The Bradley Stoke Journal

To end the year, we take a look back at some of the main Bradley Stoke news stories of 2009:

January saw changes to the route of the 73 bus service, meaning that it would no longer visit the MOD complex at Abbey Wood or the Aztec West Business Park. Journey times to Bristol city centre became a few minutes quicker, but some residents complained that they would no longer be able to get to their places of work using public transport.

A burst water main on Brook Way cut supplies to thousands of homes in the town. The saga began at around 2pm on 27th January and supplies were only restored around 9pm after Bristol Water admitted repairs were “taking longer than expected”.

After a concerted campaign by the Editor of The Journal, Bradley Stoke Town Council finally agreed to publish draft minutes within ten working days of each of its meetings. Previously, residents had to wait for up to two months (or even more) before being able to read of their representatives’ decisions, leading to the Council being branded one of the most secretive in the country.

[Ed: I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Cllr Jon Williams for tabling the matter for discussion and Cllr Brian Hopkinson for proposing the motion.]

Local anti-porn campaigners hit the national headlines in February, when then they staged a demonstration outside blue movie producer James Edwards’ house in The Coppice. Later in the month, the same group was given the cold shoulder at a meeting of the Bradley Stoke Safer and Stronger Community Group, where police refused to discuss the matter in public.

Two waves of heavy snow hit the town, causing numerous school closures and the suspension of all bus services. Rubbish and recycling collections were also hit.

Youth club provision in the town was thrown into crisis when it was revealed that South Gloucestershire Council would be unable to take on responsibility for the service on 1st April (as had been previously planned). A special meeting of the Town Council was held, where councillors decided to give Southern Brooks Community Partnership (the current provider) a six month extension.

A shocking overnight arson rampage in March saw three cars destroyed in the area surrounding the Jubilee Centre. Police put a cordon around the town and arrested two 17-year-old men in connection with the incident.

The first staging of the Bradley Stoke Aquathlon, centred on the Leisure Centre, was deemed a great success by organiser Thornbury Running Club and the event looks set to become a regular on the local sporting calendar. (more…)

Back on 13th October, the first anniversary of the opening of the Willow Brook Centre, we took a look back over the development’s first year of operation.  This is the somewhat belated second part of our report. You can read part one of this article here.

In the first part of our interview, Scott Lahive, Centre Manager, said he was delighted with the (retail) trading performance of the centre over the first twelve months. He is, however, less satisfied with the progress made in letting out the office units within the centre.

Current tenants of office units in the mall are Phoenix Dental (NHS dentist), Willow Brook Clinic (chiropractic and physiotherapy), Kumon (education), CJ Hole (estate agents) and Pitman Training, but there are still four units unoccupied.

Over in the town square, there has been “no serious interest” in the three office units above the retail units occupied by Costa Coffee, Gregs, Taylors, KFC and Ladbrokes.

Bus services began stopping at the centre in May, with the 71, 72 and 73B services entering the complex from Bradley Stoke Way to access a new stop just off the Town Square (in front of the Ladbrokes shop).

Mr Lahive says the centre is currently in discussion with First Group about adding the 71 service. There is, however, no news on how the planning permission obligation to spend £250,000 on “a new bus service into the site” will be satisfied.

Mr Lahive says that anti-social behaviour in the vicinity of the Manor Farm Crescent pedestrian access point has abated, which he puts down to “additional [security] camera presence”.

Earlier problems with large numbers of students from Bradley Stoke Community School descending on the centre in the afternoon have been addressed. Mr Lahive says that 95% of them are “well behaved” and the “disruptive 5%” are now well known to the security staff.

Between 20 and 25 youths, along with two or three adults, are currently banned from using the centre – around half of these are said to be from outside of Bradley Stoke.

The provision of retail kiosks in the centre of the mall has been well received. The kiosks have enabled several local people to transform hobby activities into viable long-term businesses, according to Mr Lahive.

In response to recurring complaints about the lack of public seating in the mall, Mr Lahive had previously admitted to the July meeting of the Bradley Stoke Safer and Stronger Community Group that “too much was spent on seating outside [in the Town Square]“.

The issue is said to be still under review but “budgets are constrained”. Any future seats are likely to be positioned “to the left of Timpsons and/or in the foyer areas, so that the entrance to the Tesco store is not obstructed”, he added.

The relocation of Bradley Stoke’s youth clubs to the Brook Way Activity Centre has claimed another victim with the news that the Black and Blues Netball Club has “reluctantly” decided to move to a different venue.

The netballers first came into confrontation with youth workers just days after the youth club moved in on 5th October. Youth leaders “mindful of [child protection] legislation” are said to have been concerned over the large number of netballers using the building at the same time as “the youth”.

The incident is said to have led to acrimonious correspondence between youth workers and the netball club over the use of the centre’s toilets. Bradley Stoke Town Council later ruled that the netballers should be allowed to use the disabled toilets, leaving the others for the sole use of the youth club.

But the compromise appears to have failed to resolve the situation, with the netballers reportedly being unhappy about having to be “escorted to the loo”.

Town Clerk David Chandler told this month’s meeting of the Finance Committee that representatives of the Black and Blues had turned up at the [council's] office “in a tearful state”, saying they felt they couldn’t continue to use the venue.

It is understood that the club will now meet at Bradley Stoke Community School.

Other hirers to have left Brook Way include the popular Weight Watchers group, which now meets at the nearby Wheatfield Primary School.

Councillor Julian Barge expressed anger that “an excellent paying hirer had been put off”. He added that the youth club contributes nothing to the council’s coffers and bemoaned the damage caused to the premises since the club moved in.

He urged fellow councillors to be “mindful in future that we need people who are prepared to pay for facilities” and concluded by saying that “the presence of the youth club is proving a very big headache”.

The relocation of youth clubs to Brook Way was the brainchild of Cllr Brian Hopkinson, who did not attend the latest meeting.

Related links:

• Youth Clubs in Bradley Stoke (The Journal)
• Netball in Bradley Stoke (The Journal)
• Slimming Clubs in Bradley Stoke (THe Journal)

If you haven’t bought your Christmas tree yet (or just fancy an extra one to fill that empty space in your Bradley Stoke mansion), there are plenty going free at the town’s Willow Brook Centre.

Hundreds of unsold “real” trees, mostly around 8ft tall,  have been abandoned by a seller in the car park of the centre and a source at the Willow Brook Management office has confirmed to The Journal that anyone can go along and help themselves.

The Christmas tree compound in the corner of the car park was erected about two weeks ago, but business was slow – presumably because most people had already bought their trees elsewhere earlier in the month.

The compound fencing was removed earlier today, leaving free access to the trees, which were retailing “from £18″ earlier in the week.

The trees are due to be removed by the seller “after Christmas”, according to the Willow Brook source.

Happy Christmas to all our readers from The Journal team!

We hope to update the website as normal over the holiday period, so don’t forget to check back soon for all the latest Bradley Stoke news, including our Review of 2009.

Our Bradley Stoke Christmas 2009 page has all the information you need to enjoy the Christmas and New Year break, including:

• Opening times of Tesco Extra, Tesco Express, Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre and Bradley Stoke Library
• Opening times of shops and ice skating at The Mall, Cribbs Causeway
• South Gloucestershire Council rubbish and recycling collection schedule

Other useful links for the festive break:

• Bradley Stoke What’s On Guide
• Bradley Stoke Faith and Religion