The Bradley Stoke Journal

Police in Bradley Stoke are appealing for information after a suspicious incident in which a 6m-high floodlight column at the town’s Brook Way Activity Centre was sawn through, causing it to fall onto the sports courts at the complex.

The felling of the floodlight column late on Tuesday 17th May follows an earlier incident late last year in which a cable supplying power to the six floodlights surrounding the courts was “maliciously” severed.

The two incidents follow continued friction between the youth club based at the centre and residents of neighbouring properties, who claim they have been blighted with increased levels of noise, light pollution (from the floodlights around the sports courts) and anti-social behaviour since Bradley Stoke Town Council (BSTC) moved the youth club to the centre in 2009.

The toppling of the floodlight was followed by a further incident two nights later when a window of one nearby resident’s car was smashed with a brick.

A spokesperson for Avon and Somerset Police told The Journal:

“Police investigating damage to a lighting stand at the Brook Way Activity Centre on 17th May ask anyone with any information to contact them.”

“Officers have carried out house-to-house enquiries and examined CCTV footage from both the centre and private property nearby in connection with this incident and the smashing of a car window the following night.”

Asked about the outcome of investigations into the previous cable cutting incident, the spokesperson added:

“Police have followed all available lines of enquiry in connection with an earlier incident when cabling for the lights was cut without obtaining sufficient evidence for an arrest.”

Anyone with information about any of these incidents is asked to contact the neighbourhood team at Filton police station on 0845 456 7000. Alternatively contact the independent Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111 (they never ask your name or trace your call).

Read on for details of operational changes the youth club has agreed to make in order to appease local residents »

A squad of players from South Gloucestershire Hockey Club has laid claim to a new world record after playing continuously for 31 hours at Bradley Stoke Community School over the bank holiday weekend.

The world record attempt began at 9am on Saturday and ended at 4pm on Sunday, beating the previous record (held by Omagh Hockey Club) by 45 minutes.

Event Organiser Darren Bane told The Journal:

“Within the next few weeks the club will put together a package of evidence to send to Guinness World Records, who will then assess it to decide whether or not we met all the criteria and can be recognised as official world record holders.”

“We are certainly claiming a new world record; those of us involved have the bruises and stiff limbs to prove it!”

“We are all sore and weary, but delighted with our achievement. It looks likely we will raise well in excess of £3,000 for Cots for Tots, too.”

“I would like to thank absolutely everybody who was involved in any way in this event; the players, stewards, witnesses, supporters; it was a true team effort.”

More photos from the event: album; slideshow (PicasaWeb)

A local estate agent has paid for portable “safe parking” signs to be introduced at a local primary school that suffers from irresponsible parking by parents dropping off or collecting children.

CJ Hole Bradley Stoke Property Centre recently handed over the road safety signs to Meadowbrook Primary School, to encourage parents to park safely and refrain from parking on the yellow zig-zag lines outside the school.

The local estate agent got in touch with schools in the local area following a successful campaign at schools in the Henleaze and Westbury-On-Trym areas.

Parents had approached the company’s Henleaze branch after speaking about safety problems with parking outside their local schools.

The “thank you for parking safely” signs, which will be placed outside the school at the beginning and end of the school day by staff members, are already in use at Henleaze Junior School, Westbury-on-Trym Primary School and Oasis School Westbury and will be rolled out to other schools in Bradley Stoke and Stoke Gifford over the next few weeks.

The scheme has received the support of the local community police team and Beat Manager WPC Claire Fletcher was present during the hand over of the signs at a school assembly. She reminded the children of the importance of general road safety when they are walking to school and riding their bicycles.

Karen Rupprecht, CJ Hole Lettings Manager/Director, said:

“The school already promote the importance of road safety to both parents and children but we wanted to help them encourage parents to safely park their cars when taking their children to and from school, and to remind them that parking in the zig-zag areas can be very dangerous, not to mention illegal.”

Read on for a comment from the school’s headteacher »

An attempt to set a new world record for the longest continuous hockey game is underway at Bradley Stoke Community School.

A group of 32 players from South Gloucestershire Hockey Club is aiming to play for 31 hours, which would beat the existing record of 30 hours and 15 minutes set by Omagh Hockey Club in August 2010.

The event is raising money for Cots for Tots, a £1 million appeal to buy four new life-saving cots for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the Bristol’s St Michael’s Hospital.

Organiser Darren Bane has set a target of raising £2,500. Anyone who would like to sponsor the record bid can donate through the dedicated webpage at www.justgiving.com/sghc.

The marathon match began promptly at 9am and will continue through the night until 4pm on Sunday afternoon.

The club is still seeking people to act as independent witnesses for the event (as record by Guinness World Records).  The slots still be be filled are: Saturday 3pm-5pm & 5pm-9pm and Sunday 1am-5am. Anyone able to help during these times is asked to speak to a steward at the event.

More info: Hockey Round the Clock – World Record Attempt

More photos from the event: album; slideshow (PicasaWeb)

A brand new community radio station launches in Bradley Stoke in June and as part of the celebrations Bradley Stoke Radio will be hosting an outside broadcast on Saturday (28th May) at The Willow Brook Centre.

Local residents are invited to come along and meet some of the station’s new presenters and enjoy the music in the Town Square.

The station officially launches on Saturday 4th June at midday but local residents and businesses will get a sneak preview this Saturday from 10am-4pm when the disco team comes to town.

There will be giveaways and entertainment and you can find out more about Bradley Stoke Radio, which will be broadcasting on 87.7fm from 4th-18th June 2011.

For more details take a look at the radio station’s new website: bradleystokeradio.org.uk

The radio station is based in Unit 5b on the first floor of the Willow Brook Centre and our photo shows some of the station’s volunteers testing out equipment in preparation for the big launch.

Read on for more photos from the station’s office and studio »