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.

PCSO Paul Baxter said he believed the humps were actually “helping the cause”, adding:

“Before they went in, every day we were viewing CCTV images of people sliding off from the bend at the end [of the access road] and writing their cars off.”

“They needed to slow down. I understand that it’s a pain but I do believe it’s better than having nothing there at all.”

Beat manager PC Claire Fletcher had earlier told the meeting that she encounters “someone driving at me [down the centre of the road] every time I arrive or leave”, adding:

“On two occasions I’ve had to swerve to avoid someone and have immediately gone up to inspect the CCTV in the centre’s control room to get the registration numbers.”

The errant drivers were dealt with under Section 59 of the Road Traffic Act (Vehicles used in manner causing alarm, distress or annoyance), she reported.

Willow Brook Centre Manager Scott Lahive is quoted as saying:

“It would be very regrettable if these measures were discouraging people from visiting the centre.”

“The introduction of speed bumps were a last resort following nearly 50 accidents on the approach road due to speeding vehicles.”

Read more: Shoppers in Bradley Stoke “put off by steep speed humps”

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)

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.

Photo: Captain Running Man visited the gym on its opening day last Tuesday (3rd January) and was shown around the equipment by members of staff Simon (Personal Trainer) and Marcie (Fitness Instructor).

More opening day photos on PicasaWeb and Facebook.

The new fitness club is located on the first floor of the Town Square complex, above Costa Coffee, Greggs, Taylors Estate Agents and KFC. Access is via a door in the passage way between KFC and Harvester.

Related link: Gyms & Health Clubs in Bradley Stoke (The Journal)

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!

NOT A MEMBER OF A GYM? Join our brand new 24 hour facility at the Willow Brook centre, Bradley Stoke from under £30 per month!

2) Set realistic but challenging goals. Setting goals gives you realistic targets to achieve. It motivates, ensures the body progresses and keeps your workouts focused and structured.

3) Plan ahead! My most successful clients aren’t necessarily the ‘hardest’ workers. It’s the ones that layout their week, aim for 3-5 sessions in the gym and prepare their food for the whole day. They know exactly what’s going into their body and know when to hit the gym in order to stay on track. This way when “something came up” happens, preparation ensures that you can still achieve.

4) Get a Personal Trainer. Personal training has proven to be one of the biggest tools in helping people achieve their goals. I personally 100% guarantee my clients results as long as they follow my advice accurately. Check out my website www.theptacademy.com and view the testimonials to see how I can get you similar results in Bradley Stoke’s newest and only 24 hour gym.

5) Be patient and keep doing it right. Results normally don’t happen overnight. We all want results right away, part of ‘microwave mentality’ I guess. Learn to enjoy your training, appreciate the little things, stick at it and the big results will be just around the corner!

Happy training- See you in the gym!

Craig Rimmer BSc (Hons) – Personal Trainer at Anytime Fitness

Tel: 07841 712955 | Email: info@theptacademy.com

The new Anytime Fitness club is located on the first floor of the Town Square complex, above Costa Coffee, Greggs, Taylors Estate Agents and KFC.

For more information about Anytime Fitness Bradley Stoke, phone 0845 519 6761.

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.

Santander is committed to branch and agency banking, and now has 1,400 branches in the UK, of which more than 200 are branch agencies.

Also operating from the Willow Brook Centre office is The Mortgage Market UK Ltd, a true ‘whole of market’ adviser which has helped many people throughout the South find the best deals on mortgages and insurance. They are able to look at mortgages not just from Santander but also Halifax, NatWest, Nationwide, Woolwich and the rest of the market.

Agency Principal Stephen Hanks, who has previously worked as a Regional Manager for Bradford and Bingley (now Santander), said:

“We pride ourselves on providing the highest level of service and have an experienced management team: Lauren Marshall previously managed the Santander in Thornbury and Claire Richards is the Area Manager for the Santander agency as well as being a qualified mortgage adviser.”

Related link: Banks and Building Societies in Bradley Stoke

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.”

Anytime Fitness members have their own security access key allowing them to use the gym 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year.

Other benefits of Anytime Fitness membership include:

• A Safe and Secure Environment: State-of-the-art security system
• FREE fitness Orientation: Every new member is entitled to one!
• State-of-the-art Equipment with extensive free weights
• A fun Workout: Personal viewing screens on cardio equipment
• Personal Training at affordable rates
• Club Culture: We know your name and have lots of FUN

The new fitness club is located on the first floor of the Town Square complex, above Costa Coffee, Greggs, Taylors Estate Agents and KFC.

For more information about Anytime Fitness Bradley Stoke, phone 0845 519 6761.

The new Argos store at Bradley Stoke’s Willow Brook Centre has opened today, a day earlier than planned.

Situated in the retail terrace, between Brantano and Peacocks, the store opened to the public this morning (Friday 25th).

The Manageress of the store explained to The Journal that, with all systems ready to go, they had decided to opt for a “soft start” from 10am.

She stressed that the store’s opening offer of free £10 vouchers to the first one hundred customers would be implemented as advertised from 9am tomorrow (Saturday 26th).

Other opening offers advertised in the Evening Post this week include:

• Free vouchers worth £10 when you spend £50
• Free vouchers worth £20 when you spend £100

The store has lined up a programme of entertainment to celebrate the official opening of its new store tomorrow (Saturday 26th) – including children’s face painting (from 10am to 4pm).

Local radio station Jack FM will be broadcasting live from the Willow Brook Centre between 12 noon and 3pm, offering a chance to win one of ten £25 Argos gift vouchers.

On Sunday (27th November), Peppa Pig will be putting in appearances at 11am, 12 noon, 1pm, 2:30pm and 3:30pm.

Related link: Willow Brook Centre Stores (The Journal)

Anytime Fitness, the world’s largest 24-hour gym chain, is due to open at the Willow Brook Centre in Bradley Stoke before the end of the year.

There are 1,600 Anytime Fitness clubs worldwide and anyone who signs up in Bradley Stoke will have global access for the same cost as a single gym membership.

Members will be given their own security access key allowing them to use the gym 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year.

A member of the Anytime Fitness team will help you develop a training programme to improve cardio fitness and strength and flexibility.

Anytime Fitness will be located above Costa Coffee, Greggs, Taylors Estate Agents and KFC and the new members can benefit from a fantastic opening offer of £22.95 per month – places are limited though!

Regional Manager Ben Palmer said:

“We already have a gym in Clifton and it’s been such a great success we are really looking forward to opening in Bradley Stoke.”

“Anyone wanting more information could come and see us in Clifton, or email bradleystoke@anytimefitness.co.uk and we’ll get back to you.”

Telephone 0845 519 6761 for further details of the new Anytime Fitness gym in Bradley Stoke.

The new Bradley Stoke Argos store, due to open at 9am on Saturday (26th November), is offering a free £10 voucher to the first one hundred customers on its first day of trading.

Fitting out of the store, located at the Willow Brook Centre between Brantano and Peacocks, is now nearing completion and Argos lorries were observed at the back of the premises last week, delivering stock.

The 8,000 sq ft unit has been fitted with a mezzanine floor, which will be used as a stock room – along with the rear section of the ground floor.

The sales area includes a jewellery counter on the left hand side, with the collection counter situated towards the rear.

Around 40 new jobs have been created at the new store, according to an earlier press release put out by the Willow Brook Centre.

Related links:

• Latest Price Cuts at Argos
• Shops at the Willow Brook Centre (The Journal)

The Christmas lights at Bradley Stoke’s Willow Brook Centre will be switched on this Thursday afternoon (17th November 2011) when Ben & Holly from Ben & Holly’s Little Kingdom make a special guest appearance.

In contrast to previous years when the event has been fronted by Heart FM (we reported in 2009 & 2010), this year will see live music and entertainment provided by our own Bradley Stoke Radio (BSR).

Visitors will have a chance to win £250 to spend at a store of their choice at the Willow Brook Centre by entering a competition during the event.

We’ve heard that BSR are planning kids’ magic, balloon modelling, music quizzes, choir singing, dance groups and, of course, seasonal music and jingles.

The action gets underway at 2:30pm and runs until 5:30pm.

Could the event rival last week’s Olly Murs lights switch-on at The Mall, Cribbs Causeway (the Patchway Journal reported)? MC Andy of Bradley Stoke Radio will no doubt give it his best shot – streamers and artificial snow machines at the ready!

Photo: MC Andy (left) and other members of the Bradley Stoke Radio team, pictured at the station’s pre-launch event in June 2011.

Bradley Stoke’s Willow Brook Centre has announced that Argos has completed contracts on an 8,000 sq. ft. unit that is set to open in late November, in time for Christmas.

The new store will occupy unit 3 of the retail terrace, between Brantano and Peacocks.

Scott Lahive, Manager of the Willow Brook Centre said:

“We will be delighted to see Argos open here in Bradley Stoke.”

“It’s also good news for all our tenants to see the Centre fully let in retail terms.”

A press release put out today by the Centre describes Argos as: “a well-established, unique retailer recognised for choice, value and convenience. It sells general merchandise and products for the home and, on average, 18 million UK households, or around two thirds of the population, have an Argos catalogue at home at any time.”

Following the re-opening of the Santander agency branch last week, this latest news means that the Centre will have 100% retail occupancy by the end of 2011, just over three years after its official opening in October 2008.

The qualifier about “retail terms” in Mr Lahive’s comment refers to the fact that a sizeable area of office space remains unlet at the Centre.

Unit 3 of the retail terrace was the subject of a recent planning application that sought permission to add a mezzanine floor.

Mr Lahive explained to The Journal:

“The mezzanine level will be 8,000 sq ft and therefore double the space of the unit. It is intend as a stock room and will not be used as a sales area.”

The Santander agency branch at Bradley Stoke’s Willow Brook Centre has re-opened under new management less than six weeks after it closed due to “difficulties” between the unit’s previous operator and the centre’s management.

Business at the branch came to a sudden end on Thursday 11th August 2011 after staff had been informed of the impending closure just a few days earlier. The agency had been run by IPM Agencies (Santander) Ltd, a company registered at the same address as 1st Equity, who were behind the failed Nationwide agency that traded from the unit between October 2008 to February 2010.

A spokesperson for Santander told The Journal:

“It was with regret that we had to announce the short notice closure of the Agency on 12th August 2011 after the Agent became unable to trade from the premises. Since then we have worked to restore a banking and savings service for customers, and have appointed Hart Agency Services as an Agent of Santander.”

Mark Hixon, Director of Agency Distribution for Santander, added:

“I am delighted to appoint Hart Agency Services as our Agent in Bradley Stoke. The Willow Brook Centre is a vibrant development with an important role at the heart of Bradley Stoke, and it was crucial for me that we reopened the Agency as quickly as possible.”

“Santander and the team from Hart Agency Services look forward to welcoming customers both existing and new.”

Enquiries by The Journal have revealed that Hart Agency Services, run by Claire Richards and Stephen Hanks, operates two other Santander agency branches – in Swanage and Ferndown (both in Dorset). The couple also run The Mortgage Market UK Limited, which will also offer services from the new branch.

The three employees that worked at the Bradley Stoke Santander agency operated by the previous owners have been retained by the new management.

Willow Brook Centre Manager Scott Lahive commented:

“The previous agent closed the branch of Santander after failing to comply with their lease obligations. Due to the success of the business, both the Willow Brook Centre and Santander have worked relentlessly to re-establish a presence at the centre.”

Work is due to start today (5th September) on the implementation of a series of traffic calming measures at Bradley Stoke’s Willow Brook Centre.

The Centre says the measures are designed to help drivers obey the speed limits that are currently in place throughout the car park and on the approach road, ensuring pedestrian safety is paramount.

The measures are said to include improved signage, speed tables and speed cushions.

Andy Oram, Operations Manager at the Willow Brook Centre said:

“As part of our ongoing commitment to the improvement of the Centre we will be beginning some traffic calming work week commencing Monday 5th September, 2011.  This work is being carried out to reduce the speed of vehicles entering and leaving the site, therefore improving the safety of customers who visit the Centre. The work will involve installing speed cushions on the approach road to the Centre, the road running along the top of the car park plus the front of the Mall and Non Food Terrace.”

“This will be carried out in phases as part of our commitment to reducing the inconvenience to customers and maintaining normal trading and car parking availability.”

The Centre’s car park was recently given the ‘Park Mark’ Safer Parking Award in recognition of measures put in place to provide a safe environment designed to deter criminal activity and anti-social behaviour.

Bradley Stoke has been left without banking facilities for the second time in two years after the Santander agency branch in the Willow Brook Centre closed suddenly this week.

A source at a neighbouring unit said the Santander staff had been told of the impending closure on Tuesday and the branch closed it doors for the last time at 5pm on Thursday (11th August).

The agency was run by 1st Equity of Thornbury, who were also in charge of the Nationwide Building Society branch that occupied the same unit from October 2008 until its shock closure in February 2010.

Notices posted on the windows of the closed unit state:

“With effect from 5pm on 11th August IPM Agencies (Santander) Ltd are unable to continue to trade from this location, and we regret that this Agency is now closed.”

“Santander is sorry for any inconvenience caused to our customers. As a valued customer of Santander we look forward to continuing to providing you with a service.”

“The nearest Santander outlets are at 118 High Street, Staple Hill and 104 Whiteladies Road, Clifton.”

“Alternatively, customers can contact Santander on 0845 765 4321.”

[Editor's note: IPM Agencies (Santander) Ltd have the same registered address as 1st Equity.]

Willow Brook Centre Manager Scott Lahive told The Journal:

“The building society agency has closed due to difficulties.”

“Whilst we have worked with the agent to avoid the closure, they decided to close.”

“We are currently reviewing the options for the future use of the unit.”

The closure is likely to anger the many Bradley Stoke residents who transferred accounts from Nationwide and other banks when the Santander agency opened less than eight months ago in December 2010.

The town’s only other banking outlet was lost when the Halifax withdrew the facility from its estate agency branch (now operating under the Reid Rains brand) at Bradley Pavilions, Pear Tree Road.

Other banks and building societies within reach of Bradley Stoke include HSBC at Unit 6, Aztec Centre, Lloyds at 61 Gloucester Road, Patchway, and Stroud & Swindon at 130 Gloucester Road, Patchway.

Office space at Bradley Stoke’s Willow Brook Centre that has been vacant since the new town centre opened almost three years ago could be converted to a gym if South Gloucestershire Council approves an application for a change of use.

Brookmaker Ltd, a subsidiary of Tesco, is seeking approval for a change in use from class B1 (offices) to class D2 (assembly and leisure), so that the unit, located on the first floor of the Town Square block that houses Costa Coffee, Greggs, Taylors and KFC, “can be occupied as a gymnasium”.

A letter accompanying the application justifies the proposed change on the grounds that the centre’s original planning application included a ‘leisure’ element but this is no longer being provided since the demise of the Curves ladies-only gym in November 2009.

Mall unit 12 (on the first floor of the main building), which previously housed the Curves health and fitness centre, is now occupied by the CJ Hole Property Centre.

At 422 square metres, the unit under discussion  is significantly larger than the former Curves gym, which measured 116 square metres.

If permission is granted, a new gym would compete for custom with the Active Fitness Gym at Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre, the Riverside Leisure Club in Little Stoke and the Esporta Health Club in Stoke Gifford.

Related link: Gyms in and around Bradley Stoke (The Journal)

The Willow Brook Centre’s new club for local mums stages its next meeting on Tuesday 26th July between 9.30am and 11.30am at the Bradley Stoke Harvester restaurant.

The club was launched last month when 85 mums enjoyed a free hot drink and received advice from Boots, the Willow Brook Clinic and Brantano. Entertainment for the kids included an art & craft workshop and a puppet workshop.

This month Explore Learning is coming along with a selection of educational toys and will be offering half price membership to Mummy’s Morning card holders.

Phoenix Dental practice will be giving away free tooth paste samples, and the Extra Midwifery service will be on hand to talk to mums about getting all the support they need in their local area.

Representatives from Boots will be back with all the latest on their beauty and perfume ranges.

Adam Giles, General Manager at Harvester, said:

“We’re really looking forward to the next Mummy Morning; it was so well received last month.  We hope to see many of the same faces again, as well as lots of new ones.”

The following ‘Mummy’s Breakfast Morning’ club will be held on Tuesday 30th August and then on the last Tuesday of each month.

Membership is free and mums can register by emailing their contact details to mummys@willowbrookcentre.co.uk.  The membership card will also entitle mums to special offers and discounts at selected outlets.