1 In This Issue GWAAC campaign for a new helicopter ~ All aboard the Red Bus Ghost Roads on The Downs ~ Blaise Estate ~ What’s On & Community Events Prize Wordsearch ~ Top tips for an easier life ~ The new look BS9 ~ & more stuff Feb 2013 No 83 In This Issue - Let’s Rock Bristol (p25) - Nathan’s Garden Diary (p8) - the Orpheus (p29) - paths up the Gorge (p37) - our new hospital (p43) - Ask The Family (p63) - and more
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Transcript
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In This Issue GWAAC campaign for a new helicopter ~ All aboard the Red Bus Ghost Roads on The Downs ~ Blaise Estate ~ What’s On & Community Events Prize Wordsearch ~ Top tips for an easier life ~ The new look BS9 ~ & more stuff
Feb 2013 No 83
In This Issue - Let’s Rock Bristol (p25) - Nathan’s Garden Diary (p8) - the Orpheus (p29) - paths up the Gorge (p37) - our new hospital (p43) - Ask The Family (p63) - and more
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Hello there. February ‐ Winter must be nearly over ‐ or is
it? I reckon there’s a few more snowballs left to be
thrown before the season is out.
A packed little magazine this month with (hopefully)
interesting articles about the Orpheus cinema in
Henleaze, the new hospital emerging in Southmead,
and efforts to promote appropriate tree‐planting here in
BS9. Add in a romantic quiz, meanderings in Blaise and
on the Downs, plus other regular contributions and, all
in all, it’s quite a nice little issue. OK, I’m biased but
fingers crossed you’ll enjoy it too.
And to cap it all there are all the details you need, to get
as excited as I am, about a one‐day festival that is going
to take place on our doorstep in June. “Let’s Rock
Bristol” will feature a fine line‐up of 80’s bands and
singers including Billy Ocean and ABC at a family‐
friendly event in Blaise. There is a family ticket to the
event up for grabs in our prize wordsearch on page 28.
For those readers who are interested, this month’s cover
(which isn’t BS9, I just liked the photo) is of a very
swollen river on the Cranborne Chase in Dorset.
Do please get in touch if you want to say anything about
the magazine, submit an event or notice for future
publication, enter the competition or enquire about
advertising your business. The deadline for inclusion in
the March issue is Tuesday 19th February. To get in
touch please just drop me a line (8 Sandyleaze, WoT,
planning to go by bus, train, ferry, air, bike, car or
foot.
Recycling and Household Waste
The Household Waste and Recycling Centre on
Kingsweston Lane, Avonmouth for pretty much
everything. The Avonmouth centre is now open
winter hours from 8.00am to 4.15pm, 7 days a
week.
Useful Numbers and Information
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Hello, it's me again, and I'm looking forward to sharing a
new season with you all. This year, rather than focusing
on just growing veg, I will also be including general
garden and plant maintenance tips.
It's February, and spring is almost in sight! This month I
will be doing different things for different customers.
Vegetable gardens
▪ Remove any weeds that have over wintered in your
beds.
▪ Plant bare rooted Raspberry canes as long as the soil
isn't frozen or water logged. A good tip is to sprinkle
mycorhizall fungi on to the roots, this will help them
establish much faster.
▪ Start 'chitting' your seed
potatoes. Always buy certified
seed potatoes from the
garden centre. To 'chit' your
potatoes (encouraging the
seed potatoes to sprout
before planting) put them in a container (an egg box is
ideal!) facing upwards so you can see the eyes. Keep
them dry, in a light place, and keep them protected
from frost, and within a month you should have dark,
stubby shoots appearing from the eyes. These are then
planted out in March.
▪ You can also sow seeds now for a variety of vegetable
crops. I will be cracking on with indoor sowings of Leeks,
early Peas, and summer cabbages. You can also plant
your onion sets now to. Have a look at my blog for more
information: www.victory‐gardens.co.uk/blog
Garden maintenance
▪ Prune hardy evergreen
hedges. Don't be tempted to
get the hedge trimmer out on
broad leaved evergreens. The
blades will slice through the
leaves, making them look
hacked and ugly, they will then start to go brown and
die back. It's best to work through the hedge, with a
sharp pair of secateurs, selectively pruning to shape.
Always prune back to healthy buds.
▪ Cut back deciduous grasses, that have over wintered.
Cut the dead foliage down, being careful not to cut any
of the new growth.
Prize Draw
During this cold weather, it's important to encourage
birds into our gardens, and to keep them well fed. With
this in mind I thought I'd offer 3 wild birdcare packages.
The package includes a bird nesting box (installed by
me), and a fat ball feeder topped up with some tasty
fatballs, giving the little critters somewhere to call
home, and have easy access to some good food!
Simply go to my Facebook page www.facebook.com/
VictoryGardensBristol, 'Like' my Facebook page, and
share the link 'Wild bird care package' to be in with a
chance of winning! Good Luck!
Deadline for entries is midnight, 28/02/2013. Applicants
need to live within Bristol as I will be delivering package
personally.
Nathan’s Garden Diary
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Find out more The first step is to contact
Bluebird care to arrange an
ini al visit. This is nothing
more than an opportunity
to ask all your ques ons
face to face.
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Bluebird Care (Bristol West) is owned and managed by Cameron MacLeod. Although Cameron hails from Scotland he has lived and worked locally in north Bristol for the last 16 years.
“The reason I wanted to start the Bluebird Care business in Bristol is that I have personal experience of the care industry as my mother unfortunately suffers from demen a and I have seen the impact that missed visits or inadequate service can have.
I therefore want to provide a fantas c service, and stand out as a company that really and truly cares.”
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As it is February it would seem wrong not to make a mention of Valentine’s Day in some way, so here’s a little test of your knowledge of love and romance. No prizes, just a bit of sentimental fun. Answers are on page 92
1. Gerald Rusgrove XXXXX and Charles XXXX founded which publishing company in 1908?
2. In Shakespeare’s “Romeo & Juliet”, Juliet came from which family?
3. Who was the Greek goddess of love?
4. Courtney Love was married to which US rock singer?
5. Which actor played James Bond in “From Russia With Love”?
6. Where would you find Valentine’s Brook?
7. Who had a hit with “Love Plus One” in 1982?
8. Who captained the USA to defeat in golf’s 2012 Ryder Cup?
9. What “fruit” has the nickname of a “love apple”?
10. What is particularly loving about the albatross?
11. Who summarised the contestant’s responses on Blind Date?
12. The beautiful “Lovin’ You” was a number one for which female singer in 1975?
13. What sort of car was Herbie, the Love Bug?
14. Who sculpted “The Kiss” in 1889?
15. Which of these foodstuffs is not generally considered to be an aphrodisiac? Honey, Oysters, Cream Crackers or Asparagus.
16. Which famous statue can be found at the junction of Regent Street and Piccadilly?
17. Name the lead actress and actor from the 1970 film Love Story.
18. Name Joan Armatrading’s only UK top ten hit.
19. E m i l y B r o n t e ’ s “ W u t h e r i n g H e i g h t s ” w a s written in which decade?
20. Who was Oliver Mellors?
Valentine’s Quiz
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This month our MP Charlotte Leslie offers
a view on the opportunities offered by
expanding the rail network in north Bristol.
“Let’s not miss this chance to get a proper rail system
– and end the gridlock in BS9
As I travelled slowly around Bristol during the recent
snowfalls, it occurred to me that this gridlock could be a
taste of what’s to come if we don’t get a fully
functioning, effective public transport system for Bristol.
Readers in BS9 will already know about the problems of
the bus lanes on the Downs and there have been serious
issues due to the Bristol Water works but I fear this
could be just the tip of the iceberg if we don’t act
decisively, and with ambition. It has been clear to me for
a long time that a public transport system which is both
affordable and accessible to as many people as possible
is required. Thankfully, the proposed Bristol Metro rail
scheme, which could be in place in just a few years, is
now very much on the cards. Unfortunately, while the
scheme is welcome, it is in danger of being the missed
chance of a generation.
The current plans mean that while a reopened Henbury
Station is on the cards, this will represent the ‘end of the
line’. Instead, as I have been arguing both in Bristol and
in Westminster, we need a ‘loop’ line which will connect
places like Avonmouth to Henbury and Filton beyond,
giving commuters and travellers a proper services
connecting as much of the north Bristol fringe as
possible. This could lead to further reopened stations at
Charlton Holt, North Filton and possibly Horfield.
Why is this vital, and how will it affect BS9?
First of all, without the loop, many hundreds or
thousands of commuters will remain in their cars. This
will further clog up the entire northern part of the city,
creating jams at rush hour week after week, month after
month. We also have the prospect, with the sad closure
of Filton airfield, of thousands of new residents moving
around the northern fringes. Henbury and onwards to
Westbury, Henleaze and Stoke Bishop will become
chaotic for travellers. Finally, many shoppers visiting
Cribbs will not have access to the reopened Henbury
station, thus keeping more people in their cars. All in all,
we are being presented with a half‐baked scheme when
in reality we could have a real game‐changer for Bristol’s
transport future.
Sadly, there are some commentators who want to
concentrate on the difficulties. I would rather
concentrate on the solutions. One phrase that frustrates
me in politics in Bristol is when people are quick to come
forward to say something is ‘over‐ambitious’. I don’t
think I will be alone in pointing out that ‘having too
much ambition’ has hardly been a major fault in Bristol’s
politics in the recent past. In fact, we live in a Bristol
landscape littered with under‐ambition, or ambitions
snuffed out by in‐fighting. That’s possibly one of the
reasons the people of Bristol voted for an elected mayor
to be unashamedly ambitious for our city.
I often wonder what kind of reaction a modern‐day
Isambard Kingdom Brunel would get if, had the Clifton
Suspension Bridge never been built, he were to suggest
it today. Would a vocal online minority be frantically
posting “Waste of public money”; “Who does he think
he is with a hair‐brained scheme like this?” and the best
of all ... “It can’t be done”? I don’t know how many
naysayers there were back in Brunel’s day, but thank
heavens he ignored them.
Just before Christmas I led a delegation of cross‐party
MPs to meet transport minister Simon Burns and I was
given assurances that the Department for Transport
would be available to assist in re‐assessing the viability
Constituency Matters
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of a Henbury Loop. We have launched a petition. Please
sign it at www.henburyloop.bristolpetitions.com (If you
are not online, write to us and we’ll send you petition
forms to fill in!) and please, tell all your friends!
In the meantime, bearing in mind the Henbury Loop
Line used to exist (pre 1964), we want Bristolians to
celebrate our historic past and share their memories of
the days when the Henbury Loop to the Severn Beach
Line was up and running, whether in the form of photos,
memorabilia, old movies or simply memories which we
would like to record. If you have memories of Bristol rail
as it used to be and want to share them, please email us
FOR ALL YOUR DOMESTIC ELECTRICS FROM TESTING SOCKETS AND LIGHTS
TO COMPLETE REWIRING CALL FOR A NO OBLIGATION QUOTE
Burma is an undiscovered country
that overflows with old‐world
charm and a way of life that is
rapidly disappearing in the world
today. Situated in the most
westerly point of the South East
Asia, Burma is one of the most diverse and beautiful
countries in this region, if not the world. From its green
hills that cocoon vast fertile plains to the rich history,
serene peoples and deeply Buddhist culture; it is a
destination like no other and a remarkable country to
visit.
Here at Miles Morgan Travel we have seen an increase in
people wanting visit new and undiscovered destinations
so we are delighted to bring you a unique chance to join
us on our Exclusive Burma tour which includes the ease
of free return transport to the airport from Bristol to join
your flight. Departing on the 22nd February 2014 you
spend 15 nights exploring this beautiful country. It
begins in Rangoon, the ancient capital, where you will
find cobbles streets and sleepy tree‐lined avenues. Then
we fly north to Began and onto Mandalay before
returning south to Lake Inle, who’s shallow waters, lush
green hills and cloudless skies are inhabited by the jovial
and welcoming Intha people .
Burma offers a wealth of wonders that are not beset by
hordes of tourists so now is the perfect time to visit.
To find out more about this unique tour please call me
today on 0117 223 2096 and I will more than happy to
discuss this fabulous opportunity in more detail.
Nigel Coldico ‐ Manager
0117 223 2096
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Wessex Water
Henleaze sewerage improvement work Work to improve the sewerage network to ensure both local watercourses and the environment are protected is currently underway in Henleaze. Wessex Water's £2million scheme is seeing work carried out in Wellington Hill West as well as Cherington Road and Glenwood Road.
Where and when is work taking place? The work, which started on Monday 7 January 2013, is expected to be completed by Friday 12 July 2013. Paul Godfrey, Wessex Water's project manager for the scheme, said: "We understand that work has recently been carried out by another utility in the area. While we always look to coordinate our work with other utility companies to minimise disruption, on this occasion we were unable to coincide our work due to the different construction techniques being used. Although a road closure is not required on Wellington Hill West, other forms of traffic management will be in place to ensure it is completed as quickly and as safely as possible."
Key dates 7 January 2013 to 5 April 2013 Work is currently taking place on land near the Beehive public house (Wellington Hill West). Local roads will not be affected.
4 March 2013 to 5 April 2013 This work will involve working in the highway
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♠ BUILDING & PRESERVATION WORKS
♠ PROPERTY REFURBISHMENTS
♠ PLASTERING & RENDERING
♠ DAMP PROOFING
♠ TIMBER TREATMENTS ‐ DRY & WET ROT
♠ CAVITY WALL TIES
♠ PAINTING ‐ INTERIOR & EXTERIOR
ALL BUILDING WORKS
UNDERTAKEN
QUALITY, AFFORDABLE, FRIENDLY SERVICE
outside the Beehive public house, Wellington Hill West. Temporary traffic lights will be place at the junction of Wellington Hill West and Bishopthorpe Road. Alternative routes will be provided to minimise impact on Wellington Hill West.
8 April 2013 to 17 May 2013 Work will take place in the highway outside No.2 Cherington Road and No.158 Wellington Hill West. Cherington Road will be closed at its junction with Wellington Hill West for the duration of the work. A diversion route will be clearly signposted. Two-way temporary traffic lights will be in place along Wellington Hill West, with alternative routes advertised to minimise impact along Wellington Hill West.
20 May 2013 to 12 July 2013 Work will start in the highway outside No.2 Glenwood Road. A closure will be in place along Glenwood Road at its junction with Southmead Road for the duration of the work. A diversion route will be clearly signposted.
The map alongside shows where work will take place, what roads will be affected and any traffic management required:
Keeping in touch In November Wessex Water attended a public meeting arranged by Charlotte Leslie MP to discuss recent work carried out by Bristol Water. The firm said it had already written to local people to explain what the work involved and would continue to communicate any updates as the scheme progressed, either by letter or via the dedicated web
page: www.wessexwater.co.uk/henleaze It added that while it had spoken to those residents who may be directly affected, if anyone has any questions about the scheme, they can call: 0845 600 4 600
Wessex Water apologises for any inconvenience caused while this essential work takes place.
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Stoke Bishop £490,000 A four bedroom detached family home with generously proportioned accommodation comprising 2 reception rooms, kitchen/breakfast room and cloakrooms. Upstairs, the master bedroom has an en suite, 3 further bedrooms and a family bathroom. Landscaped patio style garden with swimming pool.
Sneyd Park £209,950 A bright and airy 2 double bedroom top floor apartment with views. comprises: Recently upgraded Communal Hall, Entrance Hall, Inner Hall/Dining Room, Kitchen, Sitting Room with feature fireplace, 2 double bedrooms and bathroom with white suite. Allocated parking space and communal gardens.
Westbury-on-Trym £195,000 Lovely one bedroom cottage situated on the edge of Westbury village in a tucked away spot. Lots of character and good sized rooms with rear courtyard garden. Ideally suited to first time buyers, downsizers or those looking for a bolt hole in a convenient spot.
Westbury-on-Trym Guide Price £450,000 Spacious four bedroom semi on a quiet side road within walking distance of Elmlea schools and local shops. 2 reception rooms, kitchen/diner, 4 bedrooms, bathroom and potential for loft conversion. Level rear garden and off street parking.
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From the people that brought you the UK’s 2nd largest 80’s Fes val, Let’s Rock Bristol takes place on Saturday June 8th 2013 at Blaise Castle Estate. With an ac on packed day of the best 80’s music at this Bou que, Family Friendly Fes val, there is plenty of general silliness to do for everyone. Let’s Rock Bristol is set to be the biggest 80's Fes val in the West of England but ckets are limited ‐ so don’t miss your chance to buy your ckets!
Alongside Billy Ocean, Howard Jones, ABC, Nick Heyward, Go West, The Real Thing, Modern Romance, Brother Beyond plus more to follow, there is a lot more on offer. See Dave Benson Phillips (from CBBC/CITV) and other children’s entertainers on the main stage. In our fantas c Big Top, Professor Panic’s Circus arrives for its first showing at Let’s Rock Bristol! A full programme of events including circus shows, circus workshops, puppet shows, puppet workshops, storytelling, bubble fun games sessions, Balloona cs, s lt walkers and anything else you can think of! They’ll provide enough excitement to fill the whole day, with something extra up their sleeves!
A wide range of rides for all ages including Bumper Boats, Bubbles of Fun, The Banana Boat, Chair‐O‐Planes, Toy Set Roundabouts, The Big Slide and of course, The Dodgems! Plus, our indoor cinema for children of all ages – complete with popcorn and candy! A fabulous selec on of catering is on offer including Mul ple Bars, award winning Tandoori, The Noodle Bar from Noodle Na on, Gourmet Burgers and Steaks, Burritos, Tradi onal Fish and Chips, Rolls and Bague es, Doughnuts, Ice Cream, Coffee, Cake and more! Wacky stalls, merchandise and a whole lot more going on, set you up for a great day out.
Tickets are only £35 for Adults, £18 for Children (3‐12) and £80 for a family of 2 Adults and 2 Children! And if you are a resident of BS8, BS9 or BS10 postcodes, you can get 15% off if you buy your ckets before March 1st! See over for details on how to purchase.
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With the announcement of the Let’s Rock Bristol
family festival in Blaise in the summer it seemed
appropriate to have an 80’s music theme to the
wordsearch this month. So here it is. Nineteen
pop bands and singers of the 1980’s are listed
below, eighteen of which are included in the grid
below. (forward, backwards, up, down or
diagonally). See which you can find and let me
know which performer is missing. First prize,
which has been kindly donated by the festival
organisers, is a £64 family ticket to Let’s Rock
Bristol ‐ which will gain a family of four (2 adults,
2 children) access to the festival. A cracking prize
recent issues, so congratulations to the following
on their success ‐ and thanks of course to
everybody who has taken the trouble to enter.
Keep trying ‐ someone has to win. In November
Kim Linford took the biscuits by spotting that
garibaldi was missing, and in December Hermione
Gulland won the calendar and coasters by
spotting that detonate was the missing word.
Right, here are your bands and singers to look out
for:‐
omd
billyocean
nickheyward
gowest
howardjones
abc
therealthing
modernromance
brotherbeyond
alteredimages
bananarama
garynuman
funboythree
bronskibeat
so cell
visage
duranduran
ultravox
haysifantaysi
Let’s Rock Bristol Prize Wordsearch
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I’m sure loads of readers will remember back to their
childhood and the first time they went to their local
cinema, either with or without M & D. “Slade in Flame”
was the first for me, sans‐parents, back in 1975 at the
Tivoli cinema in Wimborne. “The Flea Pit” we used to
call it, a decrepit old place with threadbare seats. After
years of disuse however it resurfaced, loving restored
and independently managed by local people and it is a
hugely popular social venue in the town these days.
These memories came to mind when I was invited up to
the Orpheus cinema in Henleaze by projectionist Nick
Bowd to have a chat and a look round. Since 1975 I’ve
probably averaged one cinema trip a year, more recently
to one of the big soulless megascreens, so I was
ashamed to admit to Nick that it was so long since I’d
visited his picture house that I didn’t even know how
many screens it has. More on this in a mo, but first a bit
of history.
The Orpheus is part of the Waitrose development that
was carried out some forty years ago and is built on the
site of the original Orpheus Cinema (shown above)
which closed in 1971, the last film shown being Catch 22.
This was a typical 1930s suburban cinema with around
1,500 seats. It was fitted out and operated for many
years by Star Cinemas, a National company who were
well known for the creation of small, multi‐screen
cinemas all designed in what was then the latest style,
with much use of purples, illuminated stair banisters &
psychedelic screen lighting. Ownership passed from
Star to Cannon, to MGM to ABC, then to a Mr Peter
Walker until he assigned the lease to Reeltime Cinemas.
They continued to operate it until February 2009 when it
was acquired by current owners Scott Cinemas.
Since then it has undergone a programme of gradual
refurbishment but care has been taken to retain its
better late‐60s features which some 40 years on give it a
particular appeal. In 2012, a thorough complete
refurbishment commenced of the auditoria and front of
house areas. New ceilings and soundproofing were
installed to help with heat loss and acoustics. All
auditoria lighting was updated, and air conditioning was
fitted, and a new, larger screen was added to Screen 1.
Back to how large The Orpheus is and to be honest it’s a
bit of a Tardis. Three small individual theatres of varying
sizes with a total capacity of somewhere over 300,
comfortable, spacious yet pleasantly intimate. Like a
British cinema should be. Sitting atop them, up a fairly
industrial metal staircase, is the nerve centre of the
operation ‐ the projection room. Not many years ago
this would have been a place buzzing with the noise of
three projectors, with reels of film whirring around and a
nervous projectionist keeping an eye on all for fear of a
film snapping or snarling up. There would have been
even greater potential for grief If the cinema had
decided to show the same film on all three screens as
the projectors would have been interlocked, with the
film itself spooling from one projector to another in one
continuous and fragile snake.
Nowadays the projection room is, it appears, a quieter
and more relaxed place. Gone are the days of films
arriving in big round metal tins ready to be threaded into
the projector. In this high‐tech era they now arrive on a
computer hard drive, the size of a lunch box, which is
simply plugged into the cinema’s server and directed, at
the click of a mouse, to the appropriate digital projector.
Nick can, of course, still project a film onto all three of
the Orpheus screens, and will do so at the opening of a
particularly big block‐buster, but usually all three
screens feature different movies. Please don’t be
mistaken, as I was, that your local cinema lags behind
the multi‐screens and doesn’t get the big mainstream
The Orpheus Cinema
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films as soon as they are released. They certainly do,
and you can watch your favourite big‐ticket movie, in 3‐
D (if it’s filmed that way) as soon as it is on general
release. Ticket prices are significantly lower than the out
‐of‐town giants, with adult tickets at just £4.95 (£8 up at
Cribbs), and if you take advantage of the Silver Screen
promotion detailed below then it is even better value for
money. There are also discounted family tickets and
other special offers available, and the pick and mix is
significantly cheaper too!
Being a small cinema, The Orpheus features some of the
less mainstream, “arthouse” movies, yet still retains a
sense of atmosphere in their smaller auditoriums. So
the choice of movies available to you is certainly wider
than I had imagined. For all the latest screening times
do look at the website ‐ www.scottcinemas.co.uk ‐ or
call the cinema on 0871 230 3200 ‐ on indeed wander
past and check out the traditional “Now Showing”
notices outside. All in all The Orpheus it is a lovely place,
a mixture of modernity and nostalgia, hi‐tec with a hint
of the last century ‐ a small traditional cinema serving
the local area.
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New State Pension Proposals The Government has announced it’s proposals for a new flat-rate state pension to replace the current system of basic state pension and State second pension (S2P). The current basic state pension is £107.45 per week and the proposed new flat rate pension starting in April 2017 at the earliest, will be set for everyone at £144 a week (in today's money) or £7,488 p.a. Those already claiming the basic state pension and those claiming S2P will continue to receive that. So how can this increase be afforded if people are living longer? The answer to that is that you will have to wait longer until you receive it. As life expectancy increases, so does the state pension age (SPA). By 2020 SPA will be 66 for both men and women. By 2028 this will rise to 67 and I would suggest that those youngsters still at school, may see their 70th birthday or older, before reaching SPA. In addition to this people will have to make 35 years NI Contributions in order to qualify for the maximum state pension, rather than 30 years contributions at present. There are a few other changes proposed which I think are very significant. 1) Couples will each receive the entitlement to the new higher pension in their own right as individuals, rather than the current less generous rate for couples. 2) The new system will bring an end to the very unsatisfactory system of Pension Credits. Currently when someone has a pension income below a certain level, they are able to claim a credit which tops up their income. The problem is that it is liable to change and because it is means tested, acts as a complete disincentive for some thinking about saving for their retirement. The irony is that those people it was designed for, often do not claim it; estimates suggest about £1.8m older people who would be eligible do not claim.
3) Contracting out of the S2P will disappear, making state pension entitlement a much simpler system to understand and I would suggest much easier and cost effective to administer. Whenever new legislation is outlined, there will be winners and losers based on someone’s own unique circumstances. The following is by no means an exhaustive list, but illustrates how some people may be affected:
Who might gain?
Mothers who take career breaks: The years spent raising a family will be counted in full towards the state pension under the new system.
Self-employed: People who work for themselves can only claim a maximum state pension of £107.45 a week at present, but this will go up to £144 from 2017 for those who have paid NI for 35 years.
Low earners: Those whose combined basic and second tier pensions would be under £144 at present, will get an income boost.
And who may lose?
Final salary scheme members: Workers who belong to contracted out final salary schemes such as those in the public sector will have to pay higher NI contributions after 2017 for the higher state pension benefits.
Existing pensioners and people retiring between now and 2017: Those who start getting a pension before 2017 will be on the old, less generous weekly pension.
Children and teenagers: Pension age increases mean they are likely to wait until they are in their 70s to qualify for state pension
At Grosvenor Financial Consultancy Ltd we use a financial planning tool with our clients to enable them to see how they may be affected by changes such as these and what action they need to take.
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31 August 2012
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Dill the Dog was always my favourite character in the
classic BBC children’s cartoon “The Herbs” ‐ and is one
of my favourite herbs to cook with. Dill has a warm,
subtle fennel & celery flavour that goes great with
lemon, as you’ll discover in this easy Lemon & Dill
Chicken dish (that serves 4)
Ingredients
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Salt & freshly ground pepper, to taste
3 teaspoons extra‐virgin olive oil
1/2 small finely chopped onion
3 cloves garlic, crushed
1/2 pint (250ml) chicken stock
2 teaspoons flour
2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
1 tablespoon lemon juice and zest of the lemon
Method
• Season chicken breasts on both sides with salt and
pepper. Heat half the oil in a large heavy skillet or wok
over medium‐high heat. Add the chicken and sear until
well browned on both sides (about 3 minutes per side).
Transfer chicken to a plate, wrapped in foil.
• Reduce heat to medium. Add the remaining oil to the
pan. Add onion and garlic and cook, stirring, for 1
minute. Whisk stock, flour, 1 tablespoon dill and lemon
juice and zest in a bowl the add to pan. Cook, stirring
gently until slightly thickened (about 3 minutes).
• Return the chicken and any accumulated juices to the
pan; reduce heat to low and simmer until the chicken is
cooked through (about 5 minutes).
• Transfer the chicken to a warmed plate. Season the
sauce with salt and pepper and spoon over the chicken.
Garnish with the remaining 1 tablespoon chopped fresh
dill. Great with fresh
green veg.
Dill the Dog
Recipe Corner - with the Herbs
35
36
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If you want 2013 to be a year when you achieve and s ck to your resolu ons then Hypnotherapy could be the answer you are looking for. It combines leading brain research and solu on focused coaching with a state of relaxa on enabling us to come up with solu ons and not problems. Did you know that the brain is far more recep ve to posi ve input than nega ve? Recent research proves this and once we have decided on a new posi ve course of ac on then the brain will want to support this decision and help to “make it work” for us. This is fantas c news for any of us who want to make posi ve changes in our lives. I work with many clients from all backgrounds and for many reasons. They all however have one thing in common ‐ the desire to make a posi ve change in their life; changes that they may have been trying to make for a number of years or just recently, changes in behaviour or thought pa erns, at home, at work or in their rela onships. The moment you decide on a posi ve course of ac on your brain will register this firm inten on to change and help you to succeed...this could therefore be as soon as you pick up the phone to book your first, free ini al consulta on. If you are star ng this new year wan ng to make posi ve changes and are finding this hard on your own do give me a call and I will explain more about how the brain works and how with the aid of Hypnotherapy you can find you way back to being you.
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57
Glenise Morgan and Clare Campion‐Smith,
Councillors for Henleaze, write . . .
Glenise Morgan and Clare Campion‐Smith,
Councillors for Henleaze, write . . .
You will have heard the notorious excuse made by rail
authorities when they couldn’t clear tracks of leaves and
trains stopped running: “They weren’t the right kind of
leaves”!
We have a similar problem in Old Quarry Park,
Henleaze. We don’t have the right kind of trees! Self‐
seeding sycamores have been proliferating and, despite
the city’s aspiration to increase the tree canopy from
14% to 30%, to combat the effects of climate change,
we need to be selective.
The encroaching sycamores that have self‐seeded in Old
Quarry Park have made the children’s area damp and
dismal on a cloudy day and bird droppings on the play
equipment are unpleasant and a health hazard. With
pressure on funds, we’ve only been able to secure the
felling of 3 trees with replacement of 3 more suitable
ones, via TreeBristol, but now there is an exciting
opportunity to give the park a real facelift.
As councillors we were able to bid for funds from a
budget set aside for investment in capital parks projects.
We were successful with two: one for a revamp of the
Fallodon Way playground, which should be ready this
summer. The other was for a hard landscaping and tree
design plan and implementation for Old Quarry Park.
We were delighted to be awarded the £50,000 we bid
for.
Work has already started. A Community Payback team
has cleared brambles under the trees. A landscape
architect is carrying out a topographical survey and
mapping trees to assess the current canopy cover. A
nature conservation officer will then carry out a wildlife
survey, a tree officer will complete a detailed tree survey
and the resulting tree plan will go out for public
consultation this spring.
Look out for the opportunity to contribute your views on
this major project, which should provide a park that is
well stocked with trees, but according to an appropriate
and professional design, and local preference, for
everyone’s enjoyment for many years to come.
Self‐seeding sycamores are not the only unpopular trees
in our area. Lime trees, such as those along Wellington
Hill West sprout shoots at the base that cause a
pavement obstruction and have to be cut back annually.
Many large trees are a relic from the grand estates of the
past. Although often magnificent, they are not always
in the ideal location as far as close neighbours are
concerned. Many will be protected by a Tree
Preservation Order (TPO) but if they become dangerous
through age or disease they will have to be felled and
are unlikely to be replaced, like for like, if the location is
not appropriate.
Trees are also lost through house extensions into back
gardens and paving over front gardens.
However, there are now opportunities to plant new trees
in our area: through TreeBristol, the Council’s tree
planting campaign, and the Forest of Avon (charitable)
Trust.
The right kind of trees?
(continued overleaf)
58
TreeBristol has the elected Mayor’s support in increasing
the tree canopy across the city, and promoting
community engagement with tree planting events,
especially those involving children.
There are currently two tree planting programmes, one
for Parks and one for Streets. In the 2012‐13 planting
season Trymside has been the area in our
Neighbourhood Partnership (NP) chosen for new trees
and a community event. In the 2013‐14 season another
park will be chosen by the Neighbourhood Partnership
and it might be a Henleaze park. We shall need to
identify parks for replanting (this could include Old
Quarry Park as a complementary scheme to the one
above).
Henleaze has been chosen as a priority ward for Street
Tree planting in the 2013/2014 planting season. This
could be “stump replacement” or maybe even a newly
planted street, or total re‐planting ‐ but the streets
chosen must already have grass verges or tree pits.
Opening up a new tree pit in concrete is prohibitively
expensive. Westbury‐on‐Trym and Stoke Bishop will be
given priority in the 2014‐15 planting season.
TreeBristol also encourage sponsorship of trees by
individuals and businesses: from £50 for a small park or
street tree upwards. A novel and engaging present for a
child or relative perhaps? A memorial for a loved one?
The Forest of Avon Trust has two schemes to promote
tree planting by subsiding the cost. The Garden Orchard
scheme would see a number of houses in a street (or
along back gardens) have fruit trees that could provide
cross‐pollination; typically £20 per tree. They would
leaflet a street if one could be identified as a possibility.
The Garden Forest scheme provides low level tree cover
of shallow rooted native trees; whips would be provided
at 50p per whip as well as guidance on planting and
species. They need about 10‐20 people in the same
street to make this viable. Further details on their
website: http://forestofavontrust.
Find out more through Bristol’s own Tree Forum. It was
formed to bring together organisations interested in the
management and maintenance of council trees in
Bristol, including trees in our streets, parks and green
spaces. More details can be found via the Council
website (www.bristol.gov.uk).
We have good local representation to take all these
tel. 0117 353 4715) joins Stephanie in regularly attending
Tree Forum meetings. We also follow up individual
queries on behalf of Henleaze residents.
So, think about where you would like to see a new tree,
contact one of the above and engage in the current
consultations so that we can ensure we will have the
right kind of trees in Henleaze, Westbury‐on‐Trym and
Stoke Bishop for both ourselves and our children “
59
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world ‐ downton ‐ bakeoff or whatever those tedious
programmes are. They will get bored pretty quickly and
be putting on their driving shoes faster than you can say
‘what’s on BBC 2 dear’.
Ask the Family
(continued overleaf)
64
Son: Have a heart, let them stay – I wish we could have
the heating on a bit more around here, I’m wearing all
the clothes I have got to get through this weather. Keep
asking them how much the pensioner’s winter fuel
allowance is and they may get the hint and hand it over
to you.
Dad: Oh my word, this is a
serious situation and I think
serious action is required.
Fake a boiler failure by
whatever means necessary,
make sure you have a
shower first, plus put a fake
call to a plumber who will
not be able to come by for a week. When they have
gone, ‘fix’ the problem and then you will be the family
hero. Good luck!
Family Dog: It is cruel to kick someone out of their
basket once they have got used to it! On the other paw,
you could suggest to your wife that you were thinking
about inviting your own parents to stay so that you
could all play happy families together – surely then she
will see sense!
Mum: Leave articles out (probably from the Daily Mail)
about how bad the NHS is at the moment due to winter
viruses, lack of bed space etc. Then act concerned about
them not feeling up to full strength and then question ‘
Maybe a trip to the GP and a visit to hospital would
help?’
Help with more dilemmas next month
65
66
67
We are Chartered Surveyors and offer a full range of surveying services in relation to residential property. These include:-
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All our surveyors are locally based and have at least 10 years experience in surveying and valuing houses in Bristol.
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please call Tim Bishop on 07970 933523
113 Abbey Road, Westbury on Trym Bristol BS9 3QJ, or our office on
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La Pe te Grange ‐ “Gite rurale”
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Nicholas on (0033) 05 62 35 39 81
or (0033)06 89 82 49 41
68
Gold - we buy it Old jewellery
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How much is Your gold worth?
In the last five years the price of gold has
almost tripled, and the trend is still rising. So
there has never been a better time to trade in
your old unwanted gold. Come in for a free valuation and maybe raise the deposit on that
Let us help you celebrate Valentine’s Day - receive a complimentary rose with every jewellery purchase up to 14th February.
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69
Carpet, Vinyl & Laminate Specialists - Mobile Showroom. We have an expert measuring &
fitting service with a full range of carpet, vinyl & laminate samples for you to choose in the com-fort of your own home. If you would like us to call and give you a free estimate please call on
Carpets are DEEP CLEANED, PILE LIFTED and left totally DRY.
Toddler and pet safe, non-toxic and environmentally kind. For a no obligation survey and quotation please call Michael on 0117 908 9843 or 07976 060424 [email protected] www.hamiltonscarpetcleaning.co.uk
We undertake all aspects of ground works
including:‐ Foo ngs & Excava ons • Driveways & Pa os • New‐Build & Extensions • Drainage & Oversights • Demoli on & Site Clearance.
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accredited company, free wri en es mates, compe ve
rates, personal, reliable services.
For a free no‐obliga on quote please call Chris on
0117 9085432 or 07876 236630. Based in Stoke Bishop.
At Bristol and Clifton Golf Club we are known for our warm welcome, excellent course and practice facilities. Our beautiful, mature parkland golf course is always immaculately maintained to the very highest standards and provides an enjoyable challenge that engages with golfers of all abilities. The course regularly hosts both the English Golf Union and English Women's Golf Association events and has earned its reputation as one of the finest in the region.
Half-price joining fee.
Please contact Georgina Brown
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74
The leaves have fallen,
the grass is too wet to
even walk on, there is
no colour in the
borders, there’s no
ge ng away from it –
winter is no me to be
in the garden. That is
where you are
wrong!!!!! Now is the
perfect me to be busy in the garden. Clearing up
leaves, turning them into usable compost for next year,
pruning shrubs and trees that have got out of hand
(especially this year), aera ng and scarifying the lawn, so
that come summer you’ve got a lush green carpet to
sunbathe on (hopefully), and repairing or replacing
ro en fence panels.
It’s also a brilliant me to transplant shrubs, plant new
trees and add nutrients to the soil, mushroom compost
is a great supply of nutrients and acts as a mulch come
spring, keeping those pesky weeds at bay.
These jobs can seem like a pain, especially at this me of
year. Alongside our long standing Landscaping and Tree
Surgery departments, we have just added a Landscape
Maintenance department, or Johnny, as he’s known to
us! Johnny is specialising in planned garden
maintenance, everything from lawn care – aera on,
scarifying, feeding and mowing ‐ to pa o cleaning,
weeding and shrub trimming.
We can offer either a one off or seasonal “make over” to
give your garden that much needed boost or a regular
visit once or twice a week/month. With the ability to do
all this and with the back up of the rest of the Blackberry
Gardens specialist teams, we can now take care of
everything in your garden, be it designing, plan ng and
building an imagina ve garden, pruning a veteran oak
tree or simply mowing your lawn and weeding your
flower beds once a week.
A quick note on Ash die‐back – Chalara Fraxinea
There has been a lot of coverage in the media about this
disease, which shows in infected trees with the dying
back of the leaves at the ps of the canopy and lesions
on stems, with the tree eventually dying. Li le is s ll
known about the likely speed of spread past recognised
sites at the moment. It is known that it is a wind blown
fungal infec on spread via spores produced by infected
dead leaves. As such it is a good idea to collect any ash
leaves and burn them in a controlled manner ASAP. The
disease is known to infect as many as 95% of all ash
trees, with some small percentages remaining
gene cally resistant.
At the me of wri ng (late November) there are no
confirmed cases further west than Reading, except for
newly planted specimens. However, if you do have any
concerns that you may have an infected tree, please do
no hesitate to contact us and one of our tree surgeons
can iden fy the problem and let you know the correct
COLLABORATION ON DIVORCE - a different way forward As the government encourages separating couples to consider methods of dispute resolution rather than resorting to court proceedings, Alison Dukes, Specialist Family Solicitor with AMD Solicitors and a trained Collaborative Lawyer explains how an alternative approach to relationship breakdown may be right for you. Collaborative Law is a different approach to resolving disputes on divorce or relationship breakdown. It involves former partners sitting down together with their respective solicitors to work out how to share financial assets or responsibilities for any children, as they each go their separate ways. At the start of the collaborative process each party signs a formal agreement confirming that they will reach a solution without going to court. The process requires a genuine desire on both sides to make it work and a willingness to disclose fully and honestly information about all assets. Negotiations take place
at meetings and it is the clients who set the agenda and the pace of the process. They share their hopes and expectations for the future as they work with their solicitors to try to find a solution which each will find acceptable. Where appropriate, the assistance of other specialists such as accountants and counsellors can be called upon to help resolve outstanding issues or to assist in finding solutions in a particular area of dispute. Where an agreement can be reached through collaboration there may be significant benefits to the family as a whole. The costs and stress of court proceedings will have been avoided and the assets available to be divided will not have been pointlessly reduced by each side funding heavy litigation costs. Perhaps most importantly, the relationship between the couple may not have deteriorated to the extent that is sadly common amongst those who have faced a court battle. This is of course vital where there are children involved, as the parents will need to communicate and cooperate for many years to come. Alison can be contacted on 0117 9621460 or by e-mail [email protected]. AMD have offices at Clifton, Henleaze and Shirehampton
76
Listings for community events, not for profit clubs
and charitable activities are free. If you have
something that you would like listed please get in
Tel 01179079122 or go online at www.bristolgsos.co.uk.
Sat. February 23rd. Organ Elevenses at the WoT Parish
Church. The guest organist this month is James
Drinkwater FRCO. James was Organ Scholar at
Pembroke College Cambridge, taught first at Repton
and is now on the music staff at Clifton College here he
is College Organist. Come at 10‐30am for real coffee
and lovely cakes. The 45‐minute recital starts at 11. All
welcome. Suggested donation minimum £5 towards the
church music fund, and this includes the refreshments!
March 9th sees the return of organist Oliver Condy, who
is also editor of the BBC Music Magazine.
Bristol Bach Choir will be performing Bach’s B Minor
Mass with the accomplished period ensemble Canzona
and a superb collection of vocal soloists who all perform
frequently with illustrious ensembles such as The
Sixteen, Polyphony and the Monteverdi Choir. The
concert forms part of St George’s Bristol Baroque
Festival of Music and takes place at St George’s, Bristol
on Saturday 16 March 2013 at 7.00pm. Tickets cost
between £10‐£25 and are available from
www.bristolbach.org.uk or on 0117 214 0721.
West Bristol Orchestra. A Chamber Orchestra, playing
a wide range of Classical Music arranged for the smaller
orchestra, meets at the United Reformed Church, Muller
Road on Thursdays 7.15pm.to 9.15pm. Additional String
players of Grade5+ standard welcomed. Previous
experience of orchestral playing is not essential. For
more information, please contact the Secretary on
(0117) 968 3998.
Stoke Bishop Ladies Choir are holding their Spring
Concert on Monday 25th March at 2.30pm at Stoke
Bishop Village Hall. The concert is free and includes tea,
but a donation to the chosen local charity is requested.
St Peters Church Choir, The Drive, Henleaze. We are
always on the look out for new members and would
welcome any new voices soprano, alto, tenor or bass. All
are welcome. Please contact Reg Parker ‐ Organist and
Choirmaster on 962 1230.
Bristol Choral Society holds its annual Come & Sing on
Saturday 16 February (10am ‐ 4pm) at Tyndale Baptist
Church, Whiteladies Road. This year, Mendelssohn's St
Paul will be the work explored under inspirational
conductor Adrian Partington. All welcome ‐ £15 (£7.50
u18s) including score hire, hot drinks and cake! Advance
booking essential ‐ phone 0117 962 3223 or see
www.bristolchoral.co.uk for details and online booking.
Saturday March 23 at Colston Hall: Bristol Choral
Society with the English Symphony Orchestra and a
quartet of fine soloists performing two wonderfully
dramatic Italian works ‐ Rossini's Stabat Mater and
What’s On & Community Events
81
Elmlea Junior School Community Governor
Vacancy
Do you have a few hours spare each month to support our school? We are hoping to recruit someone from our local community who has a legal or other professional background, to join our Governing Body. Being a governor is an enjoyable and stimulating way to spend a small amount of time each month. The experience of working as part of a team involved in running the school can prove helpful in everyday life, and you may find that the free training available for governors gives you skills you can use in your job or other community work. The work our school governing body does includes: • Working with the head teacher to determine the
overall direction of the school; • Overseeing the budget; • Helping with recruitment of staff; • Strategic Monitoring of the performance of the school, through analysis of end of key stage SATs and other data; • Advising on school policies and procedures. The commitment needed is to: • Attend and participate in governors meetings on a regular basis – the governors generally meet six times a year with additional committee meetings; • Spend some time on training and getting to know the school. If you would like to know more, please contact