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1 The Week in East Bristol & North East Somerset FREE Issue no rd July 2015 Read by over 30,000 people every week In this week s issue... Another big shake up on the buses... pages 4 & 5 New links to Southmead but service cuts elsewhere Parents rally behind Warmley pre-school... page 9 Ofsted inspectors issue enforcement notice Frenchay and Cossham delays slated... page 22 Public health minister 'exasperated'

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3 Libraries saved but opening hours look set to be cut Seven Bristol libraries - including Wick Road in Brislington - which have been facing closure are now expected to remain open after pressure from campaigners. New proposals include keeping open 27 libraries with reduced opening hours and a reduced savings target of approximately 465,000, recognising that the council will need to make alternative savings of 635,000 from elsewhere, with consequent impacts on other services. A minimum of 20 hours per week at each library has been proposed. A spokesman for the Save Wick Road Library campaign greeted Friday's announcement cautiously, saying a reduced service was better than no service but there were concerns about cuts to staffing and opening hours. A quiet 'hurrah' is the order of the day rather than outright jubilation. I do think it reflects well on the community of Greater Brislington that it came together to make its voice heard. Bristol East MP Kerry McCarthy said it was great news and congratulated the campaigners. Mayor George Ferguson said: I have paid close attention to Hanham Horses and arena are approved Retrospective planning permission to change the use of land at Abbots Road from agriculture to the keeping of horses was granted last week by South Gloucestershire councillors. They also approved plans for a manège on the site which is near the ring road. Concerns had been raised by Hanham Abbots Parish Council about overdevelopment in the Green Belt and that the access is on a bend but there were no objections from South Glos highways officers and it was felt that any harm to the openness of the Green Belt site would be negligible. Wick Road library everything that has happened during the consultation process, fully understand the strong attachment people have to their local library and believe these new proposals reflect much of what we've heard. Cabinet asked officers to prepare alternative proposals which reflect the consultation findings, recognising that these would result in a reduction in our savings target if adopted. It will be our job at Cabinet to look at how we make a decision which finds the balance between the major budget pressures and the strong attachment we all have to our library service. There has been a great deal of passion shown for local libraries, with communities coming together to make strong, valid and heartfelt representations. I am pleased that viable alternatives have been set out for consideration by the Cabinet to potential closures, and will consider all options carefully before I make the final decision on 1st September. The Week in Thursday 23rd July

4 Major changes The Week in A major redesign of bus services in east Bristol and South Gloucestershire has been announced. The shake-up - the second this year - comes after consultation with residents and starts on Sunday 23rd August. The changes affect services including the 42, 43, 44 and 45, the 17 and 17A and the X18. First says the changes will create new bus links between hospitals, schools as well as where people live and work. They are so major that First says it will be holding a roadshow closer to the change date and will produce maps that will be put up in key areas and on bus stops. We have worked hard with local residents to ensure that the bus services are working for the communities we serve, said Jenny MacLeod, general manager for Bristol. We have increased the amount of time we give many buses to complete their routes to try to iron out those routes that are suffering punctuality issues. Areas in Cadbury Heath, North Common and Willsbridge will benefit from a new direct link to Southmead Hospital (17A). North Common residents will also benefit as the 43 (City Centre to Bitton) will serve them every 20 minutes from Monday to Saturday. First says the changes to the 42 (City Centre - Bitton) via Kingswood and Cadbury Heath) are reflective of several meetings and public consultation with residents who were concerned by regular double-decker vehicles travelling on residential streets in the vicinity of Cherry Garden School. Barrs Court, Bitton, Brislington, Cadbury Heath, Compton Dando, Corston, Downend, Emersons Green, Fishponds, Hanham, Hillfields, Keynsham, Kingswood, Longwell Green, Mangotsfield, Marksbury, North Common, Oldland Common, Pucklechurch, Saltford, Staple Hill, Stockwood, St George, Warmley, Whitchurch, Wick, Willsbridge. 15,000 copies are distributed through retail outlets, libraries, pubs, community centres each week. Verified pick-up rate of 97%. Publisher Keynsham & Saltford Times Ltd, 8 Temple Court, Keynsham. BS31 1HA ISSN: Managing Editor Stephen Rodgers [email protected] Editorial Becky Feather Christine Rogers Advertising Jodie Deason and Tracy Broderick No material in this publication, nor its associated website ( may be reproduced without the written permission of Keynsham & Saltford Times Ltd. All rights reserved. 4 The Week in Thursday 23rd July 2015

5 to bus services To accommodate these changes the 17A will operate a modified route from Cock Road in Kingswood. It will go via Wraxall Road, Tower Road South, Mill Lane, Millers Drive, High Street, North Street, Cherry Garden Lane, Kenilworth Drive and Bath Road, where it will join its current route. This change mirrors the current 42 route which after 23rd August will no longer serve Keynsham. The 17A route between Southmead Hospital and Fishponds will remain the same but from Fishponds it will go via Forest Road, Briar Way and Hillfields Avenue where it will re-join the current route. This change will accommodate the withdrawal of the 83 ((Kingswood - Thornbury). The 17 (Southmead Hospital - Keynsham) will additionally serve Hanham Common. And the route of the X18 will also change, creating new links for areas between Kingswood, New Cheltenham & Lyde Green and Parkway Station and Southmead Hospital. The 43 will no longer serve Cadbury Heath, which will be served by the 42, 44 and 45. The 44 will no longer link Kingswood and Hanham which instead will be linked by the 17. From Hanham the 44 will operate via Stonehill, Marsham Way, Craven Way (past Asda), Wraxall Road and Newton Road where it will terminate. The route of the 45 between the City Centre and Cadbury Heath (Newton Road shops) remains unchanged but it will then terminate and no longer serve Wraxall Road, Craven Way and Longwell Green Aspects Leisure Park due to very low customer demand. The timetables of Service 6 (City Centre - Kingswood) and 7 (City Centre - Staple Hill/Mangotsfield) have been significantly altered. More time will be given for buses to complete the route. The 48, 49 and new service 48A (City Centre to UWE) will create a five-minute frequency between the City Centre and Fishponds. Night journeys on the 48 will be extended to serve the full route to Emersons Green. Alongside the new night journeys on the 49, customers between the City Centre and Fishponds will benefit from a 30-minute service throughout the night. Due to the popularity of the X48, First has put an extra journey departing Lyde Green at 7.15am. On Sundays and public holidays the 38 (Bristol Bus Station - Bath (via Keynsham) will operate every two hours, which means there will be two less buses in each direction. The new timetables for the whole of the Bristol area will be uploaded to First's website from early August and will be available in hard copy format from mid-august. The Week in Thursday 23rd July

6 Discover animal magic Look out for more than 20 colourful animals dotted around the area this summer. They have been made by children and staff at the Park Primary School and before they broke up last week the colourful sculptures were placed in local shops and business in the community to form part of a summer Animal Quest trail. Most are in the Kingswood and Longwell Green area but there is also one at Avon Valley Adventure & Wildlife Park in Keynsham and at the Tae Kwon Do Academy in Redfield (see full list). Each animal represents the learning qualities from classes - resilient tortoise, wise owl, clever spider, curious cat, imaginative dragon, co-operative bee and adaptable chameleon. People are urged not to touch the animals as they are very fragile. You can go to the school's website at and download an Animal Quest activity pack to guide you. Where to find them Bumble the Bee - Kingswood Post Office Daisy Bee - Grimsbury Farm, Kingswood Busy Bee Hive - Redfield Tae Kwon Do Academy Tilly the Tortoise - Kingswood Civic Centre Timmy the Tortoise - Sainsbury's, Warmley Hill Sparkle the Tortoise - Co-op, Kingswood Jeff the Spider - Grimsbury Farm, Kingswood Peter the Spider - Currys/PC World, Longwell Green Cedric the Spider - B&Q, Longwell Green Theodore the Owl - WH Smith, Kings Chase Precinct Patrick the Owl - Holy Trinity Church, Kingswood Moonlight the Owl - Costa Coffee, Longwell Green Professor Flappy the Owl - Longwell Green Leisure Centre Blossom the Cat - Avon Valley Adventure & Wildlife Park, Keynsham Oodles of Doodles the Cat - Jollyes Petfood Superstore, Longwell Green Marble the Cat - Lloyds Bank, Kingswood Cooper the Chameleon - Barcan and Kirby Solicitors, Kingswood Casper the Chameleon - Sainsbury's, Kings Chase Precinct, Kingswood Kevin the Chameleon - Kingswood Library Astrid the Dragon - PDSA, Kingswood Alexis the Dragon - Vue cinema, Longwell Green The Park School Cat - Sue Ryder shop, Kingswood 6 The Week in Thursday 23rd July 2015

7 Longwell Green Work will start soon on 11m scheme The housing association which was granted permission over three years ago to build 70 affordable homes on farmland in Longwell Green says it is optimistic that building work will start soon on the 11m scheme. Sovereign Housing Association, which acquired Mount Pleasant Farm in 2010, got permission in January 2012 for 70 homes - 19 of them general needs rent, four shared ownership and 47 for open market sale. The permission followed extensive negotiations with South Gloucestershire Council and some local opposition, with critics saying the scheme would obstruct views of Hanham Hills. Planning permission expires if work is not started within three years of being granted. This week a council spokesman said that all the planning conditions had been signed off and some work took place on the site last December: This commencement of works stopped the planning permission from expiring. A spokesperson for Sovereign told us: We are currently considering options with development partners and are optimistic for a start-on-site in the not too distant future. Oldland Common Charity concert The Unity Brass Band will be playing in aid of the people of Nepal at a fundraising event on Saturday 8th August. Visitors are welcome to make a minimum 1 donation to hear the band play a hymn of their choice, with all money raised being donated to the Nepal Relief Fund. Coffee, cake and bacon rolls will also be on sale at the event, which will be between 10am and noon at Unity Oldland Methodist Church, West Street. The Week in Thursday 23rd July

8 Every picture tells a story Some pictures don't really need captions. Suffice to say that these was taken in Sherwood Road, Keynsham on Monday 20th July. Our thanks to Sid Rendell. 8 The Week in Thursday 23rd July 2015

9 Warmley Parents back pre-school after damning Ofsted report An Ofsted report on Warmley Pre-School has listed serious concerns and it has been served with an enforcement notice. In the report, published last week, inspector Julie Swann said children's well-being and safety were significantly compromised. But Ange Maddocks, the leader of the pre-school, which meets in Warmley Community Centre and has 32 children on its books, this week said she had been overwhelmed by support from parents. Ofsted said that although Mrs Maddocks, the designated person for safeguarding children, had appropriate training, no other staff member had up-to-date training and knowledge of safeguarding issues to enable them to notify concerns or identify signs and symptoms of possible abuse and neglect. The report outlined how managers and staff did not effectively assess risks - for example, lit candles used for celebrations were a hazard to children as they were not closely supervised. The inspector said youngsters tried to wash their hands in dirty water and all used the same towel that had previously been on the floor and stood on. Behaviour was said to be poor, with children regularly having disagreements and hitting each other, with a lack of support in helping them to resolve conflict. Teaching was said to be inadequate. The inspector said interaction with children was at times poor so children didn't develop the skills they needed to go on to the next stage of their learning. On the plus side, Ofsted said managers and staff provided a broad range of interesting resources for children. And the inspector noted the positive comments parents made about their children's care. This week Mrs Maddocks, who has been leader for three years, said the Ofsted report had left her gutted and that there had been exceptional circumstances on the day Ofsted visited. She said her deputy had been on holiday and the stand-in deputy had phoned in sick that day, while the other members of staff were new and hadn't even completed four weeks on the job when Ofsted came in. The welfare requirements notice was issued on 1st July and the pre-school was given until 24th July to ensure actions were completed. Mrs Maddocks said that after the initial shock they had all regained their fighting spirit and the necessary training for staff had been sorted out within four days of the inspection and the pre-school was expecting Ofsted to return at the beginning of the new school year in September to carry out another inspection. She said she was confident that when another full report by the education watchdog is carried out in six months' time, the preschool would regain the good rating it was awarded in Mrs Maddocks said: I have been overwhelmed by support from parents. She said they were happy with the pre-school and the care and education their children receive. She added: Parents were very keen to comment to Ofsted regarding the report and we are collating evidence for when they return. Sudoku 1-Easy Hard CHEMISTS WEEKEND OPENING Sunday 26th July Boots, Gallagher Retail Park, Longwell Green (10.30am-4pm) Asda Store Longwell Green (10am-4pm) Boots, Emersons Green Retail Park (10.30am-4pm) Sainsburys, Emersons Green (11am-4pm) Co-operative Pharmacy, Halls Road, Kingswood (10am-4pm) Stockwood Pharmacy 78 Hollway Road, BS14 8PG (9am-7pm) The Week in Thursday 23rd July

10 Letters A tribute to Michael Dear Sir, It was with much sadness that I read, a while ago, of the passing of Michael Fitter. Michael was a lovely man, a real gentleman. I so admire his dedication and hard work in the pursuit of all things historical to do with Keynsham. He spent hours and hours talking to older Keynsham generations, gleaning as much as he could of their lives and pursuits while living in bygone Keynsham and he committed their memories to paper. His books, Keynsham in Grandfather's Day and The War Over Keynsham are a wealth of such memories and reading randomly through them, it's a delight to suddenly come across a paragraph or two by someone one remembers, and more so, of a family member, now passed on. He also had a serious interest in historical evidence of Keynsham Abbey and produced a wonderful book on this too. There are two other books about Keynsham's ancient buildings and a further book on Durley House. His contribution to all things Keynsham are a delight to read. All of his books are in Keynsham Library. Most of all, Michael was a delight to talk to. He will be sadly missed. C Harding Access issue Dear Sir, As a comparative newcomer to the area I am surprised by the difficulties faced by pedestrians in Keynsham town centre. The complicated road layout by the library is difficult to cross on foot. Surely this is the very place where many will wish to access the library and B&NES' information point? We should be trying to create a nation of walkers; people who choose to walk when their journey covers a short distance not only help their health but also lessen the problems of traffic congestion. The more we get out and walk, the more footfall we will generate in our local towns and cities. And let's not forget the advantages of ample pedestrian crossings and town centre 20mph speed limits. John Norfolk Stockwood Good response Dear Stephen, Thanks so much for printing the letter about the Keynsham & District Talking Newspaper in The Week In. We've already had several comments and calls. Catherine Dhanjal Pole finally removed Dear Sir, A link with the past disappeared from a Keynsham street last week. A telegraph pole installed in 1954 but no longer used was finally removed by a BT team on Wednesday 15th July. Local residents had asked in March if BT and B&NES could take it away. The pole had been installed 60 years ago to provide over-head connections to the telephone system for houses and shops in Bath Hill. New underground lines were provided probably when Back Lane was redeveloped some 15 years ago. Since then the pole had served no useful purpose. BT had overlooked the redundant post but removed it when local residents drew it to their attention. The operation last Wednesday took about 15 minutes and was done while Bath Hill was closed for road resurfacing works. Phil Hewett All in it together? Dear Sir, What an interesting fortnight we have had. Last week Barclays Bank sacked its chief executive with a 2m pay-off and an annual pension of 363,000. The same week George Osborne announced billions of pounds of cuts in benefit. This week we hear that MPs are to receive a 10 per cent pay rise. Thank goodness we're all in it together. Adrian West, Cadbury Heath Write to us The Week In is independent of any political or commercial interest. We aim to produce a balanced and accurate view of local news and welcome comments from our readers. Normally, we will publish letters in full but reserve the right to shorten or clarify the contents or to refuse publication. Please try to keep letters under 300 words and supply your full name and address for reasons of authentication. Only the name and district where you live will be reproduced. Anonymity is possible under certain circumstances. Copy can be sent by post or, preferably, and should arrive at our offices no later than 5.30pm on the Monday of each week. to:[email protected] 10 The Week in Thursday 23rd July 2015

11 Letters Security concerns Dear Sir, Last weekend workers at the Taylor Wimpey site left the perimeter fence unsecured at the rear of existing properties on Chandos Road for the third time since works began. This instance was particularly of concern as the workers removed an existing safety fence, then did not replace it before leaving the site. In addition the gap in question is close to children's play equipment and my children can access the site easily from our back garden. I was particularly disappointed that when I initially reported this to the sales office at lunchtime on Saturday the staff felt a response on Monday would be acceptable but I insisted on a prompt response. As local residents we already have had to put up with the noise, dust and foul language from the site and dangerous closures of footpaths at the top of Chandos Road. Come on Taylor Wimpey - you need to do better. Samantha Bell Keynsham Breaking the litter cycle Dear Sir, Cllr Michael Bell suggests in his letter, that the majority of litter he refers to is caused by people discarding it. Cllr Bell needs to put himself out a bit to see where the majority comes from. So far as I'm concerned, the problem emanates from the council's own recycling programme where they have provided households with containers which are nothing more than glorified shopping bags in which to hold large quantities of plastics, metal, cardboard and other recyclables. On any collection day it is quite common to see these containers blown along streets with the contents spilling out. Couple this with the fact that it is not unusual for collectors to walk over spilled items (not my job, mate) and the fact that the streets are not cleaned, then it's no wonder that Kingswood looks like a tip. You really can't blame the manufacturers of these items for the careless, inconsiderate actions of users! Sadly, there are too many residents who don't give a stuff about what goes on outside their own doors, so the council needs to provide better facilities for securely containing recyclables. That'll help. Then if we get the streets swept and maintained, that just might help to break the litter cycle. Stuart Lockwood Kingswood We shouldn't forget the past Dear Sir, Tim Hedges is surprised at a mosaic in Keynsham Park - one which he describes as depicting four dead people being hung. I wonder if Mr Hedges really thinks that four dead people were hung out to dry or if he actually means that the mosaic shows four people being hanged. The latter is in fact the true depiction, and the four are four of the eight Keynsham men hanged by Judge Jeffreys for their part in the Monmouth Rebellion in the late 17th century. The illustration is graphical, rather than graphic, and shows nothing that today's children would be unfamiliar with from the likes of their school history text books. Since the park is actually the Memorial Park, the mosaic is possibly most fitting, rather than being in any way inappropriate. After all, very many municipal parks around the country host memorials to those of the community who died in wars far more pointless than the Monmouth Rebellion. Perhaps the major issue here that should be addressed is that many viewers of the mosaic have no idea what it is about. Mr Hedges suggests we might be best forgetting the past. I do hope he isn't actually serious about this. I believe there was a leaflet at one time explaining the background to all the mosaics. We can start with the names of the eight Keynsham heroes (or otherwise) who gave their lives on the occasion in question - John Winter, Andrew Rownsden, Thomas Howell, George Badel, Charles Chapman, Richard Evens, Lewis Harris and Edward Haswell. Bob Barley Charlton Road Keynsham Slow down! Dear Sir, We have had a 20mph speed limit on Saltford High Street for some years and a 30mph on the A4 even longer. Everybody knows this but, unlike the A4 which is now monitored (the speed camera) the majority will ignore the limits. I lived on Saltford Hill for a number of years and helped crash victims and called ambulances and police a number of times. Why excess speed? All of you who moan you got caught, think again of your families. A concerned villager The Week in Thursday 23rd July

12 Kingswood Campaign to save the pub tops 300 signatures More than 300 people have so far signed a petition to save the historic Tennis Court Inn from being bulldozed. Kingswood MP Chris Skidmore and local residents are campaigning to save the locally listed pub on Deanery Road from demolition by developers who want to build 14 flats. Mr Skidmore has written to South Gloucestershire Council opposing the planning application, saying the pub has a significant place in the local community dating back hundreds of years, including being used by the Cock Road Gang. He said: I hope that the council will recognise the strength of local feeling, and throw out this application that would destroy forever one of Kingswood's historic buildings. The MP is also looking at how the pub can be registered as an asset of community value by setting up a community interest group to protect it. Other concerns that have been lodged with the council concern access and the potential for conflict between residents of the proposed flats and Kingswood RFC who play on Grimsbury Road playing fields behind the pub as the clubhouse is so close. A council conservation officer is also critical of the flats scheme, branding the proposed design as clumsy and uninteresting and saying the pub makes a significant and positive contribution to the area. The petition has been placed in the pub, which is currently trading, and in shops on nearby Hill Street, and leaflets have been delivered in the local area. It can also be signed at Crossword ACROSS 7 Herb (6) 8 A broad street (6) 9 Mechanical measuring device (4) 10 Fearful (8) 11 An epic journey (7) 13 Indistinctly (5) 15 Abandon (5) 17 Twitchy (7) 20 Japanese martial art (8) 21 A hard lump of skin (4) 22 Man's name (6) 23 Affect (6) Down 1 Someone who announces big news (6) 2 Before (4) 3 To compliment (7) 4 Hindu principle of retributive justice (5) 5 Desire (8) 6 Reciprocal (6) 12 Capital of Bosnia & Herzegovina (8) 14 Tiny detail (7) 16 Headgear for a horse (6) 18 Three times (6) 19 Commence (5) 21 Cried (4) Across 12 The Week in Thursday 23rd July Herb (6) 1 Down Someone who announces big news (6)

13 New car park opens A new overflow car park for Keynsham railway station opened on Monday. Taylor Wimpey, which is developing the nearby Somerdale site, unveiled the new extended parking facilities. The old car park, which had been closed since January, has undergone a major transformation, with about 70 extra spaces created, increasing capacity to 100. Adrian Slade, project director at Somerdale, said: The decision to extend the Keynsham railway station overflow car park was made following a community engagement event a couple of years ago, prior to the planning application for Somerdale, when some members of the local community raised concerns about parking outside their homes. They were beginning to get fed up when they came home and were unable to park outside their properties, which was due to railway station users having to park their cars on the surrounding roads. In order to resolve these matters, we've extended and formalised existing facilities to create an overflow car park which users of the railway station can use free of charge to reduce congestion on the surrounding roads and improve access for local residents. The Week in Thursday 23rd July

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15 Keynsham Ofsted calls for improvements at primary school Castle Primary School has been rated by Ofsted as in need of improvement. The previous inspection in 2010 considered the school to be good, a rating which has been maintained in the areas of leadership and management and early years provision this year. However, quality of teaching, behaviour and safety of pupils and their achievement have all been marked as requiring improvement. The inspectors said pupils had made inconsistent progress because the quality of teaching has been too variable and teachers don't always make sure the work they give to pupils is challenging enough. Some pupils were noticed by the inspectors for their lack of pride in their work and poor ability to concentrate. The published report did, however, comment that "leaders and managers, including governors, have an accurate understanding of what is going well and what needs to get better. The 286-pupil school at Newlands Road was also praised for its fun methods of teaching and the genuine care for pupils provided by their teachers, preparing them well for the future. The school said it was responding positively to the challenges set out by Ofsted in its recent report and this was a feature highlighted by the inspectors. The inspectors comment positively on the quality of leadership, managers and governors and the report confirms that their actions have resulted in steady improvements to the quality of teaching and the progress that pupils make. These qualities will serve the school well over the coming period where we fully expect this positive progress to continue. We are also pleased that the report highlighted the good quality of our early years provision and the important role this has for our children to make rapid progress. The Ofsted report correctly highlights the work that has taken place in making learning interesting for pupils and we are pleased that they recognised that our teachers make learning fun. We now have a clear vision of the work that we need to do, much of which has already begun. We will be working closely with parents, carers, pupils, governors and stakeholders so that the whole school community is involved in our continued improvement. Ellie Foster The Week in Thursday 23rd July

16 Situations Vacant Vacancy to fill? Advertising in The Week In is an effective and low cost option. Call Tracy or Jodie on Deadline for Situations Vacant advert bookings is 4.00pm on the FRIDAY preceding publication. 16 The Week in Thursday 23rd July 2015

17 Upgrade to business class Whether you need virtual or actual office space, business support or a place to hold meetings, New World Business Centre in Warmley has the solution. If you find working from home a bit lonely at times and would like other people around you for company and to share business ideas, you might like to consider hot desking ( 5 per hour or 25 a day) where a number of independent workers use a work area during different time periods. All you need to do is to bring along your laptop and mobile. Other benefits include reduced commuting and parking costs, the chance to mix and network with other professionals and faster broadband connections than at home. Virtual offices are used by people and companies who need to present themselves from a high quality business location but don't need to physically work from that location. Who answers your phone when you are on another call or in a meeting? 80% of people don't leave messages so that means lost business. A virtual office package allows you to enjoy the benefits of a full-time personal assistant and receptionist at a fraction of the cost. Should you be a small company wanting to establish itself in a competitive environment, or an experienced business looking to expand, New World Business Centre can offer you a serviced office space that is second to none, providing you with just one desk or several. Caroline Bendall and Sarah Parrott at New World Business Centre The centre also offers rooms where you can meet clients and even hold a conference, providing the professional image you want your business to reflect. And you have the flexibility to adapt your requirements as your business needs change, perhaps starting with a virtual office, expanding to a shared office and then on to your own dedicated space. Find out more at or [email protected] The Week in Thursday 23rd July

18 Keynsham Mourners asked to wear bright colours to Kirsty's funeral The funeral of Kirsty Bridges, the young Keynsham mum who died suddenly last month, will take place on Tuesday 28th July at Haycombe in Bath. The funeral will be in the top chapel at 11am and afterwards there will be a wake at the Talbot pub in Keynsham. Kirsty, of Orchid Drive, was 21 weeks' pregnant with a baby boy whom she and her fiancé Ashley Dimery-Seek had named Benji. A post mortem has taken place but the cause of death has still to be ascertained. The 29-year-old leaves two daughters, six-year-old Chloe and three-year-old Lacey. Her friend Rachel Hopes, who started a JustGiving page to pay for Kirsty's funeral, says people are asked to wear bright colours on Tuesday but also have something on them that is electric blue as it was Kirsty's favourite colour. The flowers will be from family only but a donation can be sent to Bryan Bishop Funeral Directors in Farrington Road, Paulton, which will go to an appropriate cause once tests have established the cause of death. Keynsham Singing the blues With preparations almost complete for the opening of the new Somerdale Pavilion next month, regulars at the old Fry Club are getting ready for the change. And one long-standing group is planning to go out with a bang. A Singing the Blues Night for Fry Club Rock 'n' Roll will take place on Friday 31st July. After 20 years of holding rock 'n' roll nights in the Carter Room, they are hoping as many friends, old and new, as possible will turn out to give them a big send-off before moving across to the new pavilion. As the name suggests, the theme of the evening is songs with blue in the title and music from the mid-50s to mid-60s will be complemented by video clips. Guests are encouraged to wear something blue. Tickets for the party are just 5. Contact Dave on or Ray on Libraries free up computer access for customers Charges to use public access computers in Libraries across Bath and North East Somerset have been removed. Sessions of up to two hours per day to use library PCs can be booked in advance, with further sessions bookable depending on availability on the day. Printing charges of 10p for black & white sheets and 50p colour per page will remain. In addition to free PC access in all libraries, free Wi-Fi is also available in Keynsham, Midsomer Norton, Paulton, Weston and Bath libraries. IT volunteers are available Monday to Friday from around 11am to 5pm in Bath Central Library. 18 The Week in Thursday 23rd July 2015

19 St George Hampton Court Palace show garden uprooted and brought to St George Saturday saw community groups in and around St George inviting people along to see the work they do. It was a chance for visitors to see the new garden in front of Kensington House, the hostel for the homeless managed by St Mungo's in Kensington Road. Earlier this year Grenville Johnson, chairman of the Kensington Road Residents' Association, who also chairs St George in Bloom, successfully entered a competition run by the Royal Horticultural Society in which community groups were invited to identify a space that needed to be regenerated. The hostel frontage was chosen and the project was shown at the recent Hampton Court Palace Flower Show before elements from the garden with plants were donated to the residents' association afterwards. The garden is designed to attract pollinators and there on Saturday to talk about the Get Bristol Buzzing project was Dr Katherine Baldock, from the Insect Pollinators Initiative at the University of Bristol. Other groups taking part in the open day were the East Bristol Allotments' Association, the Friends of St George Park, the Friends of Troopers Hill and Meadowvale Community Centre in Speedwell. Dr Katherine Baldock Wick walk The next guided footpaths walk jointly organised by Bitton and Hanham Abbots parish councils is on Sunday 23rd August. People are invited to meet at Wick Village Hall, Manor Road, in time to set off at 2.30pm for a walk that will take in Coldharbour Farm, Grandmother's Rock, Beach and the Monarch's Way. The walks are led by Clive Brett and are open to everyone although under-16s should be accompanied by an adult. If you bring a dog, you must keep it on a lead where appropriate. For more information contact Clive on The Week in Thursday 23rd July

20 PROPERTY NEWS Why local property prices have risen so fast The internet is partly to blame for the dramatic rise in property prices in our area according to one local estate agent. Peter Williams, from Your Move in Keynsham, says people are not putting their houses on the market or give up looking at what else may be available to them to move to if an initial internet search fails to provide results. He believes that home owners sitting back and waiting is impacting on the number of properties coming to the market and one of the reasons why property prices in the Bristol area rose by 4.9% in just the last 12 months. If someone doesn't put their property up for sale, no one will consider it to buy, and equally that seller will not know what is available for them to move on to - the same goes on up the property chain. The result is that many people are unable to find a property and can lead to higher demand and higher prices, he told us. "The fact is that more than 90% of those looking to buy a property search for one online and, if there aren't any available in the area that meet their requirements or buyers can't see Keynsham has much higher percentages of over 40 and over them, movement will begin to stall. 65-year-olds than the rest of the country and with projects such Mr Williams who has over 25 years' experience, is urging as the forthcoming St Monica Trust retirement village at people making plans for the future to arrange a free valuation Somerdale, now may be a good time to start making plans by and look for advice from people who know the local market. having a realistic valuation of your current property. 20 The Week in Thursday 23rd July 2015

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22 Minister 'exasperated' over Frenchay and Cossham delays The public health minister has spoken in Parliament of her "exasperation" over ongoing delays to the opening of Frenchay Community Hospital and minor injuries provision in the Kingswood area. Jane Ellison was speaking during a debate at Westminster Hall last Tuesday during which she voiced concern that the promised hospital may not be open for another four years. The ongoing wait for a minor injuries unit at Cossham Hospital was also raised during the debate about the future of health provision in South Gloucestershire called by Jack Lopresti, the Conservative MP for Filton & Bradley Stoke. Frenchay Hospital closed over a year ago when the new 430m superhospital at Southmead opened and there was a commitment that Frenchay would reopen in 2016 as a community hospital. However, that date is now mooted for August 2018 at the earliest and more probably November Mr Lopresti said: Is it any wonder that a large number of my constituents feel bitter and that many are extremely sceptical that there will ever be a community hospital at Frenchay? He said more than ever, there was a case for a community hospital with a large local population expansion over the next 10 years and that the Save Frenchay Community Hospital group had recently published a report highlighting that Southmead was currently unable to achieve performance targets due to a lack of intermediate care beds in the community. I ask the minister to insist that the Clinical Commissioning Group publishes its definitive plans for the Frenchay site. If the 68 beds are no longer required, I should like the CCG to explain how the gap in provision of intermediate care beds for patients discharged from Southmead hospital will be filled. I am writing to ask South Gloucestershire Council's health scrutiny committee to ask the Secretary of State to refer the matter back to the Independent Reconfiguration Panel. The IRP has previously been scathing about the way that local healthcare providers have handled the community hospital issue. Meanwhile Kingswood MP Chris Skidmore spoke about the delayed minor injuries unit. He said: People pay their taxes and it was part of the deal, which has been signed and sealed but not delivered. The CCG has not come up with any alternative provision." Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt recently ruled that the CCG was right to be considering an alternative to an MIU at Cossham, which had been agreed back in 2009, since when evidence has shown that MIUs have not reduced the pressure on A&E departments. 22 The Week in Thursday 23rd July 2015

23 Keynsham Dismay as community floral display is destroyed More than 200 knitted flowers put up on the bridge near Keynsham Memorial Park as part of the town's entry into the South West in Bloom competition disappeared over the weekend. To widespread dismay, more than half of the Art in the Landscape display was ripped off the railings by someone. Some of the large planters in the town centre have also been tipped up. It is not known if the incidents are linked. A Keynsham Town Council spokeswoman said: A lot of people from the community of Keynsham, many of them elderly, spent time and effort knitting many beautiful flowers for the display on the railings. She said South West in Bloom judges had already visited but the town is also entering a Pride in Parks competition, with judges due to visit at the end of July. The police have been notified. Anyone with information is asked to contact the town council office on or the police on 101. The railings before and after the theft The Week in Thursday 23rd July

24 Keynsham Heart charity screens over 200 young people A cardiac screening weekend held at Wellsway School in memory of former pupil Jack Boulton tested over 200 young people. Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) held ECG screening clinics over the weekend of 4th and 5th July, screening 104 people on the Saturday and a further 111 on the Sunday. Jack, who was 17, collapsed and died while playing football in his home village of Saltford in 2009 from a previously undiagnosed heart condition. Since his sudden death, his family has received huge support from the local community who have become involved with fundraising events, including a bike ride from Land's End to John O'Groats. The money raised funds screening appointments. An ECG (electrocardiogram) test is a simple way to identify abnormalities. Such tests could save the lives of the 12 apparently fit and healthy young people who die each week in the UK from undiagnosed heart conditions. In 80% of cases, there are no signs or a symptom, which is why cardiac screening is so important. In Italy, where screening is mandatory for all young people engaged in organised sport, the incidence of young sudden cardiac death has been reduced by 90%. Peter Lewis, CRY screening event manager), and his team Summer holiday playscheme Bitton Parish Council is again organising a free weekday playscheme at Cherry Garden Primary School during the school summer holidays. All children between the ages of five and 11 are welcome to attend. It will be held from 27th - 31st July, 3rd to 7th August and 10th to 14th August. Each session will run from 10am to noon. Find out more on the parish council website or [email protected] 24 The Week in Thursday 23rd July 2015

25 B&NES Appeal for volunteers from new charity service Local charity Developing Health & Independence is looking for caring, community-minded volunteers as it launches My Script, an innovative new support service for patients at GP surgeries across Bath and North East Somerset. My Script is a social prescribing service that is helping people address the wide range of practical, social, or emotional issues that may have affected their health or wellbeing. This could include debt, loneliness, housing, ageing, family, depression, or any other concerns that GPs simply aren't equipped to explore in their short consultations. Francesca Greaves, My Script team leader, said: We're hoping to build a team of caring, compassionate, community-minded volunteers who are willing to give just a few hours a week to provide encouragement and practical support to help local people rebuild their lives. The team of trained staff and local volunteers help and encourage patients to take control of their situation; identifying specialist services, supportive groups, fun classes and other local opportunities that could change their lives for the better. The new Bath and North East Somerset-wide My Script service has been commissioned by the local Clinical Commissioning Group to build on the success of the Keynsham-based social prescribing service New Routes, run by the Care Forum, which ended last year. Claire Sean, My Script volunteer and a mother-of-three living in Keynsham, said: I joined the volunteer team because I wanted to use my life skills and personal experiences to help support others. It's been so rewarding knowing that I have made a difference to someone's life. My Script is currently looking to find volunteers in Keynsham. If you would like to get involved contact [email protected] Remembering Ben, a year after flight tragedy Last week marked the first anniversary of the Malaysia Airlines flight in eastern Ukraine which killed 298 people including Keynsham student Ben Pocock. Families are still waiting for an official report following the crash of Flight MH 17 which had been on its way from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when it is widely believed it was shot down by a missile. A second year international business degree student at Loughborough University, Ben, 20, had been on his way to study for a time in Australia. His primary school in Keynsham - St John's - recently unveiled a friendship bench in Ben's memory. It was carved by the chainsaw sculptor Andy O'Neill and dedicated to Ben Pocock. His close family, including his parents and sister, were at the unveiling ceremony along with some of his friends. Meanwhile friends are planning the Ben Pocock Appreciation Day which will be staged at Wellsway School on Saturday 5th September. Ben was a talented sportsman and there will be cricket, Ultimate Frisbee and five-a-side football matches. The Week in Thursday 23rd July

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31 Young mums' slimming success Three young mums from East Bristol are about to embark on a new career having lost over six stone between them since having their babies. Stephanie Webb, 25, from Kingswood lost 2 stone and 3.5lb to reach her personal achievement target. It's a similar story for 30-year-old Lucy Edmonds, from Barrs Court. Returning from honeymoon to discover she was pregnant, after the birth of her daughter she was 1st 11lb lighter than she had been on her wedding day. 28-year-old Hayley from Longwell Green, had two babies very close together, leaving her 2.5 stone heavier. Now 1st and 12lb lighter and a target member, Hayley is loving life as a young mum. Having found success as slimmers Hayley, Hayley Lucy and Steph are now taking the next step and have trained as Slimming World consultants. Lucy will open a group on Wednesday July 29th at 7.30pm at Longwell Green Community Centre. Contact her on And Steph's group starts on Wednesday July 29th at 7.30pm at the Park Centre Kingswood. Call Hayley will take over a group on Thursday July 30th at 5.30pm or 7.30pm at the Batch Community Centre, Cadbury Heath. Call Whitchurch Over 100 people attend development consultation Around 130 people attended the public consultation earlier this month on plans to build new houses on the former HorseWorld visitor site and neighbouring land. Bellway Homes will develop the majority of what was the HorseWorld site while Barratt Homes owns a strip of land immediately adjacent. Whitecroft Developments will convert the heritage buildings which formed the former visitor centre and stables. As part of its Core Strategy to 2029, B&NES Council has made provision for up to 200 new homes and the three developers will now use feedback from the consultation to finalise a masterplan with council planners. Three access points have been included - the A37/Woollard Lane junction, Sleep Lane and Queen Charlton Lane. Once the masterplan is agreed with the council, each company will then have to come forward with its own detailed planning application, the first of which is likely to be in the autumn. Crossword Solution H A F K Y M F E N N E L A V E N U E R T A R A T V A N E T I M O R O U S L T A N A O D Y S S E Y D I M L Y A R M N A B O R T F I D G E T Y R A S N H J I U J I T S U W A R T D E A T E I O L I V E R I M P A C T E O T A T E Sudoku Solutions 1-Easy Hard The Week in Thursday 23rd July

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