The Bradley Stoke Journal

Town Councillors have urged residents concerned by proposed changes to bus services in Bradley Stoke to attend tonight’s Southern Brooks Area Forum meeting in Filton.

Residents attending last week’s Town Council Planning Committee meeting were advised that the changes were a commercial decision by the operator, Wessex Connect, and not South Gloucestershire Council (SGC).

Protests by bus users and Journal readers have already resulted in an amendment to the originally proposed route of the new peak-hours-only U8 service that replaces the hourly 71 service from 18th September. The new U8 service will now additionally pass through the south of Bradley Stoke, enabling that area to at least maintain a link with Bristol city centre at peak times.

The recent changes can be seen by comparing the (original) version 2 and (latest) version 4 issues of the U8 timetable on the UWE website, although Cllr Keith Cranney warns that “the situation is liable to change from day to day.”

Town Councillors agreed to “write to Wessex Connect raising concerns, on behalf of the residents of Bradley Stoke, with regard to the withdrawal of bus services from the town.”

The Southern Brooks Area Forum meeting takes place tonight (Tuesday 30th) at Filton Community Association, Elm Park, Filton BS34 7PS [map], starting at 7pm.

The main business of the Area Forum meeting will be to allocate the £26,607 of capital grant funding available to voluntary organisations in the Southern Brooks area, which includes Bradley Stoke, Filton, Frenchay, Patchway, Stoke Gifford and Winterbourne, for the 2011/2012 financial year.

Read about the Bradley Stoke groups that have applied for grants »

Bradley Stoke Community School (BSCS) is celebrating another set of excellent GCSE grades – obtained by the second year of students to pass through the school.

Headteacher Dave Baker said:

“We are delighted to share the successful outcomes for our second cohort of students at Bradley Stoke Community School; they have surpassed the high standards set for the school in last year’s first GCSE results, exceeding targets in the process – congratulations to all students.”

86% of students achieved at least 5 A*-C grades or equivalent and 67% achieved at least 5 A*-C grades including English and Maths.  Unlike last year, girls outperformed boys.

Individual successes highlighted by Mr Baker include:

• Sushmita Ramanujam – 10A* and 2A grades
• Nainesha Kulkarni – 9A* and 2A grades
• Sam Wells – 8A* and 2A grades
• Charlotte Murray – 7A* and 4A grades
• Ross Startin – 7A* and 3A grades
• Alex Turnbull – 6A* and 4A grades
• Uttam Sharma – 5A* and 5A grades
• Jack Kewley – 4A* and 5A grades
• Alex Martin – 3A* and 8A grades

Mr Baker added:

“We are now looking forward to many of our students progressing to post 16 study with us as we will have a full school with years 7 – 13 for the first time when term starts next week.”

Read on for the South Gloucestershire GCSE statistics »

South Gloucestershire Council (SGC) is now making it even easier for people to recycle their cardboard waste by providing local residents with a free bag.

According to information on the SGC website, the bags are now available for collection from Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre and Bradley Stoke Library on a “one per household, first come, first served basis whilst stocks last”.

Executive Member for Communities, Cllr James Hunt said:

“We have listened to the views of residents who are keen to recycle as much cardboard as possible and these bags will help us to increase the amount of cardboard that is recycled, reduce contamination of the green bin and make the streets tidier.”

“We are aware that some residents do not want additional containers therefore cardboard presented neatly at the kerbside in other containers will continue to be collected as normal.”

Cardboard is no longer collected from the green wheeled bin as it is now being recycled, rather than composted down with garden waste, allowing it to be used again and again, which is more environmentally friendly – according to the Council.

The Friends of Jubilee Green (FoJG)  are staging their second ‘Summer of Fun’ event between 10am and 12 noon this coming Saturday (20th August) at the Jubilee Centre and Jubilee Green, Savages Wood Road.

The event has activities that are suitable for the 5-12 years age group; however, families with children of all ages are welcome, as there will be plenty of craft materials and outdoor toys to entertain younger children.

The activities on offer will include:

• A 50ft inflatable assault course (weather dependent)
• Football fun
• Hoolahooping workshop
• Skipping workshop
• Parachute games with the Woodcraft Folk
• Free bike checks with Stokes Cycling Club and an easy 5-mile family bike ride leaving at 12pm heading over to Stoke Gifford for a play in a park before returning to Bradley Stoke
• Two craft activities – including making collage pictures and hairband/bracelet making
• Lots of outdoor toys including larger toys borrowed from The Childrens Playlink

All of the above are free for the families to partake in. Funding from Bradley Stoke Town Council and the support of community groups have ensured everyone in the community can enjoy themselves regardless of financial circumstances.

Read on for details of further attractions at Saturday’s event »

Police are appealing for information following an unprovoked assault in Bradley Stoke.

At around 8:30pm on Monday (15th August), a 29-year-old man was walking alone in the Three Brooks Local Nature Nature Reserve, near to Ormonds Close.

He was approached from behind by two men who went on to assault him by kicking him in the head and stamping on one of his arms before running off into Savages Wood.

The victim has been left with a suspected fractured cheekbone.

Police would now like to speak to anyone who may have witnessed this incident or who may have seen two white men in their mid-twenties acting suspiciously in the area around this time.

Anyone who may be able to help is asked to call police on 0845 456 7000 quoting reference 97700/11 or call the charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

The latest incident follows one in October 2010 in which a cyclist was assaulted and robbed in the Three Brooks Local Nature, close to Bowsland Green Primary School.