South Bristol Voice January 2023

Plans for 200 new homes on old school site have been approved

By Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporter

PLANS for up to 200 homes in South Bristol have been approved despite concerns it will make the council a “hostage to fortune” by agreeing them before knowing the details.

Some residents objected to the proposals by the city council’s housing company, Goram Homes, amid fears about adding to traffic problems and GP waiting times with so many new properties, including as many as 130 houses and also including 70 extra-care flats for elderly people.

But the development control committee granted outline planning permission unanimously for the new estate on the former site of New Fosseway School, off Wells Road in Hengrove, which was demolished a decade ago.

All the assisted living apartments and 30 per cent of the houses will be classed as affordable housing.

Green Cllr Guy Poultney told the meeting there was a lot to like and the extra-care housing

met an unmet need but that because the application did not yet have any details other than road access, councillors were being asked to accept the principle without knowing enough.

He said: “The affordable housing looks very high quality in an area that can stand high density. All my concerns relate to reserved matters. I find these split applications very

challenging – you feel like you’re making the council a hostage to fortune to some extent. We are agreeing to the overall principle of it without seeing the details, which in my experience is where all the problems come from.”

Committee chair Green Cllr Ani Stafford-Townsend said: “It somewhat defeats the object of a planning committee to split an

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My MP? Karin Smyth MP

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

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

Tessa Fitzjohn Green, Bedminster

By phone: 07584182801 By email: Cllr.Tessa.Fitzjohn@bristol.gov.uk

Mark Bradshaw Labour, Bedminster. By email: Cllr.mark. bradshaw@bristol.gov.uk

By phone: 0117 353 3160

Tony Dyer Green, Southville

By phone: 07584182862 By email:

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Council tax reduction scheme cuts

By Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporter

ABOUT 18,000 of Bristol’s poorest households could be forced to sacrifice some of their benefits to pay towards council tax for the first time in years because of the local authority’s funding crisis.

Bristol City Council is proposing to cut £3 million from its council tax reduction scheme (CTRS) as part of a range of costcutting measures to meet a huge financial shortfall.

It means the 18,000 families who currently pay nothing could be asked to contribute 10 or 20 per cent from April 2024 under plans put forward reluctantly by the Labour administration, a council meeting heard.

A further 5,000 working-age adults claim a discount, based on income and benefit allowances.

About 13,000 pensioners in the city receive support to reduce or cover their bills, which is not under threat because of government policy, although this has to be paid for out of council coffers, amounting to £13 million this year out of the scheme’s £42 million total costs.

Bristol is the only major city to have kept the full reduction in place, but the authority is proposing £45.7 million of cuts to services in its annual budget, which will be set in February, as it faces a funding gap of between £37.5 million and £87.6 million from 2023/24 to 2027/28.

Deputy mayor in charge of finance Cllr Craig Cheney told a budget scrutiny meeting: “It has been a red line for us. When we were in trouble in the past we looked at it briefly but as soon as we realised we had additional business rate income we were able to pull back from a saving.

“We don’t want to do this again. It’s a saving for next year which gives us the opportunity to work through how that might work and how we as a council work a way of delivering something that is still helpful to citizens at a time when we just don’t have the money to do what we’ve always done before.

“It’s something close to my heart personally, it’s something I’ve fought for and argued for over a number of years, and to have to put it forward is

emotional. But we are where we are. This is our biggest area of discretionary spend and we just need to consider it.”

Opposition Green Cllr Martin Fodor said: “It’s a measure of how dire things are that this is back in consultation. To cut this support is really worrying.”

Other cost-cutting plans in the budget include reducing business rate relief for charities from 100 per cent to 80 per cent and halving the authority’s contribution to the local crisis prevention fund, which provides discretionary emergency payments for essentials and household goods for people in financial hardship.

Cllr Fodor said the measures combined showed the situation was “desperate” and “disturbing”.

Labour Cllr Mark Bradshaw said of the CTRS proposal: “It’s a very painful thing to consider. A lot of us in the room have worked very hard over the years to keep this.”

Labour Cllr Tim Rippington said: “All of this money goes to the poorest people in the city. To take this money away is going to have impacts in other areas that will almost certainly end up with us spending money we don’t have.”

Cllr Cheney replied: “I agree. Everything we’re doing at the moment feels like it’s going to have a cost in the future. That’s the problem with national thinking, which appears to not understand the system – if you fail to spend here, the cost pops up somewhere else and sometimes more.”

Finance director Denise Murray said the proposed £3

million cut outlined in the draft budget was just one idea and would result from people who currently pay nothing contributing 10 per cent of council tax bills, while a 20 per cent charge would roughly double the savings.

She said: “The proposal outlined gives an illustrative approach, so it says there’s an

approach to have a more targeted scheme as opposed to one that looks purely at income, and ‘more targeted’ means there’s the opportunity to think more about targeting to those with children, disabilities, so you can focus it more to get to those that need it.

“Or you could have the opportunity of just having a contribution from all, and that could range from 10 per cent to 20 per cent which would be in kilter with other similar schemes.

“The nature of the items here demonstrate the scale of the challenge, that we have to put forward the things that are discretionary for consideration, and this is one of the areas of discretionary spend that Bristol City Council is doing over and above other authorities.”

She said that any final proposals would be produced by a group of scrutiny councillors and officers and would require a 12-week statutory consultation next summer.

By Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporter

A NEW road on the site of a former tobacco factory will be named after the city’s first female lord mayor after Marvin Rees vetoed the idea of honouring a cigarette brand.

The 70-home affordable housing development at Imperial Park, Bishopsworth, will have Florence Mills Brown – who held the role in 1963/64 – in its title.

But Tory ward Cllr Richard Eddy, who appeared to have won a campaign to link the street to the area’s industrial heritage, has criticised the mayor for “imposing” his will on locals “as if we were the inhabitants of some occupied territory”.

He said the late Cllr Brown was a Labour politician who represented two wards miles away in north Bristol and had no links to Bishopsworth. Cllr Eddy said he was “profoundly disappointed” with the decision, which followed an outcry from health campaigners against calling the Curo housing association development Navy Cut Road after a product

Tobacco road name latest

manufactured at the former Imperial Group tobacco factory.

Florence Brown worked at the Wills tobacco factory in Bedminster as a tobacco stripper and trade union rep and later became a city councillor and alderman, serving for almost three decades before being appointed Bristol’s first woman lord mayor.

Her citation to the role said she was born in 1899 just three minutes from The Council House and was a governor at several secondary schools and managed a number of primary schools.

Mr Rees tweeted: “We’ll be naming a new road after Florence Mills Brown, the first woman to serve as @brislordmayor (1963) – long overdue since #Bristol’s Mayoralty dates to 1216! Florence was elected to @BristolCouncil in 1937, after working as a trade union rep and tobacco stripper.”

The mayor overturned the council’s own street-naming team’s suggestion of Navy Cut Road, which it put forward

along with three other names associated with tobacco products that were manufactured by Imperial in Bishopsworth, after Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) branded it “morally unacceptable”.

This was despite ward councillors and Curo agreeing to the idea after Cllr Eddy complained that the original proposed name of Crox View was unsuitable because residents’ views of the ancient woodland whose name it came from, Crox Bottom, was obscured by Imperial Park retail centre.

Cllr Eddy challenged the council and housing association to come up with a more “gritty” alternative. He says having Florence Mills Brown in the title is no better but says the street-naming team has sent him a “condescending and extremely discourteous” email asking for his views on the suffix only, such as “Lane” or “Road”.

Cllr Eddy wrote back: “Having served on Bristol City Council for 30 years, it does not escape me that, contrary to all previous practice, your team is not seeking the views of my local community and its elected councillors on a proposed street-naming within my neighbourhood.

“Instead, officers are curtly informing us – as if we were the inhabitants of some occupied territory – of an alien streetname which is to be imposed on us, contrary to our convictions. Clearly, this more reflects the political prejudices of the present Labour Mayor of Bristol, Marvin Rees.

“Whilst I’m sure former Lord Mayor Florence Brown

was a creditworthy woman, why name a road here after a Labour politician, who represented two wards miles away in North Bristol and has no discernible links to Bishopsworth?

“I am profoundly disappointed with the actions of the city council’s streetnaming team, which previously I have found to be beyond reproach, utterly politically impartial and manifestly helpful and responsive to local councillors and the communities we represent.

“This is not just a small disagreement over street-naming in a southern city suburb, but it goes to the heart of the debate about whether Bristol should be ruled by one man with a ‘God Complex’ or whether local communities and their duly-elected councillors should determine their own destinies.”

He added: “The mayor’s office’s suggested street name is completely politically partisan, though I suppose we should be grateful they didn’t propose Marvellous Marvin Mews.”

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Former Lord Mayor Florence Brown will be remembered

AT a Cabinet meeting in December, Green councillors, members of the public and UNISON called on Bristol’s Labour administration to rethink “potentially hugely damaging” plans to remove the council’s strategic transport and city design teams. The administration decided to start internal consultation on a decision to remove transport and city design teams, and pass some of the functions to the regional West of England Combined Authority (WECA).

Green Councillor Ed Plowden said Bristol would soon need the expertise, advice and guidance of the teams being removed “as Bristol heads towards Net Zero and transformational projects for the City such as Western Harbour and Temple Quarter”, and noted that instead of saving money, outsourcing the teams could actually increase costs for the Council and “hand the profit-making services straight to private consultancies”.

Also present outside the meeting were dozens of members from the Council’s largest union UNISON, demonstrating against the planned cuts to Council jobs, which had not been presented to staff before being made public. Matthew Cockburn, a UNISON Steward, submitted a statement to the meeting which called the proposal “ill-thought out” and “potentially hugely damaging to the city”. It said “the City Transport Service delivers essential services, manages large sums of money and is a well-run and effective service, so why on earth should it arbitrarily be decimated? This proposal makes no sense.”

The statement also noted that the Labour administration’s proposal “opens the door to

Greens and UNISON call on Council to retain vital transport

privatisation of services” which could be more expensive; could end services provided to vulnerable groups such as cycle training for people with disabilities and school crossing patrols; and that “it would be extremely complex and probably counter-productive” to proceed as the transport team carries out many essential functions and “brings in large sums of money”.

Green Councillor David Wilcox said he was concerned the proposal to cut the important teams would “hobble the city’s capacity to bring about important changes to how it functions.

He added: “The timing of this implementation is very suspect. Bristol City Council, when it transfers to the Committee System, will have no means of

implementing its own transport strategy just at the time action is most needed to address climate change and implement radical changes to how people move around the city.”

There were many other statements submitted by members of the public, including one from former Labour Cabinet member for Transport Mhairi Threlfall, who noted the decision could expose the council to “significant financial liability”, higher costs and budget pressures, and the risk of not delivering the council’s statutory functions.

Her statement also pointed out that councils in regional authorities like Manchester, Liverpool, and Yorkshire “have kept and invested in their strategic and highways transport

functions”, and stated it should be a decision for the future committee system.

Despite the concerns raised, the Mayor approved the decision at cabinet. Bristol’s Labour administration will now work up the specific proposals and consult affected staff as legally required, before bringing a final decision to a future cabinet meeting.

Speaking after the meeting, Councillor Plowden said: “Regardless of your political affiliation, it’s absolutely vital the council retains control of essential services like transport and city design – I am deeply concerned that if the Labour administration proceeds with this they will be sabotaging the future of Bristol and setting the city back decades.”

Approval for 200 homes in South Bristol

From page 1

application this way, which can be a frustration.”

Officers, who recommended giving the go-ahead, said the details would follow in subsequent applications.

Head of development control Gary Collins said Bristol City Council would have to work in partnership with the NHS and other organisations to ensure

there was enough GP provision and community facilities.

Members heard the land was classed as brownfield, even though a large part was a green field, because of previous uses and was allocated for homes in the local plan.

Labour Cllr Chris Jackson said: “I’m more than happy to support this as it is. I like the layout. I would like to see more assisted homes there because

every time we put someone in one of them, we free up a family home somewhere else.”

Goram managing director Stephen Baker said afterwards: “We want to create places that people love to live in, which is why this site is such an exciting opportunity. As well as bringing together different generations, we can create an attractive, environmentally friendly neighbourhood in the heart of

Hengrove. I’m looking forward to developing our plans with the community over the next few months.”

A new pedestrian, cycling and emergency access would be created off Petherton Road to the north of the site, along with new open space and a play area

New Fosseway School moved to a new building at the Bridge Learning Campus in Hartcliffe back in 2009.

FOLLOWING Ofsted’s inspection of Ashton Vale Primary School in October, pupils, staff and governors have welcomed the recognition of the good work taking place at the school.

The Ofsted inspection in October was the first since the school became part of the Gatehouse Green Learning Trust family of five schools in Bristol.

The report highlighted areas where the school is achieving good results, specifically commenting on the schools work in the subjects of reading and mathematics.

Ofsted says that “Leaders prioritise reading. Pupils read a range of texts and talk positively about the books that adults read to them. Children begin learning to read as soon as they start in Reception. Staff teach phonics well.”

The report also says that subjects “…like mathematics, are well organised and important knowledge carefully sequenced”, starting from the early years.

Headteacher Brad Arthur was pleased that Ofsted recognised that he and the staff

Ofsted recognise strengths at Ashton Vale Primary School

commented: “I am delighted that the recent inspection recognised the excellent learning in maths and reading that happens in Ashton Vale Primary. Being able to read and use maths well really does support young people to flourish in life.”

Importantly, the report recognised that “arrangements for safeguarding at the school are effective”, and so it’s no surprise that Ofsted found that “pupils enjoy attending this welcoming and friendly school which lies at the heart of its local community.

are building a foundation for the pupils and the school to continue to grow and develop from, as Ofsted commented that “…leaders have designed a curriculum that sets out the important knowledge that pupils need to know, the implementation of this curriculum is at an early stage in

some subjects.”

Brad said: “Against the backdrop of Covid and the associated challenges of the last few years, we are so proud that our pupils are happy and achieving good personal development at our school”.

Nick Lewis, Interim CEO of Gatehouse Green Learning Trust,

“They talk positively about the school’s values of ‘heart, equality and aspiration’. Pupils say these values help them to be kind, respectful, and positive”.

The school benefits from fantastic outdoor play and grass sports field, in addition to pupil favourites such as forest schools, football, basketball, and chess.

Organ donors honoured for saving lives

PEOPLE who saved lives through the gift of organ donation have been posthumously honoured at a moving award ceremony in South Bristol.

They received the Order of St John Award for Organ Donation, run in conjunction with NHS Blood and Transplant, which was given to their families and loved ones on their behalf.

The private award ceremony was held at Ashton Gate Stadium, honouring 28 donors.

Thousands of families are receiving the award across the UK at regional ceremonies or privately.

More than 4,000 people donated their organs after death in 2019, 2020 and 2021, leading to around 10,000 patients’ lives being saved or transformed over those three years.

Mick Messinger, Chancellor of the Priory of England and the Islands of the Order of St John, said: “We’re delighted to be able to work with NHS

Blood and Transplant to run the Order of St John Awards for Organ Donation again. It is so important to recognise all organ donors and it is an inspiration to meet the families attending the ceremonies. Organ donation saves lives, and it is a genuine privilege to be able to say thank you to these families, whose loved ones have had such an impact on others.”

Organ donation is a most precious gift and even though the law around organ donation has changed to an opt out system, it is important that people know that families will still be consulted.

It is still just as important as ever to register your decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register and let your family know what you want to happen.

Anthony Clarkson, Director of Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation at NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “The pride families feel at

these moving ceremonies truly is inspirational. Transplant patients tell us that organ donors and their families are heroes and the Order of St John award is a chance for us all to recognise them and their amazing contribution to society.

“We hope these awards will inspire people in Bristol and Gloucestershire to tell their families they want to save lives. Being clear with your family about what you want makes things easier at a difficult time, leave them certain about your organ donation decision.

“Families say donation is a source of pride that helps them in their grief and we want to ensure as many people as possible have the opportunity to donate and save lives.

“Please tell your family about your organ donation decision and join the NHS Organ Donor Register at www.organdonation. nhs.uk.”

The Order of St John Award

for Organ Donation features the organ donation heart logo backed by the Maltese Crosswhich is used by the Order of St John - above the words ‘add life, give hope’. The award can be received at a regional ceremony or sent to the family privately. They are open to people of all faiths or of no faith.

For more information about organ donation, or to register your organ donation decision, please visit: www.organdonation. nhs.uk or call 0300 123 23 23.

NHS app users can also use the service to record, check or update their organ donation decision. Please tell your family about your organ donation decision and leave them certain.

Mike makes the SPOTY shortlist

AS we reported in the last issue of South Bristol Voice, the Friends of Redcatch Park have nominated volunteer Mike Alden for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Unsung Hero award for all his work with the community football teams.

We are pleased to say that Mike has made it to the shortlist of eight for this prestigious award, announced on December 21. Because South Bristol Voice has gone to press before this date, we will have to wait until next month to let you know how Mike got on, but we are all keeping our fingers tightly crossed for him.

Mike and his wife Linda will be at the awards ceremony and will be invited onto the stage when the winner will be announced.

Sian Ellis-Thomas of the Friends of Redcatch Park, who nominated Mike for the award, says: “We are so incredibly proud of Mike and what he does in our community, and we felt

it was about time he got some recognition for the amazing work he does here. It’s not just football, it’s much more important than that. What he does changes lives.”

At four years old, Mike was diagnosed with brittle bone disease, a lifelong genetic disorder that causes your bones to break very easily. He is registered disabled and uses a

mobility scooter to get around. But as a child, Mike was always football mad and defied the doctors by playing football despite his condition. After a bad injury forced him to stop playing, he turned to coaching and started a club for local kids. And in 2011, he was approached by the Park Knowle in Knowle West to start a football club there. Ten years later, Park FC boasts an enviable cabinet of 27 trophies.

Mike’s BBC SPOTY finalist award on the shelf with his other trophies

Mike Alden is shortlisted

Mayor backs building blocks for the future

AN apprentice met Metro Mayor Dan Norris to explain how a West of England Combined Authority-funded course that uses Lego bricks helped him build a pathway to a new career.

Chris Dando is now a trainee support worker at St Mungo’s Bristol. Fred took part in the unique course hosted by South Bristol’s acta Community Theatre, which helps Bristolians struggling with their mental health improve their skills and confidence.

The Mayor learnt how a £12,000 cash injection from his West of England Authority is currently supporting 35 more Bristolians to go on to become apprentices like Chris, or access other training schemes and jobs. Mr Norris then joined in the creative fun by building a Lego bee.

Metro Mayor Dan Norris said: “Lego is the ultimate creative toy, as you design and build what you want. It’s about thinking, planning, connecting and constructing, all vital skills to get great jobs. I’m pleased a £12,000 cash injection from my West of England Combined Authority is supporting Bristolians taking part in this innovative course and I look forward to seeing what everyone builds from Lego and in their future careers”.

Oliver Jones, acta Community Theatre

Director, added: “We are very grateful for the funding that we receive from the West of England Combined Authority for our Pathway project that enables us to work with people who are facing many challenges and barriers, and giving them a real purpose and aspiration to progress in their lives. We have

already achieved some amazing results with participants progressing to further education, social enterprise courses, volunteering and employment. All of this is achieved through working creatively in a safe and supportive space and unlocking the potential that lies within each and every one of us.”

This January make a new year’s resolution to make sure you have an up-to-date Will in place.

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• Not having up-to-date Lasting

Powers of Attorney that appoint those you trust to support you, can leave them feeling helpless and unable to support you in receiving the care and nancial assistance that you would want.

With Simpson Solicitors you have the reassurance of a locally based team who have just won the prestigious National Legal Customer Champions 2022 Award. This recognises how their Wills Service aims to make every client feel welcome, wanted and cared for.

The award-winning team are fully regulated, which also gives you the

promise of No Hidden Costs and includes a FREE supported signing meeting and FREE life-long storage of your documents with their competitive and clear xed prices.

If getting to their o ces is di cult for you, they also o er a FREE Home Visit Service for our readers.

Claire Kindred says: “Make sure you are remembered for all the right reasons and not for leaving behind a legal mess for your family to sort out. We will guide you through all the issues you should think about to prevent problems for your family.”

Book your free January meeting now by calling their friendly team and make use of our special o er of 20% o the cost of Lasting Powers of Attorney if you buy both a health and a nancial LPA. Email message@ simpsonslawuk.com or call on 0117 209 2722

Ashton Vale Wetland Initiative: Students from UWE invite the public to support local Wetland

By Councillor Tessa Fitzjohn, Bristol Green Party

IN December, organisers behind the Ashton Vale Wetland Initiative group (AVWI) invited the public to discuss the opportunities for their local wetland.

The AVWI group is a collective of Master of Architecture students at UWE. Over their first semester, they have been working with local organisations and the community of Ashton Vale to develop plans - not only to preserve but also to enhance the Ashton Vale Wetland, and turn it into a community asset. In its current state, the site has poor accessibility and inconsistent signage. Local residents have shared stories of having to pull people out of the marsh as they were screaming for help.

With the right ideas and new

infrastructure, the wetland could become a safer and pleasurable place for locals to enjoy.

Furthermore, the exposure to the natural elements of the site will benefit the health and well-being of surrounding communities.

Wetlands play an important role in absorbing carbon in the atmosphere, which helps regulate the air the city breathes. They also provide a

unique habitat for wildlife and are essential for the survival of ground-nesting birds. The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust estimates up to 40% of the world’s animals and plant life depend on wetlands.

Recent plans for the development of 500 new homes (in the Longmore site opposite the wetland) have influenced local residents to ensure

protection of remaining green sites in the area. The AVWI group has been consulting with local residents, learning about the site’s history and how they would like to have better and safer access to the wetland.

Bringing inspiration from other similar projects and conversations with the local community, the UWE students have looked into conceptualising their own ideas of broadwalks, bird hides, visiting centres, and educational programmes for the site.

In December, the students invited the public and presented their work in hope to better understand the importance of wetlands and why they must be protected.

Everyone was invited to share their ideas for the local wetland and its potential for biodiversity, education, and nature walk attractions.

£424m for clean energy in Bristol: 1,000 new jobs

A NEW Year brings the chance to reflect and also look to the future, and to wish South Bristol Voice readers a very Happy New Year.

As we look into 2023 and beyond, we think about the challenges we face now – not least the cost of living, energy, and climate crises – and in the future. In December, at our cabinet meeting, we took a giant leap forward on tackling all three thanks to our City Leap clean energy programme.

Decarbonising Bristol by 2030 is likely to be one of the most challenging infrastructure overhauls in the history of our city. We have secured an initial investment of £424 million from partners Ameresco and Vattenfall, creating 1,000 new jobs and cutting 140,000 tonnes of carbon emissions over the next five years.

City Leap will play an essential role in this, it’s an ambitious energy project that will accelerate investment in our city, moving

n NEWS

By Alex Seabrook, Local Democracy Reporter

FIRST Bus staff in Bristol are “struggling to get to work” due to cancelled bus services, a driver has claimed. The bus driver, writing on social media, gave an insider account of the crisis facing Bristol’s biggest bus company including agency staff and “non-existent” managers.

Problems facing First Bus are growing with a huge number of vacancies for drivers, leading to the company recently scrapping many services. The driver shortage is believed to be growing, with the most recent number of vacancies in the West of England given at 200.

The bus driver posted via an anonymous account: “Been with First for two years now and this job has been the best job I’ve ever had, however the way it is at the moment makes me want to quit bus driving in its entirety. First doesn’t care and the amount of ungrateful individuals are the main contributing factors, but there are many more. I just can’t find the will to keep showing up to a job where I’m treated like sh*t.

Bristol forward on our journey to net zero. The scale of investment that is needed to make our city carbon neutral and climate resilient will likely total at least £10 billion. We need to transform the way we generate, distribute, store and use energy at scale across our whole city.

The council has invested nearly £100 million in decarbonisation projects over the last five years, which includes completing the construction of Castle Park Energy Centre that houses England’s largest water source heat pump. However, we need to rapidly increase the scale and pace of low carbon delivery to be able to meet our targets. Our City Leap Energy Partnership with Ameresco Limited and Vattenfall Heat UK will secure a twenty-year framework to enable over £1 billion of international investment into low carbon energy infrastructure such as solar PV, wind generation, zero carbon heat

networks, smart energy systems, and other energy efficiency measures.

In the first five years, the City Leap Energy Partnership’s contribution to carbon neutrality will include: installing over 182mw of zero carbon energy generation, expanding Bristol’s Heat Network, installing solar panels and low carbon heating at local schools and in the council’s social housing, boosting council and community owned renewable-energy projects across our city, and offering decarbonisation support to schools and hospitals.

Reducing carbon emissions and tackling the climate emergency is a huge challenge for everybody, but through our City Leap Energy Partnership, we’ve secured the funding, knowledge, and resources to accelerate our progress. Collaborative action will usher a period of extraordinary innovation, investment, and

The Mayor’s View

growth – helping to make the just transition to net zero and securing Bristol’s reputation as a leading clean energy city for many years to come.

City Leap is a big deal for Bristol – it’s the most ambitious and exciting energy project that we have embarked on to accelerate clean energy investment and is a big step towards decarbonising our whole city and on our journey to net zero.

Bus drivers are ‘struggling to get to work’ due to cancelled buses

“I’m someone who very rarely lets anything wind me up. We all have those days but these days are happening more and more often at the moment. I and many drivers are just as fed up as the passengers. Loads of drivers struggle to get home or to work, because the buses are not running. The morale is so low and I can’t see it getting better.

“First is close to having more agency drivers than normal drivers who are being paid stupid amounts more and taking all the overtime, and then wonders why the drivers are leaving left, right and centre. I’ve been looking elsewhere for a while now and I don’t want to leave, but I’m running out of reasons to stay.”

The driver continued: “First managers are non-existent now, all seem to disappear by 3pm and are never there on the weekend. Loads of agency drivers are showing up to do a poor job and get paid loads for it, and First is

out of touch as to what’s going on out there.

“They took loads of buses off busy routes and just assumed that because they’ve cancelled it that the passengers would disappear, and not the fact that you’ll have two bus loads wanting to get on one bus. They took those buses off but didn’t adjust anyone’s duties.

“Say I was meant to be driving a 75 as part of my duty but I can’t because they’ve decided not to run it, then I’ll be put down as spare meaning if someone goes off sick then I’ll cover their bit, but if not then I just have to hang around until I’m finished. It works for me but makes the bus behind that one much, much busier.”

Responding to the driver’s claims, First said using agency staff was common in the industry, and the company was focusing on retaining drivers and recruiting new drivers.

A spokesperson for First West of England said: “It is never good to hear that an employee is dissatisfied and we always encourage our staff to speak to their managers if encountering any problems and we will always help wherever we can. Along with other bus operators across the country, we do have a limited number of agency staff drivers and this is common industry practice in the face of a national bus driver shortage.

“Our focus is on addressing this by improving the retention of our existing staff, with retention rates now better than before the pandemic. We are also actively recruiting so that we can increase the number of employed drivers, offering a great package which includes flexible hours and competitive rates of pay.

“We believe that driving a bus is a great career and many of our senior managers started as drivers.”

Each month Bristol mayor Marvin Rees shares his views with South Bristol Voice

SMYTH

against

community

FOR most people Christmas is a time for coming together and celebration, but each year there is a reported spike in domestic violence during the Christmas period. There are serious fears that this year will be no different, leading to an estimated 15,000 children exposed to domestic abuse over the two-week festive season. Too many children return to school in January with that experience.

We need to stop talking about violence against women and girls in the abstract. It is violence at home. In the playground. In the workplace. On the walk home from school and across social media. It can be short, sharp and brutal; it can be sexual and degrading; it can be insidious and coercive; it can be

hidden behind closed doors or hiding in plain sight.

As Chair of the Women’s Parliamentary Labour Party, I secured a debate in Parliament to press home the need for the Government to act now to get its house in order.

We need proper, detailed data gathering on attacks against women and girls. This must mean sex-disaggregated in order to fully understand the impact of all crimes.

We must tackle the institutional misogyny that has gripped public bodies, paralysing them from taking action to support women and girls.

In Bristol, the 2020 mayoral commission on domestic abuse, along with the joint strategic needs assessment, reported the

variation in domestic-related abuse and crime across the city, from 7.1 per 1,000 in Redland to 79.9 per 1,000 in Hartcliffe and Withywood here in Bristol South. Analysis in the UK and internationally has consistently found vulnerability to domestic violence to be associated with low income, economic strain and benefit receipt.

Women are more likely to be in low-paid and insecure work. They are also more likely to be carers, which makes leaving an abusive partner more difficult. Where there were once safety nets, we find gaping holes that more women and girls fall through. These cuts to support services and refuges have exacerbated the situation. Improving women’s economic

circumstances will help in the longer-term, but better services to help those that need to leave are crucial now.

If you are experiencing domestic abuse, remember there are lots of organisations who can help. Refuge offers a free 24/7 telephone line that you can ring on 0808 2000 247 or you can visit nationaldahelpline.org.uk and chat online Monday-Friday 3pm-10pm.

GOVERNMENT targets for Bristol to build new homes are unrealistic. If Bristol cannot achieve these targets then the decisions could be taken away from the Council, with the risk that developers can push through unsustainable and low quality housing, while maximising their profits. Eg Brislington Meadows where a Government agency (Homes England) is challenging the Council.

Our colleague Tony Dyer, Green, led a debate in City Hall to challenge those housing targets and make sure that they are based on actual evidence of need and deliverability. This gained unanimous support.

This comes at a critical moment as Bristol’s new ‘Local Plan’, which will shape the Development Control policies for the next decade and more, is out for consultation until January 20. We look forward to seeing better housing standards

and better protection for our green spaces from over-development. We want to see more stringent rules around affordable housing because regardless of how many housing projects get planning permission, this does not solve the housing crisis as developers often dodge the rules and not build enough social or affordable housing.

We want to hear your views by January 20: www.ask.bristol.gov. uk/bristol-local-plan-2022

At the same time, the Mayor is proposing to abolish the Council’s Transport Strategy and Urban Design teams in order to ‘streamline’ the Planning Permission process. We believe that the Council’s role is to ‘steward and shape’ development proposals in the long-term interests of the city and its residents, and will be making sure this proposal is properly challenged and scrutinised.

Hopkins and Chris Davies Knowle Community Party councillors for Knowle

ON Feb 1, the Bristol City Council cross party Planning Committee will decide whether the planning application for the Broadwalk/ Redcatch Quarter can proceed. Those opposing the scheme will try to persuade the committee that if they reject the plans a scheme with lower buildings, less flats, and larger shops will come forward. That will not happen, as it would be a loss-making venture.

Previous owners failed to invest in the centre and it was in administration three years ago. As a result they were able to sell the centre for a modest price as a development site. The unanimously passed plans had 12 storey blocks in much the same positions as the present application, but did not fully deal with all the problems of the mall, and Covid stopped any build.

The existing mall is losing money and is emptying of shops and customers. Some of the remaining open units are on reduced or zero rents and others

are waiting to leave. A refusal of planning will likely see further leavers and it would be either a complete financial collapse, or a dangerous buildings order on the existing car park, that would be the final end of the centre.

If the outline plans are passed a lot of detailed work would follow and building would start in two years and be phased over two-three years. We have worked with planners and the developers to get the best from what is a very difficult situation made worse by rising interest rates, huge increases in construction costs and the recent slide in property values, so pretending that the developers can sort this with both hands tied behind their back is dishonest.

90+% people recognise the need for redevelopment. If you wish to support it, you can sign this petition you.38degrees.org. uk/petitions/broadwalk-redcatchquarter-development, or write to Democratic Services stating what you think.

THE LATEST update we have been given on Gaol Ferry Bridge is that the repairs are on target to be completed within the anticipated six-nine month timescale but the administration accepts that the contractors are yet to complete all their structural investigations – we will keep residents updated as and when we get further information.

Dame Emily Park improvements are moving forward, and new lights have now been installed as part of the Safer Streets funding. By the time you read this, some new play equipment should also have been installed. Tony and Christine continue to work with residents and officers to move the project improvement forward and send thanks to all those who give their time to improve our facilities for the benefit of all.

By the time you read this, the City Leap Joint Venture will have been approved by Cabinet.

This is a major commitment towards installing the low carbon infrastructure needed by the city to help us reach our Net Zero objectives, a significant part of which includes the installation of heat networks including around Bedminster Green. Inevitably this is likely to cause traffic disruption and we are working with officers to try and ensure this is considerably less than that caused by the Malago Road diversion.

The heat network installation along Malago Road should be completed by January, although substantial highway improvement works still needs to be done before it is reopened to two way traffic.

We have been working as a Green councillor team to highlight the need for road repairs at the mini-roundabout junction of North Street, Cannon Street and Dean Lane with the Southville and Bedminster ward Councillors.

LAST month, councillors from Southville, Bedminster and Windmill Hill wards came together to highlight in the Bristol Post the need for roads repairs around the roundabout junction of North Street, Cannon Street and Dean Lane. All of us have received representations from concerned residents about the state of the potholes and have spent a year trying to get the required repairs unsuccessfully, hence an appeal in the local press.

The Cabinet Member for Transport stated that the administration will be ‘fixing two points’ at this junction – however, we say all the repairs need to be completed as unrepaired damage will only get worse and cost more in the long run.

The Council has launched its consultation on its Budget for

2023/24. The proposals include large cuts to the parks service and to libraries. Similarly, the parks budget will be cut by £1.5 million which will affect all our parks. please respond to the Budget

Ashton Vale Together has received Community Infrastructure levy funds to create a circular walk, around the Ashton Vale Playing Fields which will provide a firm clean surface for exercise particularly for disabled people.

The long-term plan is to create a natural play area when permissions become available to use the land. The lease is currently held by the Parsons Street Old Boy Football Group.

Ashton Vale wetlands Initiative will be presenting their report in January 2023 to Ashton Gate Sport, with recommendations for improving the Town Green.

Gary

Try something new in 2023 and become an inspiration for girls & young women

Girlguiding introduces girls and young women to a world of new opportunities and challenges. As volunteers, we help them to realise their full potential and share some unforgettable moments along the way.

By volunteering with us, you can help girls build their confidence, have adventures, learn new skills and have loads of fun – no matter your experience, your background or how much time you have spare.

Becoming a role model doesn't need a full-time commitment – we need volunteers in all sorts of roles. So, if you want to help behind the scenes, at special events or get involved every week, there’s loads of ways to inspire girls with GirlguidingBSG.

Register your interest today by visiting https://www.girlguiding.org.uk/ get-involved/become-a-volunteer/register-your-interest/ We’d love for you to join us!

MBE for pharmacist Ade

WE send our heartiest congratulations to Bedminster Pharmacy’s Ade Williams, who was invited to Buckingham Palace in London recently to collect his MBE for services to the NHS and the South Bristol community. In addition to his work as a pharmacist, Ade is also the Chair of the Bedminster Lantern Parade Organising Committee, and a valued contributor to South Bristol Voice each month. His award is very well deserved.

Sona Pilates with Leanne Copley

‘In

- Jen Sincero

Yes we are the ones that have to take action, pick up our foot and take one step at a time in order to move forward. There is no denying that in my Christmas sofa sloth mode the only thing I have been kicking is the tv remote in order to get it closer to me.

But as I rise into the New Year, I am given another opportunity to address what has worked for me and my business and what needs to change.

And that change only happen when an action takes place, so I am mentally preparing to lift up my foot and kick ass. This in itself requires some support, we don’t have to kick ass alone. We can talk things through and ask for assistance. I am aware I may need to lift up my foot in small baby steps but I am also aware that leaving it firmly planted in the same spot it has been in is no longer the answer.

Sona Pilates is launching its fully equipped studio this month at Bristol Osteopaths on the Wells Road, so check out www.sonapilates. com for the Open Day details, free tasters and our new studio programme.

www.sonapilates.com

Find ‘The Light Inside’

Hengrove resident Adrian Wyatt (pictured above) has recently been involved with a brand new, award-winning short film dealing with the issues surrounding surviving mental ill-health.

Adrian gives his story in his own words here, and talks about how he came to be involved with ‘The Light Inside’ film, which has won an award at the Cotswold International Film Festival, and received recognition at the Canberra International Mental Health Film Festival, Courage Film Festival and the Fribourg International Film Festival.

He says: “About four years ago, I was diagnosed with complex PTSD and a chronic lack of self worth. Both came as a shock to me but to know there was a reason for how I was and the situations I put myself in came as such a release and began the process of renewal.

“I wanted to be open and honest and to share my story and began to make reference to it, in smaller ways on my Instagram page. I had begun to find that photography and journaling allowed me a path and a way of expression. I was approached by a young mum, diagnosed with a terminal illness (she fully recovered) asking if it could help her son who was struggling to process his feelings. I mentored him for a short time using what helped me.

“Last year, Bath Mind, with others, were sponsored by the Victoria Wood Foundation to produce a film on mental health using top film producers in their field but not celebrities. Dozens of people were interviewed about their journey into the tunnel of mental health, across a range of areas, mine being complex PTSD.

“I was approached partly because in initial interviews I mentioned I was photographing tunnels as metaphors for my journey. Seeing the film you will see the obvious link. I was audio recorded for several hours about my life and journey. That interview was so empowering and therapeutic, never invasive and always supportive.

“We were all given the chance to see the film twice and ask for edits before it was released. I remember the premier to family and friends and the feeling of release it gave me.”

The film of ‘The Light Inside’ is just 20 minutes long and can be viewed online via this link: thelightinsidefilm.com. It is a powerful film that has since gone on to win recognition as far away as in New Zealand, and consequently the filmmakers are taking the individual stories and making them available as audio stories. Adrian’s is the second audio story to be made available and it can be heard here: thelightinsidefilm.com/audiostories

Adrian adds: “Being able to be open and honest and tell my story has been part of the process that led to where I am today. These are stories are of honesty but importantly of hope, of coming out of the tunnel.”

n SPINAL COLUMN

New goals and resolutions

For 2023, I want to challenge you on a new focus - health gratitude.

The practice of daily gratitude is an invaluable tool in life, helping us to focus more on what is working, and shifting our physical and mental state into one of healing, joy and repair. What we look for, we find. The same is true of our bodies and our health. It may be easy to focus more on what we don’t want than what we do (such as less pain), but focusing on what we do want (or better yet, what we already have) actually prepares us mentally and physically to have it.

For example, if you are focussed on having less pain, you may be in a constant state of scanning your body looking for pain. You are teaching your brain to find pain. Whereas if you wanted more energy, you’re going to start to notice more of what you could do each day, which will motivate you and in turn, improve your energy.

Also, our thoughts have the power to change every cell in our body. You may have seen experiments with plants where on is spoken kindly and lovingly to, and the other is cursed at. I’m sure you can work out which one thrives and which one doesn’t. The vibration of your thoughts and words physically change the cells.

So let’s try this, can you think of one thing everyday this week that you are thankful for about your body? If you’ve never tried this before, here are some ideas that may resonate with you:

• Did your body allow you to participate in one of your favourite activities today?

• Did your ability to move allow you to spend time with people you love today?

• Have you just got over a cold or flu? You can thank your body for getting you through it.

You can thank your body that it has all the intelligence it needs to help you heal and adapt everyday, and it can express that intelligence if we look after it (and sometimes even when we don’t).

Charles Herbert Kasa Chiro Telephone: 0117 370 2680 www.kasachiro.com

Application for planning permission for householder development

The Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015 Notice under Article 13 Proposed development at 66 Ilchester Crescent, Bristol BS13 7HN, UK

I give notice that Kate Shearer is applying to Bristol City Council for planning permission to Build an outbuilding with covered car porch adjacent to the rear lane (ref: 22/05549/H)

Any owner of the land who wishes to makes representations about this application, you should write to Development Management, City Hall, Bristol City Council, PO Box 3399, Bristol BS1 9NE within 14 days beginning with the date of publication of this notice. In the event of an appeal against a refusal of planning permission, which is to be dealt with on the basis of representations in writing, any representations made about this application will be sent to the Secretary of State and there will be no further opportunity to comment at appeal stage.

NB “Owner” also includes a person with a leasehold interest, the unexpired term of which is at least 7 years.

Signed (Fraser Stewart of HOKO Design)

* On behalf of Kate Shearer Date 08/12/2022

Community Pharmacy is here for you this Winter

ONE thing that frustrates members of our community is the hassle of navigating through the NHS to get the care needed quickly. Community Pharmacy is part of the NHS and we will again be playing our part this Winter.

Systems that were strained before Covid, have now started experiencing crisis. The toll on the health and wellbeing of everyone in the NHS is now at breaking point. The first thing to note is that nothing pains NHS professionals - pharmacists, nurses, GPs, clinical and administrative colleagues - more than knowing people cannot reach us for the help we desperately want to provide. This is the reason all of us work well beyond our contracts: late working is an everyday norm. This is the basis of ongoing disputes. I regularly call patients after hours to discuss their care, just after the nurse or GP has got off the phone.

It is undoubtedly not more dedication but better solutions needed. So how can we help

each other this Winter? Starting the journey right is critical. Order any repeat medications at least seven days before you need it. You can do so using the NHS app, your GP or pharmacy processes. Consider using your local pharmacy rather than online services which may come under postal disruption strain.

Also remember, if we do not use and support local, like everything, else we lose it. If you do run out, don’t panic, speak with your pharmacy. Emergency medicine supply may be possible. 650,000 visits to A&E and over 18 million GP consultations every year could ideally happen in Community Pharmacy. The NHS is now better linked-up to do this safely.

So, if you contact NHS111 or a local GP,

you may get a formal referral to a Community Pharmacy with your clinical details shared. Why? Pharmacists are trained clinicians, undertaking five years of initial training before qualification. Experts at identifying the right treatment choice for you and your loved ones which most times will not be a medicine.

In Bristol, our local NHS is committed to making the most of this broad expertise by allowing pharmacists to issue prescription-onlymedicines for certain conditions without the need for a prescription. Patients can access this care directly in Bedminster Pharmacy for:

• Urinary Tract Infections – Females aged 16-64

• Sore Throat

• Impetigo – Adults and children aged two and over

• Hydrocortisone – Children aged one to 10 and use on the face in patients over one year

• Chloramphenicol drops and ointment to children aged from 31 days to under two years

As always, we agree on a decision together after considering the safest and best option for you.

Part of a local network of NHS Clinicians, Bedminster Pharmacy is committed to being a conduit of inclusion and excellence in this community. That is what you deserve and what we strive for daily. Reach us on 0117 985 3388.

Decision on Brislington Meadows

By Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporter

A date has been set for the battle of Brislington Meadows between Bristol City Council and Homes England.

Councillors rejected plans by the government’s land and property agency for up to 260 homes at the South Bristol wildlife haven at a meeting in December – but the decision has already been taken out of their hands.

Homes England lodged an appeal in September with the Planning Inspectorate, which will now have the final say after the local authority missed the deadline on whether to grant or refuse permission.

An 11-day public inquiry will begin on January 31, and December’s decision by the council’s development control committee to formally reject the controversial outline proposals means the authority will fight the scheme, which has received 575 objections, at the hearing.

The city council had asked Homes England to buy the land in Brislington in 2020 to accelerate house-building there after the project stalled, and the government body spent about £15million of taxpayer’s money obtaining it from three different parties.

But within a year, Marvin Rees announced a U-turn despite the site being allocated for housing in the local plan and the principle of development accepted.

Just 20 days before last year’s local elections, Bristol’s mayor posed for a photocall with the two Labour candidates for the ward to say he had decided no homes should be built there after all because of the council’s declared ecological emergency.

Planning committee members were this week asked to vote on what their decision would have been had they still had the power to make one, which will form the basis of the authority’s case at the inquiry, and they

agreed with officers’ advice that they would have refused consent.

Head of development control Gary Collins said: “It is important that the council has a very focused and robust case we can defend at public inquiry with appropriate evidence.”

Members unanimously agreed the reasons for refusal were significant harm to biodiversity, failure to retain important hedgerows and trees, loss of irreplaceable habitat, excessive damage to existing features and a lack of agreement over developer contributions.

Lib Dem Cllr Andrew Brown told the meeting: “It’s regrettable when we are in this situation where a decision has been taken out of the control of the council and moved to the Planning Inspectorate.”

In a previous statement, Homes England said the plans were drawn up in response to the city’s housing crisis and in line with the longstanding local plan.

It said: “The site is considered to be in a highly sustainable location, close to local shops, community facilities, employment areas and public transport infrastructure.”

The agency said 30 per cent of the homes would be affordable and the scheme would deliver a 10 per cent biodiversity gain.

Emma Vincent and Lisa Pearson

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n PET HEALTH

By petGuard

DID you add a four-legged friend to the family for Christmas? What an amazing time! A puppy’s energy is infectious. “Introducing a new puppy to your home is a wonderful experience,” says Alex Bennett, Head of Marketing at pet insurer petGuard. “However, it’s important to make sure that you have all the key bits covered and that you have the right kit before letting your new furry family member settle in.”

Here’s petGuard’s puppy checklist to make sure you’re ready. Toys: Your new puppy is guaranteed to be curious and excited when she/he first moves in. A good option to occupy their energy is with toys. Plush toys and teething toys are great choices. Food: For the first four months, you should feed your puppy four meals a day to support their initial growth. After this, three meals a day is suitable for up to six months. After the six-month mark, two meals a day are recommended as they start to move into adulthood. Water and food bowls are also important to consider. Think about the size of your puppy’s breed when it reaches adulthood when

Caring for your new puppy

weeks. If you’re not sure where to start, your vet can provide good advice.

Crate: It’s important to get your puppy used to its crate early on as he/she settles in. You can use methods like leaving food in the crate to get them increasingly comfortable. Once again, make sure to think about room for growth.

ID tag: For safety reasons and as a legal requirement, dogs need to wear identification with your name and address (although we’d advise leaving your puppy’s name off so nobody else could identify and collect them from the finder).

you’re choosing as they won’t stay pocket-sized for long!

Beds: Puppy beds are another essential, and like food and water bowls, the right one will depend on the size and needs of your puppy. Make sure to do your research before choosing.

Collars: When your puppy first

ventures out, you’re going to need to invest in the right collar. We’d highly recommend an adjustable collar, so all those meals don’t add up to a new collar every month!

Treatments: To keep your puppy happy and healthy, it’s important to start monthly flea and worm treatments after his/her first eight

This list is a great starting point for getting the items that’ll help your puppy settle into its new home. “While there are many recommended items for you to think about when you get your new puppy, make sure to do your own research and remember to check in with how your companion is responding,” says Bennett.

GREEN councillors in Bristol said they were cautiously positive about potential changes to housing targets that could see the removal of the governmentimposed 35% uplift to the city’s housing target – but that they remain wary due to a lack of detail in the reported proposals.

The government’s previous approach of a mandatory target forced cities like Bristol to prioritise land use for housing at the expense of all other land uses, including space for local employment and nature. Pressure on councils to meet housing targets can mean developments are approved with poor standards or low levels of affordable housing.

Southville Green Councillor Tony Dyer, pictured, brought a motion in November, which passed unanimously. He said: “The government’s 35% uplift to housing targets in Bristol was a poor approach from the start. It led to a target for the city that was never achievable and undermined locally set planning policies.

“Bristol has thousands of

Bristol Greens welcome Government U-turn on housing targets

households on the housing waiting list and there is a real need for new, affordable homes. I believe that a clear, evidence-based approach to housing targets is the best way to meet that need, whilst also delivering the mix and standard of housing we need for the future – including measures to address climate change and protect our valued green spaces. The intention to tackle ‘land banking’ from greedy developers is also welcome. So I’m cautiously positive about this news.

He added: “Nevertheless, until we see the actual concrete details of the policy rather than press reports and interviews, I’ll be reserving judgement. The devil may be in the detail, and frankly it is hard to trust a government which has done so much damage over the last decade.”

Tony also called for more genuinely affordable and council housing to tackle the cost of living crisis. He said: “The Green Party is committed to a ‘just transition’ to a carbon neutral future. In the same way, protecting our green spaces and built heritage must also be done in a way that is just and fair.

“It’s a difficult balance to strike but we must ensure that a much higher proportion of the homes that are built in Bristol are genuinely affordable rather than simply exacerbating the city’s out of control housing affordability crisis.

“Following World War One, the government invested in building new council homes that set new standards for housing. The UK need a similar level of commitment from the government today to address our cost of living and homelessness

crises. Councils must have the funding to deliver the levels of quality, low carbon council housing that we need.”

ARE YOU THINKING OF MOVING IN 2023

MP backs Bill to protect employees from harassment at work

KARIN Smyth, MP for Bristol South and Chair of the Women’s Parliamentary Labour Party, has thrown her support behind a new Bill to close a loophole in the Equality Act: a move which will protect people in work from harassment.

The Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Bill, a Private Members Bill brought before Parliament by Wera Hobhouse MP, would create new legal liabilities for employers by treating an employer as harassing their employee if the employee is harassed in the course of their employment by third parties – such as customers or clients. If the employer fails “to take all reasonable steps to prevent the third party from doing so” they will fall foul of this legislation.

The Bill would also create a new corresponding duty on employers to “take all reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment” of their employees in the course of their employment. This duty would be enforced by the EHRC but employment tribunals would also be allowed to apply an uplift of up to 25% to employees’ compensation in sexual harassment cases where the employer had failed to uphold this duty.

In 2018, the Women and Equalities Select Committee (WESC) held an inquiry on sexual harassment in the workplace. The WESC report highlighted a number of concerns with the coverage of sexual harassment protections in the existing legislation. In response, the Government committed to consulting on the concerns raised with a view to ensuring that the legislation is operating effectively.

Abuse and verbal and physical harassment is a daily reality for women and girls on the streets of the UK. Recent research by UN Women UK found that 71% of women in the UK have experienced some form of sexual harassment in a public space, rising to 86% among 18-to-24-year-olds. In the first national coronavirus lockdown, a fifth of women and girls aged 14-to-21 were catcalled, followed, groped, flashed or upskirted. This rose to 51% during the summer months. There have been several high-profile reports in the media regarding the response from police forces across the UK to this matter. Ensuring that members have the ability to hold their local force to account and share best practice will prove extremely beneficial to all involved. It is but another reason for this debate.

Moreover, UN Women UK released data showing that 97% of young women have been sexually harassed, and more than 70% of women of all ages have suffered this abuse.

Karin Smyth, MP for Bristol South, said: “Workplace sexual harassment remains widespread, underreported and poorly enforced. This is only compounded by the glaring loophole in the Equality Act. By supporting this Bill we are progressing women’s rights in the workplace, making the law work for working people and safeguarding future generations from abuse.

“I have long supported campaigns, by trade unions like Usdaw, to increase protections for people working in customer-facing roles. The data is clear that most of these jobs are held by women. Be them retail, hospitality or leisure they are at the greatest risk of abuse. We need this Bill to give women freedom from fear in the workplace that nothing will be done when they face abuse or harassment.

“As the Chair of Women’s Parliamentary Labour Party, I only see this is a step forward in addressing harassment culture. I will work with MPs of all political persuasions if they want to join our campaign to close this loophole once and for all.”

New year, new activity

Happy new year!

As the hangovers start to fade, and the diets and detoxes start to be planned, many are thinking

about how to make 2023 a year of discovery, new challenges and new beginnings.

One way you might want to try this is to take up a new hobby

The Theatre and Entertainment Luvver

or pastime - maybe this is the year to discover the theatre.

We are so lucky in south Bristol to have some amazing community and amateur theatre groups.

acta Community Theatre, a hidden gem just off North Street or South Street Park, is an incredible place with a tasty cafe. acta believes that theatre belongs to everyone, and that everyone has a story to tell. Through group devising and creating they have produced more than 47 community theatre shows in the last three years.

If you are interested in becoming a part and developing one of their next shows - the Phoenix Group runs every Thursday and is open to everyone interested in drama aged 16-

24 years - no audition needed.

Or if you are looking for some training, Acting Lab are regular community drama classes taking place at the tobacco factory every Wednesday. Acting Lab is a fun, engaging and safe place to develop your confidence, challenge and extend your performance skills - looking at Shakespeare, modern and comedy texts.

Whatever you do choose to do or try out this year, have fun and have a fantastic 2023.

Jacqui Ham

Theatre, comedy and so much more for all the family

Until 7 January, Bristol Old Vic, ‘The Nutcracker’. On a Christmas Eve unlike any other, Claire receives a magical gift... Transported to a fantastical kingdom where toys come to life, nutcrackers can talk and just about anything feels possible, she soon discovers that it’s not just mice lurking beneath the floorboards. But danger is coming – will Claire and her friends be able to stop the King of the Rats in his tracks before it’s too late? And why is she so fixated on her imaginary unicorn? Bristol Old Vic presents a bold and wild theatrical re-telling of The Nutcracker, full of magic, adventure and showstopping dance numbers.

Until 15 January, Tobacco Factory, ‘The Snow Queen’. Join Gerda on her quest to the frozen north as she tries to save her best-friend Kaj from the icy, wicked clutches of the Snow Queen. Bursting at the seams with rich acoustic music and brought to life by a multi-talented cast, this unforgettable folk tale is full of heart, courage and a lot of laughter. Remember to wrap up warm as we hop on-board a Nordic sleigh, adventure through a mystical land of snow and magic and even fly through the sky with a bicycling reindeer!

Until 8 January, Bristol Old Vic, ‘Belle and Sebastien’. Belle and Sebastien have run into the mountains, away from everyone and everything. Born on the same day seven years ago, this boy and this dog have yearned forever to feel like they belong. Now all they have is each other – and they don’t even realise it yet. Join these mischievous, playful, kindred spirits as they adventure into the wild to escape and discover themselves. Can they forge a friendship strong enough to survive the perils of the mountain? Could they even find a place to call home? A story of love and friendship set against the backdrop of snowy mountains and stormy relationships.

11-14 January, Bristol Old Vic, ‘There’s Nobody Else in the World’. Set in an isolated bunker a few hundred metres below the earth, ‘There’s Nobody Else In The World And The World Was Made For Me’ is the latest show from Bristol Old Vic’s Young Company exploring power, punishment and the current state of young people’s mental health.

31 January, Rough Trade, JW Francis. New York “lo-fi jangle dream slacker bedroom pop” artist JW Francis heads to Bristol as part of an intimate run of record shop shows to celebrate his new album ‘Dream House’. With a laidback and effortlessly cool style of song-making, JW Francis makes blissful melodies and dreamy instrumentals, and the new record is a glorious collection of tracks written by the artist through the lens of other people.

10-21 January, Bristol Hippodrome, ‘Jersey Boys’. The internationally acclaimed stage sensation ‘Jersey Boys’ is working its way back around the UK. They

Community Litter Pick January 14

Join other friendly Friends of The Avon New Cut volunteers for a litter pick along the banks of The New Cut at 9.50am. Meeting place to be confirmed on franc. org.uk. Wear appropriate clothing and stout footwear. Gloves and litter pickers provided.

were just four guys from Jersey, until they sang their very first note. They had a sound nobody had ever heard… and the radio just couldn’t get enough of. But while their harmonies were perfect on stage, off stage it was a very different story - a story that has made them an international sensation all over again. The show features all their

hits including ‘Sherry’, ‘Big Girls Don’t Cry’, ‘Oh What A Night’, ‘Walk Like A Man’, ‘Can’t Take My Eyes Off You’ and ‘Working My Way Back To You’.

Feelgood Fitness

is a friendly, small pilates and wellness studio in Knowle. We offer all ranges of pilates from beginners to intermediate, postnatal, pregnancy, barre fusion, low impact, reformer and large equipment, private sessions and massage.

To book, go to feelgoodfitness.org or call 07804 239070

n WHAT’S ON: REVIEWS

‘The Snow Queen’

The Tobacco Factory Theatre until January 15

LET your imagination run away to the North Pole with you as New International Encounter takes you on a magical adventure of friendship this Christmas.

In a show suitable for the whole family, the set is constantly reinvented before your eyes as the simplest of props transforms itself from a sleigh to a door to a baby’s bed and more. And all to a wonderful musical accompaniment from this talented and versatile cast of six.

Based on the Hans Christian Andersen story of the same name, ‘The Snow Queen’ follows Gerda as she travels from Denmark to the North Pole in search of her friend Kaj who has been taken by the Snow Queen. The difference between the two best friends is that Gerda maintains a childlike belief in magic, stories and the impossible, while Kaj is constrained by this adolescent awakening... making him cynical and doubtful. He just needs someone to prove him wrong…

This delightful show is filled with eccentric characters from a cycling reindeer, to a murder of crows (who aren’t murderous at all!), a hungry family of thieves, and a granny with endless stories to share. There is definitely plenty for the whole family to enjoy here.

Jane Williams

‘Cinderella’

The Bristol Hippodrome until December 31

SIMPLY brilliant! Beautiful scenery set the tone for a retelling of the classic story - where a young girl is treated badly by her evil stepmother and wicked step sisters. Feeling so sad, Cinderella (Lauren Hampton) is greeted by a fairy godmother who works her magic by making all of her dreams come true.

With local favourite Andy Ford’s brilliance as Buttons the West Country fool, and Craig Revel Horwood bringing the ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ glamour (despite the theatrical boos for the Baroness Hardup), this was a great show for all to enjoy

Other characters such as ‘Claudia’ and ‘Tess’ lent their excellent voices to the cast with good humour and comedic timing. Not forgetting super performances from Dandini (Daniel Norford), The Fairy Godmother (Alison Jiear), Prince Charming (Oliver Savile) and Cinderella herself.

With classic singalong, audience participation throughout and raucous laughter from start to finish, it’s time to run not walk to get your family some Christmas cheer this season. Snap those tickets up!

Ruth Drury

‘Cinderella’ photos by Steven Lewis

‘The Snow Queen’ pictures by Mark Dawson Photography

n WHAT’S ON CAV WORLD

Claire Cavanagh is BBC Radio Bristol’s afternoon presenter. She lives in Totterdown.

“Here we go, here we go, here we go…. again!”

Radio is all about repetition. I said radio is all about repetition. Every day you start a show the same way, news bulletin, travel news, an ident to say who your presenter is and then a song, then speak then song then speak. And most of the time it’s Ed Sheeran singing the song. It’s what makes radio a comfort, something familiar, someone you know.

But because the downside of familiarity is that it breeds contempt, you also have to have the new bit. The news isn’t the same every day. I know it feels like there’s a daily row about Bristol buses being cancelled, but like the buses, even the rows about the buses are less frequent than you think. The A4 Bath Road might be nose to tail from nine to five daily but sometimes the Airport Road is, too. The need for the new also applies in January when everything’s dead outside and we all feel a little dead inside.

This time we’ve had a double whammy of things to turn our heads and tickle our fancies in December, Christmas and the world

cup in the same month blew our minds. Supermarkets didn’t know where to turn. Offers on multipacks of beers for the lads watching the match, but at the same time two for one on stollen. Some desperate rebranding was attempted. Can we make this panettone football shaped? The only genuine success story was cheese footballs.

And so to January. A new month and a new year, but also feeling quite familiar in the sense of it does rock round every 12 months and leave us rather bleak. In a panic about the bleakness I already had a think about how to tackle January before the year was out. Do something new. A couple of years ago I started going to watch the mighty Bristol City Women. They’re near-ish the top of the second tier of women’s professional football at the moment. Every so often they’re allowed to play at the home of Bristol City, Ashton Gate, but the rest of the time home is the Robins High Performance. Go watch them, they’re great.

My other new for ‘23 recommendation is comedy. Mark Olver, a comedy compere, puts on something called Belly Laughs early in the new year where he hosts stand-up nights in cafes, pubs, curry houses, pizza places and bars in Bristol. You buy a ticket, the money goes to charity and you get a cracking night out. The line ups are great, too, upcoming comedians and big stars, Mark Watson, Russell Howard and Rosie Jones have done previous years.

I’m also going to go and listen to more live music. Bristol is gig-heaven and artists aren’t blind to these tight times so many places now do pay-what-you-can-afford tickets.

So don’t let January get you down, like Jodie Whittaker’s disappearing Dr Who, we need to regenerate into something new. Happy new year!

SIRONA

n WHAT’S ON INTERVIEW

On January 3, the world’s greatest living explorer (according to the Guinness Book of World Records)Sir Ranulph Fiennes - will be bringing his ‘Living Dangerously’ show to the Bristol Hippodrome. To whet your whistle before the event, we caught up with Sir Ranulph to find out more about superpowers, climbing Everest and relaxing to Enya.

You’re heading out on tour, what will you be talking about?

I’ll be talking about my life: my childhood and schooling, and training with the SAS (and being chucked out of the SAS). I’ll be talking about my very first posting with the British Army, and being the youngest captain in the British Army - even though I didn’t deserve it - and how that inspired my love of exploring. I’ll also touch upon some of my favourite expeditions, one of which was finding an Arab city with my first wife Ginny that we spent 26 years looking for, and how, in the first year after we got married, we did our first journey together: a 2,000 mile long boat trip down one of the toughest rivers in the world, in a rubber dinghy. There’s so much to talk about that I can only briefly touch on being the oldest Brit up Everest and the oldest pensioner in Great Britain to go up the north face of the Eiger. I’ve tried to get a good mix of polar exploring and my other adventures.

As a man that seems to be incredibly fearless, can you share whether there is anything that you worry about?

I don’t really worry about expeditions. I only really worry

A lifetime of adventures

about family finances. All those horses that Ginny loved... When we moved to Exmoor, we had lots of Aberdeen Angus cows and sheep, and that was quite profitable. But the horses...

You have achieved a great deal, are there any expeditions/ challenges you would still like to conquer?

There is one thing that I wish I had tried doing earlier. At the moment, I still hold the World Record of being the only person to have crossed the whole of that Antarctica ice cap, the whole of the northern ice cap and to climb the highest mountain. It’s called the Global Reach Challenge and I’m the only person to ever have done it. There are two other people who have nearly done it, a Norwegian and a Belgian, both of whom I am friends with now. The record I would like to have broken is to cross all the ice caps and climb all seven of the highest mountains. Everest is the most difficult, I’ve done that. And if when I’d done Everest I had done the minor ones, that would have

been no problem. It was 2009 and I was in my 60s and quite fit, but when you’re a bit older, things start to go wrong. Your circulation heads towards your core so if you have ever gotten frostbite before, you are even more likely to get it again. The mountains that you can actually climb when you are in your 70s have to be much lower than the ones you could have climbed before. There are only three of them out of seven I haven’t done, so it’s very annoying. I’m sure someone else will complete it soon.

What do you do to relax?

To relax, I sleep! And listen to the music of Enya. In between my lectures I run around the Serpentine a couple of times. I don’t call it jogging though, it’s more shuffling.

In many people’s minds you are already superhuman. If you could choose a superpower, what would it be?

My superpower would be to not have extreme vertigo! When I was in Dubai recently, they wanted me to go on the world’s highest zip

wire and break the record of going 160 mph, and I said yes because I didn’t want to be unpopular with the client. I sort of opened my eyes as we left the platform, but I then kept them shut for the rest of the ride! When I did the north face of the Eiger, I was being led by this guy who has done Everest 11 times. He is very clever at teaching his climbers how not to get vertigo temporarily. It’s pretty simpledon’t allow yourself to think below your feet at all. It seems obvious but don’t look down! Last August at home, the gutters got full of leaves, and I was too scared so I sent my wife up and I held the ladder. The north face of the Eiger has killed off 80 people but I could only do it because of that guy.

With the threat of climate change more apparent than ever, what would you urge the younger generation to change?

Sorting out the plastic in the ocean is a good start, rather than trying to tackle things you can’t even see. Everyone can do something about that, whereas something complicated like tackling carbon monoxide is more difficult to get the public interested in. If the whole of the motor industry had to switch to electric vehicles that would be good - then we would be heading in the right direction.

What is your next adventure?

The trouble with this question is that the enemy is constantly listening to what we are planning. If it’s a first, you don’t want to let anyone know, so unfortunately, I can’t divulge as to what I am doing next. You’ll just have to wait and see.

Astonishingly, this year will be the 19th edition of the hugely popular Slapstick Festival, which not only attracts huge comedy names to Bristol but also brings audiences from all around the world.

The festival’s director Chris Daniels is a proud resident of South Bristol, so SBV editor Jane Williams caught up with him ahead of the big event to find out more.

Finding your funny bone

Paul McCartney’s brother Mike.]

I’ve discovered that The Scaffold weren’t just ‘Lily The Pink’, they’re also a satirical comedy group who integrated comedy, poetry and song in a way I hadn’t fully appreciated. But as I’ve been working with them, I’ve been inspired by them and their unusual perspective on comedy.

Who would you most like to book for an event, dead or alive?

It started because I was running Bristol Silents and those events were going well, and I spoke to Paul Merton who’d done an event with us about Buster Keaton, and I suggested we do a whole weekend of silent films. It could have just as easily been something like a dramatic silent film weekend, but we chose silent comedy as a way of engaging audiences. If you’re on the outside of silent film, one way to get interested is to think ‘that looks funny’. And when we put it on, it was meant to be a one off with Paul Merton hosting. But at the end of the weekend, Paul said ‘Here’s to next year!’ and it built from there.

It’s also born of a passion for the genius of the performers and comedians that were working at that time. And like anything when you have a passion, the deeper you dig, the deeper it becomes. So it starts with Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton and Harold Lloyd, and the more you explore the more you recognise other performers like Mabel Norman and Marion Davis, and other performers start standing out. We’re curating it for

a modern audience and trying to engage with them.

There’s something very honest about silent films. As the world becomes faster, there’s an equal pull and draw to that which takes more time to engage with and enjoy. There’s something very real about watching a film like Harold Lloyd’s ‘Safety Last’ where you see Harold Lloyd climbing up the side of the building and you know that he is really on the side of the building, it’s not special effects. Keaton would take endless risks with his life, but to perform stunts like that would be ludicrous today.

Slapstick highlights

Onscreen Wonder Women

February 15

Lucy Porter and Jane Duffus present and discuss their picks from a new collection of rarelyseen silent comedy films in collaboration with Kino Lober.

I think audiences still seem to love silent films because they’re getting a connection with the people on screen. And the live music that’s played means there’s something very special that happens between the image on the screen, the live improvised music and the audience in the room, and it’s unique every time, that event will never be repeated. And that’s what makes it different to Netflix.

What event are you most excited about in this year’s festival?

The Scaffold events, because I’ve been working so closely with them. [The Scaffold are a trio from the 1960s that includes

Silent Comedy Gala

February 17 Buster Keaton was working at a breakneck pace in 1924, beginning work on

‘The Navigator’ within weeks of fracturing his neck in one of the many daring stunts featured in the ingenious ‘Sherlock Jr’.

It would have to be Buston Keaton or Charlie Chaplin, just because of the slapstick thing. But ideally Paul McCartney because The Beatles’ films had a lot of slapstick in. You could argue The Beatles contributed substantially to that new form of comedy that emerged alongside Monty Python. The Beatles were natural comedians.

Tell us about your favourite places in South Bristol…

Our offices are at the Aardman Studios on Gas Ferry Road, and I live off Wells Road, so I very much live and work in South Bristol. We chose this part of the city because it was far enough out of the city to feel like it was a bit quieter and you had a bit of headspace, and it has a really nice community feel around it. Every week I go to A Capella for breakfast or down to the Canteen. Farrow’s do the best fish and chips in Bristol. And Fox & West is great for groceries, they have amazing stuff there. And we go swimming at the Jubilee Pool and supported the campaign to save the pool.

The 2023 Slapstick Festival runs from February 14-19. Visit the website for more details: slapstick.org.uk

A Hard Day’s Night

February 19 ‘A Hard Day’s Night’ sees The Beatles play cheeky comic versions of themselves. Paul McCartney’s brother Mike will be live in conversation.

Why did you decide to start Slapstick all those years ago?

Why should modern audiences still watch silent films?

n LOCAL HISTORY

Below is an extract from ‘The Women Who Built Bristol’ book. This entry is by Rosemary Caldicott, who is a historian, member of the Bristol Radical History Society, and the author of a number of history books including ‘The Life and Death of Hannah Wiltshire’.

DURING the year 1855, rumours of murder and cover up were circulating in Walton-in-Gordano. The allegations were that in Bedminster Union Workhouse, a 22-year-old female inmate who suffered from epilepsy had been murdered. The victim’s name was Hannah Wiltshire. Within a few months of entering the workhouse, Hannah died a violent, neglected death after an altercation with the woman in charge of the workhouse dining room, Mrs Cavil. Her premature death caused local public outrage in the media at the time, instigated by her pauper aunt, Ann Howe. Ann was Hannah’s only guardian before she had to enter the workhouse. Ann was illiterate and the homeless daughter of impoverished farm labourers. However, this did not stop her from attempting to expose how Hannah had died, which was through neglect and medical negligence. With the help of friends in the community, Ann embarked on a letter-writing campaign to the local newspapers for justice. The accusation being that the Poor Law Guardians of the Workhouse had concealed the true extent of neglect that existed within the walls of Bedminster Union Workhouse.

To add to her distress, Ann was not convinced that Hannah’s body was even in the coffin, because she was not given the chance to view her niece’s body before she was buried in the local churchyard. Her suspicions were valid because the Workhouse Guardians had the right, under law, to hand over dead bodies to medical schools for dissection if a body remained uncollected by family or friends, leading to a financial gain for the workhouse.

Due to public pressure, an inquest opened on 11 October 1855 in the village schoolhouse situated next to St Paul’s church, Walton-in-Gordano. The Coroner agreed that Hannah’s coffin should be opened for inspection, with the

Murder at the workhouse?

jury and those who knew her to be present. The coffin was exhumed on the day of the inquest and when it was opened the female body inside was recognisable as the deceased Hannah Wiltshire. The local surgeon who carried out the autopsy stated that although her skull had not been fractured, there was a sign of a bleed under her skull. Surprisingly the workhouse doctor, Mr Massey, as well as the Master and Matron of the workhouse were not required to be present at the inquest.

A key witness, Mary Jane Tyler, gave evidence of what she had seen. “Mrs Cavil struck her three blows under the right ear, and then got up; deceased then had a fit and got up, and attempted to put her hands into the fire, [Hannah had been attempting to warm water on the fire], but was prevented; she then again lay down in the fits … and then Sexa Marshall [a pauper nurse] and other persons took her into the Infirmary and put her to bed; on the following Monday morning I saw deceased lying dead in the Infirmary; the doctor [Mr Massey] was at the union on Saturday, and might, perhaps have seen her … but I do not think so, neither the master nor the matron of the house was present at the time, but hearing the alarm they inquired about it afterwards”.

After hearing all the evidence, the jurors took only 15 minutes to return the following verdict: “That the deceased’s death was caused by apoplexy, but that sufficient care was not taken by the authorities of the Bedminster Union Workhouse to separate the deceased from the other inmates of the establishment, knowing,

as they did, the very peculiar liabilities of the deceased to fit, upon being thwarted. The jury are also of the opinion of the peculiar circumstances under which the deceased on this occasion, came by her death. This verdict was dissented from by one or two jurors, who were for one of ‘Manslaughter’”.

Following the verdict, a public outcry ensued which resulted in numerous letters of complaint and dissatisfaction directed towards the Board of Guardians. The writers were outraged that a unanimous verdict of manslaughter was not reached and they demanded a public enquiry. Instead the Board of Guardians agreed to hold an enquiry in private, behind closed doors.

Ann Howe persisted in attempting to bring those to blame for the death of her niece to trial, with the possibility of them being charged with manslaughter. Although she was ultimately not successful in provoking a trial or even a public enquiry, her campaign did instigate a coroner’s inquest and ultimately a private investigation by the governors’ of the Bedminster Union Workhouse. This was quite a remarkable achievement for an impoverished daughter from the labouring classes and as a woman who had very few rights. The case of Hannah Wiltshire also demonstrated disquiet in the community at large regarding the treatment of epileptic paupers.

During this period, the government decreed that each county should build a lunatic asylum where the disadvantaged classes who suffered with epilepsy

and other mental health issues could be sent. Perceptions of epilepsy among Victorian medical practitioners were formed by consideration of class and social status, a view that dramatically affected the treatment of the disease. The condition was believed to be a social stigma and the social characteristics of the patient often determined medical diagnosis. Victorians saw the working-class epileptic as a burden on society, and viewed epilepsy as a dangerous character flaw among the labouring poor. On the other hand, epilepsy was characterised as a private misfortune among the wealthy. Although doctors had a basic understanding of what epilepsy was, they were unable to detach themselves from the social attitudes towards epilepsy.

The life and nature of Hannah’s death illustrates the typical treatment imposed upon the vulnerable poor living in England during the mid-19th century. Yet, despite class based medical discrimination towards the treatment of epileptics in Victorian England, Ann and her supporters succeeded in provoking a legal obligation for accountability from the Guardians of Bedminster Union Workhouse.

The case of Hannah Wiltshire illustrates many of the significant discriminatory failings of Victorian society, mainly those of stigma and social class discrimination. The inquest exposed many fundamental issues: that key people and witnesses were not answerable to an inquest court; that the treatment of epileptics was class based; and that institutions were not sufficiently transparent and accountable to the public. The revelations from this case began a public shift of attitude towards the treatment of epileptic paupers, as well as a heightened suspicion of the management practices inside England’s workhouses.

Returning to Civvy Street

I GOT on with Gill’s parents very well and although in disgrace I was invited into the house and spent quite a pleasant couple of hours with them. Gill’s mum kept me well supplied with tea and food. Her father, who was not a well man and was practically housebound, was an avid sports fan who listened to all sports on the radio and read most of the papers and magazines. He seemed to welcome that chance to talk sport for a couple of hours. I met Gill from the cinema but the walk home was very quiet and I did not linger long on the doorstep. We continued to meet up for the next month or so but it was obvious that the romance was going nowhere. The final break however came as quite a surprise when Gill announced that she had decided to join the navy (WRNS) and had already passed

the medical.

This change of direction proved to be a very good move on her behalf as I heard several years later that she had met and married a young career officer who rose in the ranks to an important post in the NATO European headquarters and lived in luxurious accommodation overlooking the Bay of Naples. In the past, the story goes, a young man following a failed love affair, would join the French Foreign Legion, be sent to an isolated outpost in Sub Sahara, just sun and sand in order to forget.

Now it seems it’s the young lady who joins the British Services, meets an ambitious officer and lives happily in luxury in one of the most sought after resorts in Europe. Now that’s what I call progress.

For the remainder of that winter I still came home every weekend but did not play any sport locally and watched either City or Rovers on Saturdays. I rekindle old friendships with my friends from the church youth clubs and spent most Saturday evenings either dancing or at the cinema. By this time we had graduated from the local church hall hops and progressed to the city centre venues. Among these were the Corn Exchange and the M V College Hall, but our favourite was the Victoria Rooms in Clifton. This was part of the Bristol University complex with a higher class of patrons and was more spacious. None of these dance halls were licensed to sell alcohol but this was no deterrent as our group paid more interest to sport than drink.

which I was not one) there was the Latin American section - sambas, tangos etc - but these were not greatly enjoyed. There was usually a section of old time or sequence dances. These were for fun and in the progressive dances there were very often hilarious scenes when some people moved forward when supposed to move back, ending with some dancers having two partners while others had none.

There was an unwritten protocol at these dances. Very few people came with a partner; most dancers were in same-sex groups of friends. Between dances everyone sat or stood around the perimeter of the dance floor and as the band leader announced the next dance, the young man would linger close to the girl of his choice and step forward and correctly ask “Could I have the pleasure of this dance?” In most cases the girl would say yes but on the occasions that the girl said sorry, this left the boy in an awkward position. He could hardly ask one of her friends or another girl standing close by, so was left to make a dignified retreat. At the end of each dance the boy would thank the girl and escort her back to where her friends were standing.

The evening ended, just about in time for the last buses, with the Last Waltz, usually to the tune of “Goodnight Sweetheart”, a slow, smoochy tune, when the lights would be lowered. By this time the young man would be sure that he would be seeing the girl home. Now at this time no one, or very few, had their own transport and if they did it was usually an old motor bike. So the following thought process would have been

taken; did the girl of his choice live on a good bus route? If so what sort of distance was it from her home to his, as the last return journey bus would have gone? So if the boy lived at Knowle it was fine if the girl lived at Totterdown, Whitchurch or Brislington, but it would have been a no-no if her home was at Westbury, Kingswood or other areas of more than about two miles away.

Luckily I was not involved in these considerations as I had no intention of getting a serious girlfriend for quite a while. One other dance venue I will mention is the Grand Spa Hotel at Clifton. This was a very sophisticated venue, not only was it very plush, it also had a licensed bar in the ballroom, a resident eight-piece band with a female vocalist and held dances every Saturday. Our group knew quite a few of the boys who danced there and we referred to them as ‘spa types’.

The winter eventually gave way to the spring and summer of 1952 and my weekend thoughts were to get away from camp to home and to the wonderful game of cricket. The remainder of that summer passed relatively quietly and all too soon September 3rd arrived to end my teenage years. I cannot remember any great celebrations that marked this special day.

I think the most significant was the crossing off of another day on my demob chart which then showed 121 days and an early breakfast before I returned to civvy street, took up my proper job again and set about learning to become a man. Every self- respecting national serviceman kept a demob chart for at least the last six months of service. The early breakfast was part of the ritual, to enable the catching of an early train if required.

John’s wonderful recollections are sure to jog the memories of some of our readers. We would love to hear similar tales and see photos from the period. Please email these to news@southbristolvoice.co.uk or post them to us South Bristol Voice, 111 Broadfield Road, Knowle, Bristol BS4 2UX. All items will be safely returned to the sender. We would really love to hear from you!

The music for these dances was provided by local musicians, usually five or six in number. There were several named band leaders but you would see some of the players moving from one band to another and back again. They played a strict tempo for dancing. The majority of the dances were the easier to perform waltzes, quicksteps and foxtrots. For the more experienced dancers (of

John Fletcher in the 1950s

In the final installment of our serialisation of Memories of Bristol Boyhood, Knowle resident John Fletcher talks about some of the dances he enjoyed before he left the RAF.

Barker, Secretary BS3 Wildlife Group

TWO wildlife experiments will be underway in the Bristol area during 2023. One is the Emersons Green Community Nature Reserve and the other is the Greater Bedminster Urban Nature Reserve. Both neighbourhoods are a mixture of housing and open spaces, although far from the same proportions. Both aim to stem the decline in wildlife by asking local people to join

together to make both domestic gardens and larger, often public, spaces more welcoming to birds, bats, bees and butterflies.

Some BS3 Wildlife Group members have already registered their gardens. Gardens are important because they are very productive; there are lots of them and they are a way in which creatures move around between larger spaces like parks.

By mid-December about two acres of gardens had signed up. By May we hope for 10 acres.

Twenty or more by the end of 2023? We expect, too, that there will be other Community/Urban Nature Reserves underway.

We will also be working with BCC and other landowners to promote wildlife in parks, allotments, churchyards, school grounds and other places.

Even with a relatively small number of registrations, so far, we are learning new things. Generally, public parks don’t offer water for drinking and bathing, but many nearby gardens have ponds or birdbaths. Bats seem to be observable across most of BS3, whereas hedgehogs seem to be

restricted to a few isolated areas. Knowing these sorts of things will help us respond more sensibly to the current ecological emergency. Will you register your garden?

Ben

Photographs by Lorne Hodgson

Female Sparrowhawk

Robin

Grey heron

In Witch

I ask the Universe

A FEW years ago, my Mum and I were browsing sparkly things at an antiques fair when I spied a gorgeous necklace. It was a large articulated silver fish on a chunky chain. I stooped to peer closer, admiring the detail. “How much?” asked Mum. “£75” answered the trader. “£60?” queried Mum. “£75” repeated the trader, louder this time. “£60” confirmed Mum, nodding “that’s good”. The trader frowned, then shrugged and sold it to me for £60.00. Bargain and I absolutely love it not only because it’s a statement piece but because Mum unwittingly got the price down. A special memory of us.

And then I lost it. I went to put it on for an event but it was not on my dressing table, or in the bathroom, or under the bed. I searched for days. I looked at photos of me wearing it and then tried retracing my steps

for that day. I even rummaged through the attic. The necklace had gone. I trawled google to find a replacement, but you cannot replace a memory.

I was whining about my loss to Jubilee Jackie as we rolled around on the mats at the Jubilee Pool’s gym and she said “have you asked the Universe?” I looked at her with a frown. “Ask the Universe?”

I questioned. “Do it” she said seriously “and you will find it”.

I went home, screwed my eyes shut and said “Please, please, please Universe help me find my fish necklace.” I opened one eye and looked around for witnesses “I promise to be good from now

on and be kind to my family” that promise might have ruined it.

I decided to have a final hunt. I did find a set of keys Himself had lost a few months back and about £5.00 in loose change. Then I looked in my overnight bag, one I’d searched a dozen times already. I gave it a shake, peered inside and there it was. I stared in shock, and the necklace stared back with it’s one glassy eye and mouth agog. I plucked it out and rained kisses on it’s silver body while whispering “thank you Universe”.

When I told Himself what had happened that evening he peered over his specs and raised an eyebrow “Yes, the Universe helped you find it.” He stated, a tad sarcastically “because the Universe hasn’t got anything more important going on like war, climate change and Bristolians trying to navigate the Clean Air Zone” (he has an old car).

Then I wanted to go and see the murmuration of the starlings at Ham Wall near Glastonbury. I did try a couple of years ago but arrived too late and missed it. This time, as Eldest Girl Child was home for a visit, we hatched a spur of the

COMMUNITY TAKE OVER JUBILEE POOL & GYM

The FRIENDS OF JUBILEE POOL (FoJP) are still on course to take Jubilee Pool into community ownership from September 2022.

Although at the time of writing, we find ourselves in a really difficult place, where rising energy prices have forced a change of plan and consequently a plea for new support.

SO, WHATS BEEN HAPPENING?

Up until mid-August, we were working with a new operator, that would run Jubilee on our behalf. The new operator withdrew when the utility supply crisis suggested that an additional cost of between £120,000 - £330,000pa would be needed, making it clear that they were unable to move forward with that risk.

So after very quick and intense discussions, the existing operator Parkwood have offered us a lifeline by remaining in post for another 6 months under their existing utility tariff. As well as keeping the pool open, Parkwood have offered their support to help us shape Jubilee for the future.

While we have funds in place to see us through the first three months of the contract, we will need YOUR help to cover costs while the utility crisis continues.

KEEP IN TOUCH & UP TO DATE

moment plan to get up early and watch the dance of the starlings. I whispered to the Universe asking for the birds to wait for me this time. It took an hour to drive across the Mendips and it was foggy.

We made it to the nature reserve car park without mishap, it was pitch black and spooky, no other cars were there.

Studying the map we made our way along a track, closely followed by a super fat robin and as the sun started to rise so did the bird song, it was loud. We dithered about where to stand, marching along the path and back again really needing the Universe’s guidance. Then a total silence fell upon the land and in the distance we could see a mass rising from the reeds. Squinting through the fog we watched a giant black wave of birds cascade away from us, then they were gone. And that was it. The Universe shrugged and we trudged back to the car accompanied by the annoyingly jolly robin and my world got back to normality as I searched for my car keys.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

1. USE THE POOL AND GYM

Visit using pay-as-you-go or keep your membership going, or if not a member please join up. Membership is £24.99 per month. 2. MAKE A REGULAR DONATION Through our online Local Giving page via the QR code or web address below 3. MAKE A ONE OFF DONATION Again through our Local Giving page here: localgiving.org/charity/friends-of-jubilee-pool-bristol/ 4. SUPPORT OUR FUNDRAISERS Keep an eye open for any fundraisers that you can get involved in, or come along and have some fun.

Once we have the keys to Jubilee we will be looking for volunteers. Could you spare a few hours a week to work on reception? Maybe cleaning, maintenance, or decorating is more your thing? We also need help with events and fundraising. Please get in touch via social media or email

EMAIL: SAVEJUBILEEPOOL@HOTMAIL.COM

Ashton Vale is a forgotten area

IN the December issue of South Bristol Voice, Tony Dyer and Christine Townsend stated they were disappointed at continued delays to the improvements proposed for Dame Emily Park. At least they have a park. In Ashton Vale, residents have been asking for a playground since at least 2008. In 2009, a meeting was held by the council in Ashton Vale playing fields to ask residents what play equipment they wanted. It was suggested wooden playground equipment for all ages and all abilities, again nothing happened.

In 2014, £100,000 funds were given for a playground for Ashton Vale but sadly yet again nothing happened, so I do hope the money hasn’t gone elsewhere.

I think it is wrong that Parson Street Old Boys’ Club have taken over the playing fields, surely these playing fields should be for residents & children of Ashton Vale to enjoy.

Re Mark Bradshaw saying he has spoken with organisations about how to deliver a long promised playground in Ashton Vale, why doesn’t he speak to residents?

There are two places, one on the green at the end of the No 23 bus route. There used to be swings there many years ago but sadly they were removed. The other is Ashton Vale Playing Fields as previously stated.

How nice that Mark has been making progress for a pedestrian crossing on Luckwell Road near the Primary School. It is a shame he hasn’t made any progress on a crossing for Ashton Drive. An application for one was put in by a resident but sadly was turned down. One is needed even more since the link road was built. Many residents didn’t want the link road as they were concerned about extra traffic in Ashton Vale but we were told by councillors we had to wait until it was built to see what happens, then if there was an issue they would do something about it. Residents were correct it has resulted in traffic using Ashton Vale as a rat run, many vehicles speeding even heavy vehicles. It is dangerous to cross Ashton Drive especially for schoolchildren and elderly people.

As usual Ashton Vale is a forgotten area. Let’s hope things will now change. Since Tessa Fitzjohn has been one of our councillors, she has been very supportive and knows that Ashton Vale has been forgotten and that it is a special place.

Chris Pratley