Power
New nuclear power plant axed PLANS to build a new nuclear power station at Oldbury-on-Severn have been cancelled. Questions are now being asked over the future of the 170-acre Shepperdine site earmarked for the plant, which would have had two new reactors providing enough electricity for 5.5 million homes. Horizon Nuclear Power, the operator behind the plans, announced the "orderly closing down of all its current development activities" at Oldbury and another site in North Wales on September 16. Construction of the new plant, near the site of
the previous Oldbury power station, would have created up to 9,000 jobs. Once operational, it was expected to have an estimated 850 permanent employees. But development on the scheme had been suspended since early last year and Horizon's parent company Hitachi said that since then, "the investment environment has become increasingly severe due to the impact of COVID-19". Turn to page 3
CHARITY Brain Tumour Support has had to lay off almost a quarter of its staff as the pandemic hits donations. PAGE 4
Police warning over con couple A COUPLE who conned their way into the homes of vulnerable Thornbury women are wanted by the police. PAGE 6
No one-way option
A SUGGESTION that Thornbury's experimental High Street closure could be changed to allow one-way traffic has been ruled out. PAGE 7
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Magnox support for projects
November deadline Our November edition deadline is October 14.
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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
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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.
THE owners of Oldbury power station have made grants to support community projects. Magnox, which is decommissioning the nuclear power plant, which stopped generating in 2012, is giving more than £9,000 to three projects. Oldbury Community Shop has been given £2,800 to buy personal protective equipment, tables and chairs for waiting customers to use as well as umbrellas and a pull-out awning for shelter against the weather. A £3,612 grant will buy two 2m benches in Thornbury High Street, to enable social distancing among those who need to rest. Thornbury, Patchway and Bristol North West foodbanks have been given £2,200 for food, with a further £800 donated to Patchway Foodbank for distribution costs from August to December. Severn Vale ward councillors Matthew Riddle and Keith Burchell, whose patch includes Oldbury-on-Severn, said: “We are delighted that this funding has been awarded to support the volunteer-run Oldbury Community Shop, which has proven to be a lifeline to many local residents during the Covid pandemic period. "The funding for an awning to shelter shoppers from poor weather as we approach autumn will make a big difference to social distancing. “We are also pleased that funding has been allocated to Thornbury Foodbank, which continues to serve not only Thornbury but also the surrounding small communities, brilliantly, during these trying times.”
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Hitachi pulls plug on new Oldbury power station From page 1 Hitachi said that Horizon would be "ceasing its activities" to develop both the Oldbury and Wylfa Newydd power plants on Anglesey. In a statement Horizon said it would "take steps for the orderly closing down of all its current development activities, but will keep the lines of communication open with Government and other key stakeholders regarding future options at both our sites". Chief Executive Duncan Hawthorne said: “I understand this announcement will be disappointing for our many supporters who had hoped to see our project through to completion and I would personally like to thank you for your support throughout our time on this project. “In particular I would like to thank our lead host community of Anglesey in Wales, represented by the Isle of Anglesey County Council and Welsh Government, and the key representatives around Oldbury. “Nuclear power has a critical role to play in helping tackle our energy needs, meeting our climate change targets and levelling up the economy through green growth and job creation. “Wylfa Newydd on Anglesey and Oldbury on Severn are highly desirable sites for new nuclear build. We will do our utmost to facilitate the prospects for development which will bring the major local, national and environmental benefits that nuclear can uniquely deliver as we push to transition to a net zero carbon economy by 2050.”
The planned power station would have been similar to Horizon's lead project at Wylfa Newydd in Wales, with two advanced boiling water reactors. open to question, with Horizon's statement implying it could still be developed for a power station by another operator. Severn Vale ward councillor Matthew Riddle said: “I believe the site at Oldbury is a more expensive one to develop, as it is in a flood plain and needs 60 foot cooling towers, but it would have brought many new jobs and the benefit of the raising of the river bank between Aust and Sharpness. "I am not sure if this announcement adds more or less uncertainly for local residents living close to the site, but we do need clarity as soon as possible from the owners and the government about the future of the site going forward.” A spokesperson for South Gloucestershire Council said: “Although it was at a very early stage with no formal proposals, development at Oldbury power station could have resulted in significant investment into the area and the wider regional economy, with the creation of
Plans to build a new reactor at Oldbury were first announced in 2009, when Horizon was owned by E.ON and German power firm RWE. The government approved a new reactor on the site a year later but in 2012 – the same year the previous Magnox plant stopped generating after 44 years – the scheme was shelved. It was revived later that year, when Horizon was bought by Japanese firm Hitachi. Horizon laid off the majority of its 395 employees when it suspended the plans in January 2019. It said that discussions over redundancy were now underway with the remaining 20 full-time Horizon staff and 50 development partners, mostly based at its headquarters in Gloucester and in Wales. Horizon owns the 170 hectare (420 acre) site, north west of the previous Oldbury power station currently being decommissioned by Magnox. The future use and ownership of the site is now
high-quality jobs. “In light of this news, we will be seeking clarity on the future of nuclear power more generally, and in relation to the site itself for the local communities who have faced many years of uncertainty.” West of England Mayor Tim Bowles said he would work to ensure sites like Oldbury still had a nuclear future. He said: "Although there were no formal proposals for the development of Oldbury power station, if the site was developed it would create more good and sustainable jobs in the West of England and add to the South West Nuclear cluster. "Businesses across our area are working on the construction of Hinkley Point C, which continues to create valuable opportunities for our worldleading advanced engineering and high-value manufacturing sectors. "We will continue to work with the South West Nuclear Hub at the University of Bristol, and industry, to further innovation and development of small modular reactors and advance research on nuclear fusion reactors. "Sites such as Oldbury are well-positioned to host these future innovative nuclear solutions to provide sustainable energy for our region and the UK as a whole, and I will continue to work with Government and the industry to ensure that the West of England is at the front of the queue.” What do you think should happen to the site? Email contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk
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Charity lays off staff in coronavirus funding crisis THORNBURY charity Brain Tumour Support has had to make staff redundant and move offices after the coronavirus crisis slashed its income. The charity, set up by Tina Mitchell Skinner 17 years ago after she lost her husband to a brain tumour, supports thousands of patients and their families locally and across the UK. But the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown has hit its regular fundraising activities hard and the charity says it is facing a 40% drop in income this year. As a result it has let go of five of its 23 staff and has moved from its High Street offices to a smaller site in Lancaster House, Bristol Road. The charity says it has to secure its future and is "more committed than ever" to providing support for those among the more than 100,000 people living with a brain tumour in the UK who turn to it for help. Tina, who is the charity's chief executive, said: “For the charity to be in the best position to face the many challenges still ahead, we have had to take some very difficult decisions. "As well as losing some very valued colleagues through contracts ending or
Local supporter Marian Grace raised more than £2,000 for Brain Tumour Support by cycling 425 miles in memory of her brother. redundancy, and reducing some working hours for some of the remaining team, we are also moving to smaller premises whilst we assess the most efficient and cost-effective way forward. "As our lease on the current offices had come to an end this was the most sensible move for us, so that we can ensure maximum
funds go into our much-needed support services." Brain Tumour Support launched its Together We Are Stronger Appeal in May, and supporters have responded with a variety of fundraising projects to help it survive the lockdown. But the charity says there are "big challenges ahead", particularly with the government's furlough scheme for staff ending this month. Tina said: “I’m so proud of the commitment shown by our charity team and wonderful volunteers and supporters, particularly over the past few months. “COVID-19 has changed many aspects of life, but our vision and resolve to support as many patients and families as possible remains, in fact it’s stronger than ever." Last year the charity won the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award given to local volunteer groups in the UK to recognise outstanding work done in their communities. To find out more about the charity's work or to help raise funds, visit www. braintumoursupport.co.uk, email info@ braintumoursupport.co.uk or call 01454 414355.
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Affordable homes plan approved despite protests PLANS for 13 new affordable homes in Alveston have been approved, despite objections over their effect on parking. Two semi-detached bungalows at 33-35 Quarry Road and a set of garages will be demolished to make way for the revamped cul-de-sac. Residents raised a 90-name petition opposing the proposals, because they currently use the land unofficially to park their cars, with a lack of spaces elsewhere. Alveston Parish Council and 20 residents wrote letters of objection. Bromford housing association, which submitted the plans, has promised to continue working with neighbours to solve the ongoing parking issue in surrounding streets. South Gloucestershire Council's development management committee granted permission after a report to members said it was “not reasonable to expect a landowner to resolve the existing
An artist's impression of how the new homes at Quarry Road will look
parking concerns or maintain unauthorised use of the site by individuals”. It added: “Overall the application merits clearly outweigh the perceived harms of the development.” Parish councillor Marion Reeve told the remote meeting on September 17 that the land earmarked for 10 semi-detached houses, one bungalow and two flats, had long been considered “our car park”, despite the
use being unauthorised by the landowners. She said the loss of the parking was causing “great anxiety to many residents”. “This area has had problems for many years with parking due partly to its narrow and winding road,” she said, adding that the council had repeatedly refused to create off-street parking. “The car park has always remained vital to the area as the only place to park when getting
home late at night to find no street parking spaces available.” Bromford development manager Noreen Twomey told members: “Parking for the new housing is commensurate with South Gloucestershire Council’s residential parking standards – a total of 19 allocated spaces are proposed with a further seven visitor spaces. “As part of this application we are also seeking to increase the parking capacity within the existing parking area in front of Haddrell Court by creating an additional 12 parking spaces, to mitigate the loss of parking at the Quarry Road garage site.” She said a parking survey concluded these bays would accommodate the existing demand for Bromford tenants. Committee members voted to approve the plans, saying affordable housing was "badly needed". By Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service
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n NEWS A COUPLE preying on vulnerable people have conned their way into two homes in Thornbury. Avon and Somerset police are warning elderly people to beware of the pair, who trick their way into homes before stealing valuables. They have struck at least seven times in the past month, including two reported incidents in Thornbury. In the first, on September 4, police say a "vulnerable" woman was targeted in North Road. The victim’s carer found a man in the hallway of her home, who claimed to be interested in buying a mountain bike. He left after being told to go but the woman later found money had been taken from her purse. The following day a couple appeared in the home of a disabled woman in Buckingham Parade. The victim had left her back door unlocked but closed because she was expecting her carer to arrive. A man and woman came in and told the victim they were
October, 2020
Couple con their way into 'vulnerable' women's homes
going to make a cup of tea. They looked through her handbag, although they did not steal anything. The two incidents have been linked to five others in Bristol, each involving a man and woman who are each described as white, around 5ft 8in tall and speaking with an accent which was "possibly Irish". Victims said the man was
"very thin, with long straggling hair" and the woman had "long dark hair and dark clothes". Police say that in some of the incidents the couple have claimed to have a specific reason for visiting their victim and sometimes mention a name to try and sound genuine. Investigating officer Alastair Binnie said: “The suspects are callously targeting elderly and vulnerable people at night, often around the time when a carer is due to visit. "This has been distressing for all of the victims and so I would ask if anyone can help with the investigation to please get in touch. "I would also urge anyone with elderly relatives, friends or neighbours, to check in on them to remind them about the important safety advice for dealing with cold callers coming
to the door. "If you see any suspicious behaviour, then don’t hesitate to call 999.” Police are also warning about two men who tried to con their way into a house in Yate on September 17. One, who talked to the occupant, was "very smartly dressed" in a light blue shirt, navy trousers and brown shoes, was wearing a surgical mask and carrying what appeared to be a blue laptop case. He was white, aged around 35, about 5ft 8in tall and of medium build, with short, cropped light brown hair. People are being advised not to leave doors or windows unlocked or open for a long time, to give relatives or carers who need regular access a key, to use door chains and to ask for and check identity cards.
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October, 2020
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High Street one-way option ruled out during consultation
TRADERS in Thornbury have been told that the current experimental closure cannot be changed to a one-way system while consultations are underway. Thornbury Chamber of Commerce asked South Gloucestershire Council whether the current ban on through traffic, introduced to aid social distancing amid the coronavirus, could be amended. Chamber secretary Zoe Gilbraith said the traders had made the suggestion as it would enable some parking along one side of the High Street, including disabled parking bays, and also reinstate two bus stops. But the council told the traders that a six-month consultation period was a legal requirement of the experimental traffic order governing the scheme, and changing it would re-start the consultation period. Zoe said many traders on the High Street "still have very low footfall on most days", despite attempts to promote the street including the council's Shop Thornbury: Help Us Thrive campaign, which saw vouchers given away in a draw for people who shopped with High Street traders. Zoe said: "We would just like to say to people who live in and around Thornbury, the High Street businesses are very much
open for business and waiting to welcome you. "Please, whatever your thoughts on the High Street, do not stay away in protest of what South Gloucestershire are doing, as the shops need your support more than ever now." The consultation into the closure is open until the end of January, while a petition against it, organised by Thornbury resident Clive Washbourne, has now been handed in to the council, signed by a total of 1,951 people on paper and online. Zoe said the installation of new cycle racks and railings and the blacking out of parking bays made traders question how temporary the scheme was, adding: "If, as we believe, the consultation will show that this is not what the majority of the public want, do they have the money to put it back? We are very concerned that we will be left with a completely messed up High Street and no money available to rectify it." A council spokesperson said: "An experimental traffic order must include a minimum six month consultation period. A significant change such as reopening the High Street to one way traffic would restart the consultation, and may even require a new
Extra signs in Rock Street EXTRA signs and road markings are to be installed on Rock Street in Thornbury as extra traffic uses the road following the closure of the High Street. Thornbury & Yate MP Luke Hall said he had contacted South Gloucestershire Council to improve safety for elderly residents of Grace Lodge retirement flats. The MP said he had met with residents three years ago to discuss concerns about road safety in the area. Grace Lodge manager Catherine Lockett-Exell said: “Since the High Street has been closed to traffic, Rock Street has become the main road through Thornbury, making it even more busy and dangerous than it was before. I’ve been asking the council for a number of years to install a crossing outside the Lodge to help my apartment owners get into town safely."
traffic order. "We are replacing the white and red barriers with a new barrier, following feedback we received asking us to improve its appearance. The barrier can be removed to facilitate events and allow access for large vehicles. Should the scheme be removed in the future, the barrier would also be removed. "We believe providing cycle racks is key to encourage more active travel and we do not intend to remove them, although they are able to be re-positioned if required." The chamber has also called for paper copies of the council's consultation forms to be sent to every household within three miles of the town. But the council spokesperson said paper copies were no longer routinely provided "due to the environmental impact of printing and the historically low return rate". He added: Anyone without internet access can call us on 01454 866000 to request a copy and we can post one to them and we also provide a free post address for people to return completed surveys." The questionnaire can be found on the consultations section of the council website, at bit.ly/32MQKXM.
Craft fair cancelled A CRAFT fair planned to attract more visitors to Thornbury High Street has been cancelled due to changes in coronavirus rules. The fair had been due to take place in the High Street on October 31 and followed a fun day organised by the Thornbury High Street Facebook group on the first weekend in September. The fun day included stalls and funfair rides, and the group had hoped to follow it with the craft fair this month. But after the 'rule of six' limits on gatherings were announced by the government in September the organisers decided it could not go ahead. They said: "Following the announcements regarding new social distancing measures from the government we have taken the decision to postpone the Craft Fair until a more appropriate time."
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October, 2020
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Care home's neighbours make memorial gesture PEOPLE living near a Thornbury care home where residents died during a coronavirus outbreak have created a flower display and plaque to remember their neighbours. Residents of Prowse Close also presented a sundial, another plaque and a rose bush for the garden at Beech House. The Voice reported in July that Beech House, which cares for “very elderly” people, many of whom have serious medical conditions, had been affected by an outbreak from the middle of March, during which 12 people died. Bristol Care homes, which runs Beech House, said later that the outbreak had happened “before the risk of widespread community infection was fully understood”. Because Public Health England was only testing the first five residents of any care home to develop symptoms at the time,
The plaque erected by Prowse Close residents
The residents' flowers
it was not possible to say how many had died with COVID-19. There have been no infections at Beech House since April. Stuart Gash, who lives in Prowse Close, said: "The whole street was so very sad to hear the news about Beech House. "Since lockdown we have become such a close community and we all did the clap for carers, which happened to coincide with the home's shift change, so we saw the staff walking or driving
past after what was obviously an incredibly difficult time for them all. "We all wanted to do something to thank the staff for everything they were doing, so we arranged a collection and were able to present Beech House with some bits and pieces for their garden." Stuart said the Prowse Close residents agreed to put flowers outside their boundary fence to remember their neighbours
and adding a plaque "followed naturally". He said: "We have had so many positive comments from the staff saying how grateful they are. Bristol Care Homes chief executive Richard Crocker said the sundial has now been installed in the gardens at Beech House. He said: "We greatly appreciate this kindness and generosity, as it gives a huge encouragement to our care team who have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic. "Our gardens regularly win the Thornbury in Bloom award, and the sundial will add further to the beauty of the gardens, which our residents greatly enjoy. "It’s great that the local community has been so supportive in this way through such a difficult and challenging time."
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October, 2020
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Coffee mornings for veterans expanding despite pandemic FORCES veterans from Thornbury and the surrounding area have still been able to find support at local coffee mornings despite the Covid pandemic, and the sessions could now be offered twice a month. The coffee mornings, which are organised by the Royal British Legion’s Thornbury branch, restarted in August as Covid restrictions were eased following the nationwide lockdown. They are now held outdoors, with only six people sitting together in each group
and with everyone sitting two meters apart, as required by Covid guidelines. A total of 18 people came to the event at Hawkes House last month, but in November the coffee morning will also have a trial run at the Swan Pub in the High Street, with the hope that each venue can host every month. John Black, from Thornbury RBL, said: “For some folk, during the Covid restrictions, the coffee mornings have simply been the encouragement to
Volunteer centre office reopens THE office of Thornbury Volunteer Centre in the town hall is reopening, by appointment only. The centre has continued to offer volunteering opportunities through the pandemic via email and from September 28 people will be able to visit again. To arrange a date and time email mail@volunteerthornbury.co.uk. The same address can be used to find out more about the following opportunities for volunteers and many others which are available through the centre: *Several local organisations need volunteers able to spare 1-2 hours a week either to befriend an older person or provide respite to a carer in their own homes. *Environmental groups are seeking volunteers to help with a variety of tasks including planting, watering and clearing paths. *A rock music lover who can play the guitar and has an hour to spare each week is needed to teach a man with mental health needs some basic guitar playing skills via zoom. *The Home Library Service needs volunteers to deliver and return library books and spoken word material for people who are housebound on a monthly basis.
actually leave the house to meet up with a supportive group of like-minded friends.” “At the coffee mornings, we have had a multiplicity of issues raised, from loneliness following bereavement, post-traumatic stress disorder, isolation – some people have no access to the digital world – to people being new to the area and looking for a support network. "We have also had people trying to find out about their family members who had served in the Forces.”
John is also able to signpost people to other services which can help them. Six people who come to the coffee mornings have now joined the Thornbury RBL branch and can be directly supported by the organisation itself. The next events are being held at Hawkes House on October 8 from 9.30-11.30am, and at the Swan on November 14 from 9.30-11.30am.
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n STROUD AUCTION ROOMS
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October, 2020
Halfpennies from heaven for coin collectors A QUITE exceptional September sale at Stroud Auctions saw almost 3,000 lots, including jewellery, silver, coins and watches realise an amazing £450,000 over three days. The highest price achieved was for an Art Deco white gold pendant, set with 25 diamonds, which sold for £6,200. The surprise lot of the sale was a Georgian/Victorian silver pendant, set with foiled paste, which sold for £1,500. But the auctioneer’s favourite lot was an 1862 Queen Victoria young head halfpenny, with a die letter 'C' left of the lighthouse base, which is extremely rare. Die letters and numbers were used by the Royal Mint in 1862 and 1863 to test the dies for striking penny and halfpenny coins. The coin was brought in by a vendor who had no idea it was rare – only the letter being placed to the left of the lighthouse made this coin so valuable. Identified by Stroud Auctions’ coin specialist Mike Gardner, it sold for £1,600.
This Art Deco white gold pendant sold for £6,200.
Another 1862 halfpenny, with a die A to the right of the lighthouse, made £1,400. The current trend of selling most of the lots to online bidders continued: the in-house postage and packing service has come into its own, encouraging online bidders to spend more in the knowledge that their goods can be shipped around the world at reasonable cost, placing Stroud Auctions well ahead of the opposition. Most auction salerooms refuse to help buyers with postage, thus limiting their involvement in the bidding, whereas Stroud Auctions
have embraced distance bidding by creating a separate department to handle shipping, something which has paid off many times over in these strange times where attendance at the saleroom is no longer commonplace. Unbelievably, we already have 250 lots of jewellery ready for our December auction, where jewellery features once again alongside silver, watches and coins, along with the hugely popular fine wines and spirits section. Please do contact us if you have items you may like us to include, we are happy to accept entries now and store them until the sale.
One of the rare 1862 halfpennies
The die letter (circled) which set this coin apart
STROUD AUCTION ROOMS Including specialist sections of jewellery, silver, watches, clocks, coins, fine wines & spirits
valuations by appointment every Friday (9am-5pm) at our saleroom, at your home or why not email us a photograph to info@stroudauctions.com
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October, 2020
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Temporary morgue retained A TEMPORARY mortuary for South Gloucestershire is being retained as the region braces for a potential second coronavirus wave. South Gloucestershire Council’s overflow morgue at its Broad Lane depot in Yate stored up to 18 bodies at a time when it was operational during the COVID-19 peak from April to July. It was required when the number of deaths locally overwhelmed capacity at funeral directors, although none of the bodies taken there were of people who had died with the virus. The temporary mortuary is being retained amid the prospect of future local outbreaks as the region experiences an increase in cases that public health chiefs describe as a “cause for concern but not alarm”. A council spokesperson said: “It is currently dormant, but can be made operational within 48 hours if required. “Once activated it would have the capacity for 80. “We continue to work with partners including local funeral directors to keep the situation under review so that we can respond to provide capacity if required. “The facility will be retained in place at least until the end of winter. In total, since the outbreak of the pandemic, there had been 955 confirmed COVID-19 cases in South Gloucestershire as the Voice went to press – an infection rate of 335 per 100,000 people – with 171 deaths reported with the virus. The number of confirmed cases had risen by 158 in South Gloucestershire compared with four weeks earlier. Localised figures from the Office for National Statistics show there had been no deaths in Thornbury or the surrounding villages in the two months to the end of July. By Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service
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thornburyvoice
October, 2020
13
n THORNBURY CLINIC
Ten tips for a better night’s sleep
PENNY Finnegan is Clinical Hypnotherapist at The Thornbury Clinic. She holds a degree in psychology along with a gold standard Hypnotherapy in Practice Diploma. DO you struggle to get to sleep at night, or wake up frequently and can’t get back to sleep? Or maybe you just feel groggy and unrefreshed when you wake up? Sleep is fundamental to the optimal functioning of our health and well-being, and sleeping problems, such as insomnia, can prevent some people from getting the quality sleep they need. If we don’t get enough sleep, or the quality of our sleep is poor,
then it may have a detrimental effect on our energy levels, ability to concentrate, memory, immune function, diet, emotional wellbeing and how we deal with stress. Insomnia can take many forms and may affect each person differently, or be experienced in the same person in different ways, at different times. It can be defined as the perception of poor quality sleep due to difficulty falling asleep, frequent waking during the night, waking too early, not being able to return to sleep or waking feeling unrefreshed. Hypnotherapy can be an effective treatment for sleeping problems. It’s important to speak to your doctor first to eliminate any psychological or physical causes which need to be addressed, but hypnotherapy may still be very helpful in correcting behaviour and thoughts that may be contributing to insomnia.
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Try the following tips to enhance your ability to get a good night’s sleep, with a focus on creating a calm environment and consistent routine. • De-clutter. Studies show that people sleep better in an uncluttered environment, so create a place where you can relax • Create a routine. As much as possible, go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. • Exercise regularly. Exercise can help to decrease stress, which can be a major inhibitor of sleep. However, vigorous exercise before bed is not advised, as it fires up your metabolism, making it harder to relax. • Cut down on alcohol, caffeine and nicotine. Try herbal teas instead. • Eat lightly in the evening. Heavy meals make it more difficult for your body to shut down. • Make relaxation a priority. Dedicate some time before bed to winding down the body and mind, for example having a bath, reading
a book or meditating. • Keep electronic devices out of the bedroom. Studies have shown they affect sleep. If possible, stop using them an hour before bed. • Make your bedroom more sleepfriendly. Ensure your bed and pillows are comfortable and keep your room cool, dark and as quiet as possible. • Face your bedside clock away from you. Clock watching can be very disruptive for sleep, because the stress increases mental activity and can promote anxious feelings. • Morning sunlight. If possible, expose yourself to bright (yellow) light in the morning. It helps you feel more alert in the morning and promotes drowsiness in the evening. To book an appointment with a clinical hypnotherapist to discuss how hypnotherapy could help you restore healthy sleeping habits, call the Thornbury Clinic on 01454 838366 or email info@ thethornburyclinic.co.uk.
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thornburyvoice
14
n NEWS
October, 2020
Thornbury man fined after rubbish dumped in lane
A THORNBURY man has been ordered to pay more than £3,400 over waste, including used nappies, which was dumped in a lane near the town. Sumit Kumar was prosecuted after a witness spotted a man throwing bags of waste from the boot of a parked car into a hedgerow near Pool Farm, on Oldbury Lane. The car was traced to Kumar's address in Wild Flower Road. South Gloucestershire Council said that when its environmental enforcement officers visited him, Kumar admitted that the waste had come from his property but he denied personally dumping it himself. Instead he told them he may have mentioned a build-up of household waste to relatives who were staying at his home – and said one of them "must have used his duty of care for the secure his car, with his permission, to transfer of household waste dispose of the household waste". when he appeared at Bristol The 37 year old told officers Magistrates Court on August 24. he felt responsible for the He was fined £2,577 and told household waste, which included to pay £673.50 in costs and a "a number of used nappies", victim surcharge of £170. and pleaded guilty to failing in Council for WB Generic AW.qxp_Layout 1 15/09/2020 21:14cabinet Page member 1
The rubbish which was seen being dumped in Oldbury Lane from a car linked to Sumit Kumar's address. communities Rachael Hunt said: “There is no excuse for this type of behaviour. "Fly-tipping has a negative impact on our communities and local environment, and we all have a responsibility to make sure that our waste is disposed of
in the appropriate manner. “Our zero-tolerance approach to fly-tipping in South Gloucestershire means that anyone who fly-tips here is up to five times more likely to be prosecuted than anywhere else in the country. "Our award-winning environmental enforcement team has a 100 per cent record of securing successful prosecutions for this type of offence, so if you fail in your duty of care and allow rubbish to be fly-tipped in South Gloucestershire, you can expect to be caught and brought before the courts." Residents who see illegal flytipping are encouraged to report it online at www.southglos. gov.uk/flytipping, emailing streetcare@southglos.gov.uk or contacting the StreetCare helpdesk on 01454 868000.
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thornburyvoice
October, 2020
15
n NEWS
£60,000 boost for Thornbury's Chantry centre THORNBURY'S Chantry community and arts centre will be given almost £60,000 to spend on improvements. The money has come via South Gloucestershire Council, which was given it by developers as part of legal deals connected to the town's Park Farm and Morton Way housing developments. It will pay to install completely new central heating and hot water systems in the main building and coach house at the Chantry. The work should be finished by midNovember, in time for the new heating system to replace the Chantry's 33 existing storage heaters, providing a "much better environment" for the groups starting to return as the venue reopens following coronavirus restrictions. Thornbury and District Community Association owns and manages the building. Chairman David Derham said: “We are absolutely delighted that the council has been able to award this funding to the Chantry. "The current storage heaters are very old and lack the necessary level of control to provide heat when it is needed. The new heating systems will enable us to provide a much better environment for our user groups
South Gloucestershire cabinet councillor Rachael Hunt, Thornbury and District Community Association chairman David Derham and deputy chair Graham Morris outside the Chantry. and will significantly reduce our operating costs and amount of wasted energy. "We will also be able to comfortably accommodate many more groups in the evenings, when previously the heating was totally unsatisfactory. "This project will be a critical addition to the many other things we have been doing recently to improve the quality of facilities
and business processes at the Chantry.” The new heating system work will complete a programme of improvements carried out at the Chantry over the last two years, which also included new windows last year. Council cabinet member for communities Rachael Hunt said: “We are pleased to secure this funding from nearby developments that will help the Chantry install a more economical heating system and be used to its full potential. "These improvements will mean the venue can cater for additional community uses, as the current poor heating provision means that the building is not suitable for use for a lot of the target groups in the evening in the later autumn/winter month. Once the work is complete, the facility will hopefully attract new course and activity organisers, to increase the capacity of events at the community centre for local residents.” The £59,700 funding handed over by the developers of the Park Farm and Morton Way developments was earmarked to be used as a contribution towards providing extra capacity at one of the town's community centres, under a deal linked to planning permission, known as a Section 106 agreement.
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October, 2020
thornburyvoice
17
n COMMUNITY NEWS
Thornbury Rotary Club helps to eradicate polio in Africa THORNBURY Rotary Club has played its role in a significant global public health achievement, as the World Health Organisation’s Africa region has been certified wild polio-free. Polio is a debilitating disease, mainly affecting children, which can cause paralysis and even death. This incredible milestone is the result of decades of Thornbury Rotary Club's iron lung effort from Rotary clubs display with Paige Warr, Richard and volunteers around the Hiscock and Ben Bradley. world, who have fundraised, campaigned and worked tirelessly since Rotary pledged to rid the world of polio more than 30 years ago. The certification comes four years after the last polio-endemic country in Africa, Nigeria, recorded its final case of wild polio. It means that, of the WHO’s six regions, five of those (accounting for 90% of the world’s population) are free from polio. Globally, more than 2.5 billion children have been protected against the disease, reducing the number by 99.9% from around 1,000 cases per day in 125 countries. Thornbury Rotary Club’s new mantra is "eradication by vaccination” as members promote the End Polio Now campaign using a working replica of an iron lung, the mechanical respirator some victims of the disease were trapped in to keep them alive after suffering paralysis of the muscles needed to breathe. It is mounted on a trailer and furnished with facts, pictures and a video interview with a patient who spent 50 years in an iron lung. The display has so far raised well over £5,000 at various events and is available for loan via the club’s website, www.thornburyrotary.org, or calling 01454 201077. Rotary is hoping to display the iron lung in Thornbury High Street in time for World Polio Day on October 24, and has also organised local initiatives such as crocus planting and fundraising collections. The iron lung has helped Thornbury Rotary Club raise £2,000 and with matching grants, this figure has yielded a total contribution of £12,000 to the cause. Club president Barry Williams said: “This is a terrific landmark in the world’s battle to eradicate polio. Although it has been many years since polio has been present in the UK and Ireland, we are proud to have contributed to the global efforts to eliminate the disease for good." Despite the success in Africa, the job to fully rid the world of polio goes on, as the virus continues to circulate in parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan, and vaccinations programmes must continue worldwide. Barry added: "If we don’t finish the job, it is estimated that, within 10 years, as many as 200,000 children annually all over the world could succumb to polio, including here in the UK. The virus can literally be a plane ride away, so vaccination is so important.” For more information on the Rotary Club of Thornbury visit the club's website, Facebook and Twitter pages. Adrian Dennis
Panto cancelled – but show will go on for drama group IT has certainly been a strange 2020 so far. The year started off really well with our Panto, Finding Buttons, in January, which played to full houses and was enjoyed by everyone who came along to see it. Then we were delighted to be nominated by NODA South West, in the best comedy category, for our June 2019 production of Rumours by Neil Simon. Everything was all going along swimmingly, and we were looking forward to starting rehearsals for our June production when coronavirus hit, changing all our lives dramatically (No pun intended!). Our summer production had to be cancelled, followed shortly by our October charity production. However we now have an exciting and challenging new project in the pipeline. In conjunction with Thornbury Gloss FM, Octopus will be putting on a radio play. Written and directed by Peta Maurice, The C Word is a comedy about lockdown and will, hopefully, be airing sometime in October. Look out for more information on Facebook and Twitter. 2021 will be our 50th anniversary and we are very proud to think that we have been entertaining the people of Thornbury for 50 years. So, it is with a really heavy heart that we have to announce that, due to the pandemic, we will be cancelling our pantomime, Aladdin, for January 2021. We feel it will be impossible to start rehearsals in October, as the situation seems so uncertain. However, Aladdin, written by Alison Bagnall, will be our Pantomime in 2022 and we can promise you that it will be a colourful, up-to-date version, which will be well worth the wait. Meanwhile we look forward to our June production. Written by Tony Domaille, Give Us a Sign is a three-act comedy and we are proud and delighted to be performing Tony’s first full-length play. We hope to see you all in June, when Octopus will once again be entertaining the people of Thornbury and celebrating 50 years of comedy, drama, song and dance. Until then, keep safe and keep smiling. Jenny Dennis
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thornburyvoice
18
October, 2020
n LOCAL MP
Biodiversity in South Gloucestershire PROTECTING and enhancing our local biodiversity is an essential part of ensuring South Gloucestershire remains one of the most beautiful places to live anywhere in the country. We are surrounded by stunning wildlife sites and green spaces, such as the River Frome, Yate Common, Ridge Woods, Cleeve Wood, Ladden Brook, Upper Morton, Sodbury Common and Brimsham Wood. As well as their intrinsic natural beauty, these areas are buzzing with wildlife, like hedgehogs, doves, lizards, water voles, sparrows, toads, cuckoos and a variety of butterflies, birds and insects. As a society we benefit greatly from the biodiversity around us. Food, fibre, wood, water, pollination, nutrient cycling, soil formation, water purification and
flood defences are all possible because of our local biodiversity. These sites also provide opportunities for personal reflection and recreation, such as walking, running or day trips with the family, which many of us benefit from. This local biodiversity is critical for both our well-being and our survival, and we must do all we can to protect and enhance it. I am therefore delighted that we are set to benefit from a more than £11,500 funding boost for protecting biodiversity in our area. This will be used to research and implement further opportunities to enhance the biodiversity of the sections of the River Frome which run through the Goose Green Fields Nature Reserve. This funding comes as part of South Gloucestershire Council’s £8 million investment in protecting our environment where they
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are encouraging people to take steps to reduce their own carbon footprint. In my capacity are our local MP, I have also written to the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, asking for funding to restore our local ash trees. Many have had to be cut down due to ash dieback, a highly infectious disease. It is vital we get these areas replanted as soon as possible. Protecting local green spaces and the environment remains a key part of my Positive Plan for South Gloucestershire, alongside fighting poorly planned housing developments and securing more electric car charging points. Delivering these campaigns are just a few steps we must take, to ensure that we reach the Government’s unwavering commitment to reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Luke Hall MP writes for Thornbury Voice
As someone who has lived locally my whole life, I am dedicated to ensuring South Gloucestershire remains one of the most beautiful places to live in the country. For more information on our local biodiversity visit the biodiversity page on south Gloucestershire Council's website at bit.ly/32SsRhD. As ever, if anyone has any thoughts on protecting our environment or any other issue that they would like to raise, then please do not hesitate to contact me at luke.hall.mp@parliament.uk.
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ABOUT POLICE AND CRIME COMMISSIONERS Police and Crime Commissioners (PCC) are elected to be the voice of local people in policing and to hold the Chief Constable to account PCCs ensure the delivery of an effective and efficient police service while enabling the Chief Constable and police to operate independently The PCC works in partnership with a range of local and national agencies to ensure there is a unified approach to prevent crime, support victims and reduce reoffending
YOUR PCC Until the 2021 elections, PCC Sue Mountstevens will continue to focus on the following key priorities: - Protect the most vulnerable from harm - Strengthen and improve local communities - Ensure the police service has the right people, right culture, right capabilities - Work together effectively with other police forces and key partners to deliver better services to local people
As a result of the coronavirus, there are particular areas under those priorities that the PCC wants to focus on, including: - Overseeing the work of the Violence Reduction Units (VRUs) to tackle serious violence - Oversight of the efficiency of the criminal justice system to ensure victims and witnesses are supported - Supporting local victim services with a particular focus on domestic abuse and sexual violence victims - Engaging with local communities to ensure they are supported during the ongoing health emergency
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October, 2020
thornburyvoice
21
n MOTORING
A guide to pre-owned cars with Richard Cooke
Second-hand Style
Range Rover Velar: One for the enthusiast
S
OME people see their car as no more than a white good, a means to an end. It takes you from A to B and back again. These people buy Hyundais and Kias or, if they have lots of money, Teslas. And that’s fine; it frees up some time in their lives to think about other things. As a motoring enthusiast, I’m not quite sure what that might be though. Soft furnishings? Having no interest in your conveyance also makes it easier to get rid of it when it starts to become unreliable. Your Tesla will, I can assure you. It’s made in America, for crying out loud. I can forgive an unreliable car that I love many times over before getting rid of it. In fact it takes a pretty major failure (like a collapsing gearbox or an engine that drinks more oil than petrol) before I trade in a really beautiful car. And so to the Range Rover Velar. Is there a better looking SUV on the market, new or used? Or in fact ever? I think the Velar ranks as a fabulous looking car, regardless of segment. And yet when I asked the owner of this month’s example his opinion of it (just six months after swapping it for a more expensive Porsche), his response was a worrying
"I’m going to keep it, but…" Oh dear. More in a moment, but first some history. ‘Velar’ was the codename Land Rover gave to the original Range Rover in 1967, and they actually put a Velar badge across the front and back to disguise it during testing. These original cars are now worth high six figures, if they ever come up for sale. The current Velar is more affordable, but certainly not cheap. The chassis is shared with the Jaguar F-Pace, and engines range from a 180hp diesel to a 540hp petrol V8. I drove the mid-range 300hp diesel. All Velars have an 8-speed automatic gearbox. Drink in the looks before you drive it, note the long overhang at the back, which somehow works and gives the car a huge boot. Door handles are flush and pop out of the bodywork on request, which is very cool. Will they one day fail though? Oh crikey, have some faith. Inside it looks and smells expensive. The leather is lovely, and although the roofline is low (aiding the sleek looks) there is plenty of room front and rear.
On the move, and despite massive 21 inch wheels, this car rides beautifully. It is also very easy to place on the road, which I wasn’t expecting. The reduced size over a ‘full’ Range Rover makes parking easier, not really to the detriment of interior space, and I suspect other road users won’t hate you quite so much. How can they when the Velar looks so wonderful? The lane departure system was weird and distracting, and I would turn it off full-time if it were my car. The three litre engine is effortless, the gearbox smooth and performance is mighty thanks, to a colossal 516 lb ft of torque (more than the petrol V8). I wouldn’t bother with either of the 4 cylinder engines (petrol or diesel), as on the used market you don’t pay much more for six cylinders. Their power and refinement suits the car much better. And so to the caveat, which sadly applies in some measure to all Land Rover products: build quality. Range Rovers don’t rust or blow their head gasket like they used to, but they do still have electrical gremlins that Japanese and German rivals don’t. This particular car has suffered from a sat-nav screen that goes wappy, Bluetooth that refuses to recognise your phone (that the car won’t even charge unless you ask very nicely) and a digital radio that would have pushed me to justifiable homicide by now. When you select a different station, it insists on then playing a snippet of all stations in between. Madness! And yet I forgive it everything, because of those looks. Could you?
Range Rover Velar, 2017 – date. What to pay: £40k for a 2018 model, 13k miles
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thornburyvoice
22
October, 2020
n SPORT
Thorns carry on where they left off THE new Uhlsport Hellenic League season got underway for Thornbury Town on September 12 with a trip to Clanfield. Coronavirus restrictions meant an unusual afternoon for everyone but it was good to get back to playing football again – and in front of supporters. Thorns carried on where they left off last season with a clinical 3-0 win. Following two goals from ace marksman Craig Lancastle, a third from Marcus Wormwell sealed the victory. Town then had their first home game for eight months the following Tuesday. A crowd of over 100 witnessed an entertaining 0-0 draw with Hereford Lads Club. The Club’s Covid officer Brian Lansdown, with other members of the committee, had worked tirelessly to meet Government and FA guidelines and the procedures put in place worked well to make the ground as safe
as possible for all supporters. Thorns have been accepted into the FA Vase again this season and started their campaign with a comfortable 3-0 win at Abingdon Town, with Harry Brock (2) and Brandon Benjamin getting the goals. The next round sees Abingdon United visit the Mundys on October 10, with a 3pm kick-off. Town have retained most of last season’s squad and manager Jason Rees has added a number of new recruits to create more competition for places. All at the club are hoping for another successful season. Elsewhere, the Reserves made a great start to their new season, following promotion, with a 5-2 win at Hartcliffe. Harrison Young netted twice, with Matt Constable, Cam Drew and Joe Wisby completing the scoring. They followed this up with a 4-0 win at Olveston United Reserves, with Young
and Constable again on the scoresheet. Ollie Wilson and Tom Clare netted the other two. Meanwhile the Thirds, having been promoted two divisions, are taking a little time to settle into the higher level. They managed a draw against Iron Acton but suffered defeats against AFC Mangotsfield and Oldland Abbotonians, before hammering Lawrence Rovers 5-0. The new Under-18 side get their season under way on September 20 and the Thorns are pleased to welcome their new coach Alastair Foale to the club. Alastair has a Level 2 coaching qualification and the Club are now looking for an assistant to work with him. Town are also looking for a coach to work with their newly formed U11 girls team, and anyone
interested in either of these roles should contact club chairman Pete Webber on 07732 466606. Off the field Thorns have been running a crowdfunder appeal to raise donations to offset the impact that the pandemic has had on club finances. They were hoping to raise £10,000 and at the time of writing were more than three quarters of the way to their target. However they would encourage any supporters, ex-players and anyone with an interest in helping the club to make a donation, no matter how small, in “exchange” for various rewards. For more details visit the club website or crowdfunder. co.uk/thornbury-town-fc-covidrecovery-fundraiser. Malcolm Carr
Rugby fixtures revealed THERE remains uncertainty about when the rugby season will start and what it will look like. But as it stands, Thornbury will begin with a visit from Newent. The fixtures have been changed twice so far, but the concept at the moment is that the league has been split into two conferences for this season only. Thornbury are in the North with Chew Valley, Keynsham, Lydney, Newent, Old Patesians and Stroud. These clubs will play each other home and away in the initial part of the season. The next stage of the season is unclear. It is probable that it will either feature matches between clubs in the conferences on a home or away basis, but depending on when the league starts, it could be that the winners of both conferences with play a single game to decide who has won the league. It is also probable that the league season will extend until the end of May. As it stands now the fixtures are: November 7: Newent (H) November 14: Old Patesians (A) November 21: Stroud (H) December 5: Chew Valley (A) December 12: Keynsham (A) December 19: Lydney (H) January 2, 2021: Newent (A) January 9: Old Patesians (H) January 16: Stroud (A) January 30: Chew Valley (H) February 6: Keynsham (H) February 13: Lydney (A) Only time – and virus restrictions – will tell whether these fixtures will be played on the published dates. Dave Fox
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thornburyvoice
October, 2020
n NEWS
THORNBURY Library is now welcoming back browsers for the first time since lockdown. Libraries across South Gloucestershire have been providing click and collect and bookable IT services, in addition to delivering books to vulnerable adults, but now people can walk in again during opening times. The library is now open from 10am-4pm on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, and 9.30am-12.30pm on Saturdays. Things may look a little bit
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Thornbury Library welcomes back browsers different, with the number of people using a library at one time limited and face coverings needing to be worn. People will need to bring their library cards with them to use the self-service machines as all borrowing will be self-service. People can also order up to six items, chosen by staff, using click and collect, and can also use the library's computers and photocopiers. To guarantee use
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of a computer or wifi hotspot it is recommended to book in advance by calling 01454 865022 on weekdays between 10am and 4pm or Saturdays from 9.30am until noon. Find more information visit www.southglos.gov.uk/ librarychanges online. Council cabinet member for communities Rachael Hunt said: “I am delighted that our libraries are now able to welcome
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customers to browse and borrow again after what has been an extremely tough few months for everyone. “We have carefully planned the re-opening and have taken into account the safety of both the public and our staff, and It’s fantastic news that we can invite members of the public to drop-in and explore their local library once again.”
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