The Bradley Stoke Journal

An article in today’s Bristol Evening Post claims shoppers have been put off from using Bradley Stoke’s Willow Brook Centre following the installation of speed humps back in November last year.

The humps on the approach road to the centre are said to be giving customers “too much of a jolt” and the obstacles are alleged to be causing traffic congestion because vehicles have to “virtually stop before driving over them”.

The story will be familiar to Journal readers as we covered it two months ago when the humps were first installed.

The paper quotes Bradley Stoke Town Councillor Keith Cranney as saying:

“… the centre should be doing everything it could to encourage customers in times of economic austerity – not put them off.”

“I’ve had a lot of complaints about this and it was raised at a recent forum meeting where someone said they wouldn’t be shopping there again.”

Members of the Bradley Stoke Police Beat Team which has a base at the centre, however, expressed different views in a presentation to a Town Council meeting last Wednesday.

More: Humps are "helping the cause" says PCSO »

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Jobs could be lost at the Bradley Stoke branch of Peacocks after the national retailer confirmed it had entered administration after failing to secure its debts.

A spokesperson for administrators KPMG has told the BBC that there will “inevitably” be redundancies and store closures across the group.

The company’s Chief Executive Richard Kirk said:

“This is a hugely sad development for all of our stakeholders, especially our employees who have shown total commitment to the business over an uncertain and difficult period.”

The Peacocks store at the Willow Brook Centre opened on 3rd June 2010 and it is believed that around 15 people are employed there.

Staff at the store said on Tuesday that they had been instructed not to talk to the media.

Read more: Clothing firm’s staff braced for job losses (BBC)

Related link: Jobs in Bradley Stoke (The Journal)

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The Journal is pleased to announce that Richard Clark is the lucky winner of our exclusive December prize draw to win a year’s free membership at the new Anytime Fitness gym in Bradley Stoke.

Richard’s entry was drawn out of the hat by former professional tennis player Robin Drysdale, who is the Managing Director of the local Anytime Fitness franchise.

Heather Williams, Assistant Manager at Anytime Fitness Bradley Stoke, said:

“We are so pleased to welcome Richard as a member of Anytime Fitness Bradley Stoke and look forward to helping him achieve his goals and hope that he benefits from the experience greatly.”

“The response from the local people of Bradley Stoke has been really encouraging. It’s nice to see the community getting behind and supporting a new business and good to see that people are taking an interest in their health and fitness.”

Ben Palmer, Manager of the gym, added that everyone who entered the competition is invited to have a look around the facility and have a free workout. Phone 0845 519 6761  for more details.

More: Photos from the gym’s opening day on 3rd January »

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Feel you need to shake things up in the New Year? You’re not alone – with 2012 fast approaching let this be the year you achieve your health and fitness goals, whatever they are!

If you’re one of the many people who set new personal health and fitness goals at this time of the year, why not enter our exclusive Free Prize Draw competition to win a year’s free membership of the new Anytime Fitness 24-hour gym that opens soon at the Willow Brook Centre?

Hurry! Entries close at midnight on Saturday 31st December 2011.

Click HERE to enter the Anytime Fitness Free Prize Draw

Craig Rimmer, personal trainer at Anytime Fitness, says we’re all susceptible to a little ‘over indulgence’ at Christmas but those of us serious about staying in shape need to plan ahead and ensure it doesn’t become another spiral of weight gain and “I’ll start tomorrow” excuses.

Craig’s top five tips for getting back into shape in 2012 are:

1) Get back into the gym and do something! Don’t put it off, even if you don’t feel like breaking records straight away, get back in and start establishing a routine so you gain one of the most valuable tools for training – consistency!

Read on for the remainder of Craig’s top five tips for 2012 »

The Santander agency at Bradley Stoke’s Willow Brook Centre has marked the first anniversary of its opening by inviting customers to enjoy a piece of celebration cake.

The event also saw the agency’s 1,000th and 1,001st customers, Kiera Hancock (9) and Aaron Hancock (6), rewarded with a special bonus added to their savings accounts.

Claire Richard, Agency Principal, told The Journal:

“We were delighted to invite customers to join us in celebrating our one year anniversary with Santander.”

“Our partnership with Santander has enabled us to continue to support the local community with a banking service and provide customers with access to arrange of highly competitive products to help meet their financial needs.”

“We look forward to many years of working closely with Santander to meet the needs of our customers.”

Photo (L-R): Stephen Hanks (Agency Principal), Lauren Marshall (Team Leader), customers Kiera & Aaron Hancock and Mark Collar (Regional Manager, Santander Agencies) prepare to cut the celebration cake.

More: Mortgage and insurance advice also available »

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Readers of the Bradley Stoke Journal have the chance to win a year’s free gym membership in an exclusive Free Prize Draw competition that starts today.

The lucky winner will be given twelve month’s free membership of the new Anytime Fitness 24-hour gym that opens soon at the Willow Brook Centre in Bradley Stoke.

The prize, worth over £300, will also give the winner access to any of the other 1,600 plus Anytime Fitness clubs around the world.

The Free Prize Draw competition runs until midnight on Saturday 31st December 2011 and the winner will notified and be able to start using the new gym by Monday 9th January 2012.

Click HERE to enter the Anytime Fitness Free Prize Draw

The competition winner will be announced in the Bradley Stoke Journal on or before Monday 9th January 2012.

Heather Williams, Assistant Manager at Anytime Fitness in Bradley Stoke, said:

“We’re on schedule to open our new gym in Bradley Stoke before Christmas and we’re delighted to be able to offer this exclusive prize to one lucky reader of the The Journal”

“Our new Bradley Stoke gym will have the latest state-of-the art equipment and is the only one in the local area to offer true 24-hour access.”

Read on to find out more about membership benefits at Anytime Fitness in Bradley Stoke »