The Bradley Stoke Journal

Budget clothes retailer Peacocks has begun recruitment activities for shop floor positions at its anticipated new Bradley Stoke store.

Advertisements for management positions at a “Bradley Stoke, Bristol” location appeared earlier this month but the Willow Brook Centre was still to confirm Peacocks as a new tenant.

The company’s latest advertisement state that “Peacocks, Britain’s hottest value fashion retailer – is on its way to Bradley Stoke”.

In addition to Store Manager and Assistant Manager positions, the company says that anyone interested in becoming a ‘Sales Colleague’ at the new store should email for an application form – see our New Town Centre Jobs page for more details.

Told of the recruitment campaign, Willow Brook Centre Manager Scott Lahive commented to The Journal:

We can confirm that we are currently in very advanced discussions with Peacocks regarding them taking a store at the Willow Brook Centre. Negotiations are ongoing. If Peacocks decide to base their new store at the centre, it would potentially trade over two levels, occupying a large unit on the retail terrace alongside Brantano and Pets at Home.

South Gloucestershire Council has announced the dates and locations for this February half term’s Holiday Cycling Courses, which are being offered for free to children of all ages.

These courses are the ideal solution to give children a cycling confidence boost and get them out in the fresh air during half term without having to worry about the cost.

There are 3 levels available:

• Level 1 is for children from school year 3 and above (1 x 2.5 hour session)
• Level 2 is for children from school year 5 and above (3 x 2.5 hour sessions)
• Level 3 is for children from school year 7 and above (3 x 2.5 hour sessions)

The courses are on a ‘first come first served’ basis and are subject to change due to availability and numbers.

In Bradley Stoke, courses at all three levels will run at Meadowbrook Primary School between Monday 15th February and Friday 19th February.

The deadline for signing up for the courses is Friday 29th January.

More info: Holiday Courses (Better by Bike)

Related link: Walking and Cycling in Bradley Stoke (The Journal)

Refuse and recycling collections in Bradley Stoke are running a whole week behind schedule as a result of the recent wintry weather.

South Gloucestershire Council says it has “temporarily suspended green bin collections to allow crews to concentrate on the black bin waste”.

The combined effect of the Christmas holiday and recent bad weather means that black bins that would normally have been emptied on Friday 8th January were in fact collected last Friday (15th January).

A notice posted on the Council’s website on Friday (15th January) reads:

“Today, most crews are collecting the black bin waste from Friday 8th January (which would normally have been collected on Monday 11th January  according to the revised holiday schedule but have been delayed by weather conditions).”

“In some areas we are running behind this schedule because the roads are too dangerous to access but in other areas we are beginning to catch up slowly. For this reason it is impossible for us to say with certainty when we will be able to get to any specific property.”

“The best advice we can give at the moment is to put your black bins out for collection according to the Christmas holiday schedule and we will get to you as soon as we possibly can. We are catching up but it is slow and variable progress.”

Dry recycling (green box) collections are also said to be running a whole week late.

The Council says it plans to start picking green bins up again in the week commencing Monday 25th January.

Householders are reminded that they may take waste to the Council’s Sort It! centres, the nearest being Little Stoke.

Related Link: Bradley Stoke Weather

Bradley Stoke’s Town Clerk David Chandler, the man who started the Town Council out of boxes in the front room of his parents’ room in Filton, retired today after nearly 18 years in the role.

Mr Chandler’s period in office has seen the Council’s budget increase from £100,000 p.a. to almost £1 million and some £4.5 million worth of community facilities opened in the town.

Commenting on the development of the Town over the years in the latest Council newsletter,  Mr Chandler wrote:

“Seeing the community develop and thrive has been very rewarding – there have been some quite special personal moments over the last 18 years.”

Formerly chief executive to the Incorporated Society of Musicians in London, Mr Chandler plans to devote much of his time in retirement to his music and also hopes to travel more often with his wife Karen.

Cllr Mark Forsyth, Town Mayor, said that Mr Chandler left with the best wishes of all councillors and staff, commenting:

“David has served the Council and the community with distinction, dedication and good humour.”

Mr Chandler started his last day with a studio interview at BBC Radio Bristol, in which recalled memorable moments from his time in office. Asked how he planned to spend his retirement, he replied:

“Music will take over now … I’m an organist and will be very active in that sphere.”

The search for a successor to Mr Chandler began in earnest in July last year, when the vacancy was first advertised on the website of the Society of Local Council Clerks. The first round of interviews failed to produce a suitable candidate, but further advertising and interviews eventually led to Sharon Petela, 48, of Marshfield (South Gloucestershire) being awarded the job.

Ms Petela is a qualified nurse and Nursing Home Deputy Matron and held the post of part time clerk to Marshfield Parish Council for the last 14 years.

Her first Full Council meeting will be on Wednesday 20th January, when a formal presentation will also be made to Mr Chandler. Members of the public are, as ever, welcome to attend.

Photo shows L to R: retiring Town Clerk David Chandler, Chair of BSTC Councillor Mark Forsyth and incoming Town Clerk Sharon Petela.

Residents of Bradley Stoke are to have the chance to find out about a new Children’s Centre that will open soon in the town.

The new Sure Start Children’s Centre at Bowsland Green Primary School will offer a wide range of support services to families with children under five.

South Gloucestershire Council (SGC) is staging a meeting at the school on Monday (18th January), the aim of which is to:

• Share information on what the Children’s Centre can offer
• Obtain views on the services that should be offered to serve the local community
• Recruit members (especially parents) for the Centre’s advisory board

The meeting takes place between 2 and 3:30pm. Further information is available from SGC Project Officer Gail Amphlett on 01454 864169.

Sure Start brings together childcare, early education, health and family-support services for families with children under 5 years old. It is the cornerstone of the Government’s drive to tackle child poverty and social exclusion working with parents-to-be, parents, carers and children to promote the physical, intellectual and social development of babies and young children so that they can flourish at home and when they get to school.

Funding for a Sure Start  Children’s Centre in Bradley Stoke was announced in December 2008, with Bowsland Green Primary School being named as the chosen site.

The new centre will be accommodated in the school’s original hall, a new, larger, hall having been constructed for the primary school children by converting an unused courtyard.