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March 2006 |
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Update on Development Proposals for Oaktree Avenue The December issue of Pucklechurch News contained the first article about the Oaktree Avenue development proposals, and an update was promised for this issue. During the intervening period, the Council Housing Department has continued to work closely with Sovereign Housing Association and other Council departments to reconsider the initial proposals with regard to local concerns. In particular, we have been looking at the provision of open space and the possibility of locating a new GP surgery on the site. To this end, we have been in discussions with Dr Seddon and the Primary Care Trust to establish principles such as how much land the surgery would require and where best to locate it on the site. This process is taking slightly longer than we had hoped, but when we have a revised layout we hold a full consultation on it. For further information or to express your views, please contact Tim Borthwick on 01454 865558, e-mail to tim.borthwick@southglos.gov.uk or write to him at Housing Department, Riverside Court, Bowling Hill, Chipping Sodbury, South Gloucestershire BS36 6JX. [back to top] South Gloucestershire Council are continuing their discussions with Sovereign and the Primary Care Trust concerning the Oaktree Avenue development. This includes discussions on the GP surgery. The Government intends to move to a free bus pass system, which means bus tokens may have to be axed. Living in a rural area, we need to retain the tokens to use them for taxis, trains and coaches, giving us independence. Buses don't always go to the places we want to go -- to the hospital, the doctor, or a friend. The Happy Circle submitted a petition to the council asking for tokens to be retained. There have been petitions in the Post Office and the newsagent's. I have spoken on these issues at the Planning, Transport and Strategic Environmental Committee urging them to retain bus tokens. At the time of writing, a decision was scheduled to be made at the Council budget meeting on 22nd February, so by the time you read this, the outcome should be known. [Note from Sandra Grant - The Council decided not to keep tokens and opted for the free bus pass system]. Pucklechurch residents concerned about speeding traffic are joining forces to take part in Community Speedwatch. Individuals are trained by the police to use a speed gun for the purpose of monitoring traffic speeds. The police Traffic Unit will give presentation to explain the scheme at a meeting to be held later this month. When we have a date, notices will be displayed around the village. For further information please contact Frank Rogers on 937-3067, Peter Rendall on 937-3869 or Sandra Grant on 937-3164. Cllr. Sandra Grant [back to top]
Parish Plan In the last edition of Pucklechurch News, we invited people to join a steering group to oversee the Parish Plan project. Unlike other initiatives, the development of the Plan would not be run by the Council (although one or two Council members might wish to be part of the group) but by other interested people in our community. The Council’s main role would be to manage any finances granted by Central Government. So far only a few people have indicated that they are interested in the idea. If you would like to be involved in something that will set the agenda for our village for the next few years, please contact the Clerk to the Council, Diane Bailey on 937 2398. Spring Clean Each year, Parish Councillors take part in a ‘Spring Clean’. This enables us to do something positive to help make our village look cleaner. Obviously we cannot undertake a village-wide cleanup; but with the help of Brownies and Guides, several areas are cleared of litter and debris. With more volunteers, we could cover a larger area. If other parishioners would like to be involved in this year’s Spring Clean, please contact Diane Bailey at the number above. We usually undertake the cleanup during or shortly after the Easter holiday in April. We will display some posters in local shops nearer the time to let you know when and where to meet for this year’s cleanup. Speed Limits South Glos Council have erected signs and imposed new speed limits between Pucklechurch and Wick. The speed limit through Abson is now 30 mph. A 40 mph limit applies for the rest of the stretch of road between Pucklechurch and Wick. In Wick the speed again reduces to 30 mph. Rural Post Offices The Parish Council has had a briefing from the Local Councils Association regarding a new threat to rural post offices. In March the Government will review the subsidisation of rural post offices, which is under increasing budget pressure. If the Government decides to remove subsidies, an estimated 6,000 rural post offices may close. Will Pucklechurch Post Office be one of them? Contact your local MP Steve Webb to let him know how you feel about the subject. Omar Beg, Chairman [back to top]
This year the Parish Council had an income of £31,548.46 and will spend £28,464.00, as shown below. We will carry forward a reserve of £8,500, but £5,000 of this will be spent on a large piece of play equipment to be placed in the recreation field at Pucklechurch. The Parish Council has made an application to South Gloucestershire Council for a precept of £21,177. This is an increase of 2.7%, which is in line with inflation. Recreation Fields/Woodland £12,223.53 The largest item under recreation was the supply and erection of new swings for Pucklechurch -- two toddler and two flat seats plus safety matting at a cost of £6,275. South Gloucestershire Environmental Body helped with a grant of £3,000.00. This category also includes grass cutting costs of £3,042. Administration costs include the salary for our clerk of £3,360 plus expenses, and £1,320 for someone to keep the recreation field clean. Rent for the use of the Community Association meeting room was £132. Our largest grant this year was £1,300, as a contribution towards the cost of purchasing replacement ceiling tiles for the Village Hall. We also gave a grant of £750 towards the upkeep of the churchyard, and £735 for the production of Pucklechurch News. Membership costs included £560 to Avon Local Councils Association, who provide us with legal advice and general help. For any parishioner interested the full accounts, which are submitted to the District Audit Office, they will be available for inspection towards the middle of May. For the exact dates, please check the notice board outside the Post Office. Chairman Omar Beg Cllr. Alan Holder [back to top]
Interested in using public transport but not sure where to get the most up to date information? Here is a short summary on public transport services in Pucklechurch: The 689 bus service provides a useful link to Bristol City Centre and to Yate train station. Buses depart hourly Monday to Saturday, 7am to 5pm. For timetable information, call Traveline on 0870 608 2608 or visit www.traveline.org.uk. Every hour trains go from Yate to Bristol, Gloucester and Cheltenham on weekdays. It takes only 19 minutes to get from Yate to Bristol Temple Meads making it the quickest way to get around. For timetable enquires, contact National Rail on 0845 748 4950 or visit www.nationalrail.co.uk. Unable to use ordinary bus services? Why not try Community Transport, a service run by voluntary organisations with help from South Gloucestershire Council. To contact Yate & Sodbury District Community Transport, phone 01454 316448. Details about all public transport services in South Gloucestershire are available on the Council website www.southglos.gov.uk. Free Internet access is available in all South Gloucestershire libraries. Remember, if you are over 60 you are eligible for a concessionary travel pass, providing half-price bus fares, and from April 2006, it will entitle you to free bus use. To apply for a pass, complete an application form available in libraries or any Council office. Kate Champion [back to top] Some recent changes to the Pucklechurch Community Website (www.pucklechurch.org) should make it easier to find what you're looking for. The site has grown to over 100 pages and receives well over 4,000 page views from 2,000 visitors each month. I have now included a simple index: just click on "Site Index" at the bottom of the left-hand menu and you should find what you want. If I have missed something you're looking for, please let me know. While most of the 2,000+ visitors a month are local, there are a large handful of visits from Australia and Canada, which suggests ex-Pucklechurchians are staying in touch with us. We also get regular visitors from Germany, Holland and the Czech Republic! The most popular pages over the last three months (apart from the home and index pages) were: 1. Pucklechurch News (the online version of this publication) Have you signed up to receive updates about events and changes? This is a good way to stay on top of events. All you have to do is click on the green box on the left side of the screen and fill in some simple details -- the rest is automatic. To date, only 120 people are signed up and I'm sure there are many more people in Pucklechurch with Internet access. Sign up next time you visit. [Editor’s note: Since publishing this article in the printed version of the Pucklechurch News we received an interesting letter that explains what is behind at least one of our regular overseas visitors. More here...] Martin Smith webmaster@pucklechurch.org [back to top]
Our group was started by Juliet Hills, of Cedar Way, when her daughter Lauren was 18 months old. She explains: "I read a book about a woman who fostered abused children. At the end there was a list of people you could contact if you'd been moved by the story. I got in touch with the NSPCC and the local appeals organiser suggested that I set up a fund-raising group." Juliet's initial idea for raising money was a coffee morning, and her husband David offered to pay to hire a room in the community centre for it. But then she got the chance to run a fashion show, and in October 1989, with the help of a couple of friends, she organised it and netted £190. By this time a few other women with children of similar ages had become involved and helped Juliet run a stall at an event at Badminton House, hosted by the late Duchess of Beaufort. Juliet also did some doorstep collecting during the charity's annual fund-raising week and recruited Mary James, of Abson Road, who went on to run our house-to-house collection for many years. The backbone of our efforts is our (usually) annual auction of goods and promises. Initially we had a professional auctioneer, who enjoyed the event so much that she continued to come back for it after she moved to Nottingham. But eventually one of our group, Andrea Ryland, took on the task -- and a marvellous job she does too. Some local individuals and businesses put up lots for us every year, but we try also to include new The auction is always a great social event and so is the cheese and wine quiz, which we have now run about four times, and our pre-Christmas lasagne and Body Shop evening. We have also had wonderful summer suppers in the garden of Hester and Brian Rogers in Hinton. This event started out as a 'thank you" to our supporters but eventually became a money-spinner too. You may detect a food and drink theme to all this - and raising funds is undeniably more enjoyable in such circumstances. This makes the achievement of two of our stalwarts, Keith and Evelyn Shorricks, of Lansdown Road, even more remarkable. They have raised more than £8,000 for the NSPCC in the 13 years since they joined us simply by selling bric-a-brac -- mostly stuff that other people have thrown out. They have stored it in their home and lugged it to fetes, car boot sales, coffee mornings and sales. Keith, Evelyn and Mary all received long-service awards from the NSPCC in December. NSPCC regional representative Carrie Cardale told them: "You have made a fantastic difference to so many children." It costs £35 to answer and deal with every call from a child to the NSPCC helpline. As 85 per cent of the organisation's income comes from fund-raising and voluntary donations, it relies on volunteers' support. Every little bit helps. Over the years we have raised nearly £15,000 by rattling tins outside supermarkets. Another £1,000+ has been collected in the village from loose change put into the social club bottle and the collecting boxes at the Best In and the post office. We are really grateful for all the support we receive. Linda Tanner [back to top]
Mark your calendars for Saturday, June 17th. You won't want to miss this year's Revel Day main attraction, a hilarious clown act called "Tomfoolery with Tom and Tilly Turnip". The clowns take centre stage in the arena for two acts of total comic mayhem featuring Charlie, the world's only almost flying Reliant Robin. The arena will also host the Harley-Davidsons, who return by popular demand, and the usual assortment of contests to test the children's speed and agility. Parade This year's Revel theme is "Food, Glorious Food", so get your thinking caps on -- or your chef's hat -- for the Revel Parade. There will be £50 cash prizes for the best entries by children's and adults' groups. Remember that lorries will not be provided this year, so bring your own vehicles for floats, or better yet, have a walking entry or a horse-powered or people-powered float. If your group would like some new and different ideas for parade entries, contact Martin Smith to arrange for a presentation and brainstorming session (937-4437 or webmaster@pucklechurch.org). Stalls This year, we would like a greater variety of stalls on Revel Day, so we invite both charitable organisations and commercial ventures to participate. Contact Martin Smith at the number above for more information about a stall on the Rec. Once again there will be a Craft Fayre in the Village Hall on Revel Day. Stalls are only £13, and given this year's Revel theme, we particularly encourage anyone with who specialises in something 'foodie' to participate. To book a stall, contact Juliet Hills on 937-2279. Classic Cars Wanted Do you own a classic, vintage, or otherwise interesting vehicle? On Revel Day. there will be a special area on the Rec for our own little car show. Bring your vehicle along between 9 and 11 am on June 17 during setup time and show off your pride and joy. Beer Festival This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Pucklechurch Beer Festival, and the event is shaping up to be the best one yet. Choose from 28 real ales and ciders, enjoy the barbecue, watch the Morris dancers, and listen to some great live music. Friday night features the duo She Said, and back by popular demand on Saturday night is Cable Co. Tickets go on sale 1st May. Buy early -- don't miss out! Everything Else Other events during Revel Week will include the Revel Ramble, a pram race with cash prizes, a treasure hunt, and more. Revel programmes will go on sale in May with details about Revel Week events. Jacki Berry Revel Committee PR [back to top]
After the success of last year's event, Pucklechurch Revel will sponsor the second annual Bob Stone Memorial Photography Competition for 2006. This year's competition has two age groups and two categories, each of which will be judged separately for first, second, and third place. Entries are due in by July 30th. To help fund the prizes, there will be a fee of £1 per entry for adults, but entry is free for those 17 and under. Prizes will likely include cash, vouchers, and/or merchandise. The competition is open to amateur photographers who are residents of Pucklechurch, Shortwood, Abson, Westerleigh, Hinton, Doynton, and Dyrham and any student attending Pucklechurch Primary School. Judges will be from outside the village and will look for good composition, pin-sharp focus, and visual impact in selecting the winners. Age groups: · 17 and under (entry is free) · 18 and over (£1 per entry) Categories:
Jacki Berry [back to top]
Pucklechurch News received a copy of the annual report on HMP/YOI Ashfield submitted by the Independent Monitoring Board (IMB). The IMB is an independent watchdog appointed by the Secretary of State to monitor prisons and Young Offenders Institutes in the UK. The annual report, which was published 19 December 2005 and covers the period from June 2004 to June 2005, concluded, "The Board is pleased to report that Ashfield has had another excellent year. The Director, her management team and the staff have worked extremely hard to ensure that Ashfield maintains a safe environment for the YPs [young persons] in their care." Ashfield is a privately run facility owned and operated by Serco Home Affairs Ltd. The Director is Vicky O'Dea. Originally intended to house both juveniles (aged 15-17) and young offenders (aged 18-21), was converted to a juveniles-only facility in February 2004. The housing consists of two blocks, each with four wings, accommodating up to 400 juveniles in individual rooms. The population averaged just over 302 during the reporting period, so Ashfield does not suffer from the prison overcrowding that often makes the news. Two areas of Ashfield's operations were specifically called out for praise, the programme of education and training and the provisions and programmes for healthcare and drug abuse. The education and training programme includes courses leading to NVQs and City & Guilds certification in a variety of vocational specialities, as well as participation in the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme and the Prince's Trust initiative. Ashfield's Special Education Needs Department won an award for their work with the most disengaged young people, and this programme was called out as an example of good practice in the annual report. A new Learning Resource Centre opened in July 2005 for in-house training, and the staff have also been successful at identifying outside placements, such as a forklift truck driver's course, to give the young people the training and experience they need to find a job after release. Ford Motor Company donated a Land Rover Freelander and a Jaguar engine for Ashfield's motor vehicle workshop, providing the opportunity for the young people to develop practical skills. The programs also teach the young charges how to search for a job, complete a job application, and prepare for an interview. The onsite Healthcare Centre, which runs daily surgeries, achieved a mark of 96%, which was the highest in the country for a facility providing 24-hour care. Ashfield has gone beyond the basics and developed links with the Child and Adolescent Mental Heath Services (CAMS), which provides a forensic nurse and a community psychiatric nurse. It is the only prison in the UK to have this arrangement. Ashfield has a no smoking policy that contributes to its overall anti-drugs programme, which goes by the snappy name of "Juvenile Substance Misuse Service". The programme includes education, help with detoxification, mandatory drug testing, and use of a sniffer dog to check visitors. While 54% of admissions test positive for drugs, only 4% test positive during their residency, much better than the national target of 10%. Ashfield also received good ratings in the areas of handling race relations, catering, security, safety and child protection policies, and physical education. However, the IMB expressed concern about the regime provided to young people kept in the segregation units. Though assured by the Head Office for Contracted Prisons that the procedures are correct, the IMB believes they are contrary to YOI rules. Overall, the IMB annual report indicates that Ashfield is a safe and well-run facility. Jacki Berry [back to top]
Our own first couple of cricket, Dean and Vicky Freestone, won the 2005 award for Outstanding Service to Youth Cricket from the Bristol Youth Cricket League. They received the award at the League's AGM in December. The Freestones have been the force behind Pucklechurch Cricket Club for the last 10 years. Over 60 children participate in Pucklechurch Youth Cricket, where Vicky is affectionately known as Mother Cricket. Congratulations from Pucklechurch News to Dean and Vicky for this well-deserved recognition for their tireless work on behalf of our young cricketers!
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Could 2006 be the first time that Pucklechurch NSPCC group's fund-raising efforts top £10,000 for the year? We have collected more than £110,000 in total since 1989 thanks to the generous support of many people in the village and beyond, but the most we've made in a single year is £9,412.45 in 1995. So can you
help us beat that sum this time? We'd love to hear from anyone who can give us a hand.
and unusual items under the hammer each time. One annual appearance is that of the sons of Gnorman, a set of garden gnomes. People bid for the chance to look after these characters for the year and have to undertake to take them on outings and photograph them -- and then to return them safely the next year. This follows the demise of the original Gnorman the gnome, who sadly was run over. (I won't name and shame his killer here - but he knows who he is!)
