The Bradley Stoke Journal

Local MP Jack Lopresti made an appearance at the Tesco Extra store in Bradley Stoke last week to witness a special presentation to children from three local schools, marking the success of the supermarket group’s Vouchers for Schools & Clubs scheme.

Two pupils and a member of staff from each of Bowsland Green Primary School, Wheatfield Primary School and Bradley Stoke Community School were present to receive some of the equipment earmarked for their schools from the scheme and to be presented with a goody bag for themselves courtesy of Tesco.

In Filton and Bradley Stoke, 78 schools and clubs collected 726,945 Tesco vouchers last year and ordered equipment worth £21,206.

Mr Lopresti said:

“I was delighted to hear about the good things the scheme has achieved in the last year.”

“Parents and carers have made a great effort to collect so many vouchers and I hope they benefit from the equipment and resources they have been able to order as a result.”

“I would also like to thank Tesco for their efforts in putting together the scheme and in inviting me to the presentation today.”

Sam Lea-Tanner, the store’s Customer Service Manager, and Store Manager Pete Ballam met the children and staff and talked for a few minutes about the community work that Tesco do.

Photo courtesy of Jack Lopresti MP. Original article: Tesco make presentation to local schools

Staff at Bradley Stoke’s Tesco Extra store raised a total of £207 for the Alzheimer’s Society through a sponsored 12-hour indoor sports event on Saturday (16th July).

Workers at the store, who were allowed to wear sport-themed casual clothing for the day, took it in turns to work-out on a multi-trainer and static bike positioned near the customer services desk.

The Alzheimer’s Society and Alzheimer Scotland are Tesco PLC’s Charity of the Year for 2011.

The company aims to raise £5 million over the year, which will be used for research into dementia and to fund a Dementia Community Roadshow.

Jeremy Hughes, Chief Executive of the Alzheimer’s Society said:

“It’s really concerning that six out of ten people with dementia don’t have a diagnosis and so can’t access the support they badly need. The money raised through the Tesco partnership will help us ensure people with dementia don’t face it alone.”

“Anyone who is concerned about their memory should visit their GP. If you’d like our Roadshow to visit a Tesco near you, visit us at www.alzheimers-tesco.org.uk and let us know.”

Read on to find out more about Tesco’s Charity of the Year scheme »

The petrol filling station at Tesco Bradley Stoke has been closed since early this afternoon (Friday) following a leakage of fuel.

Two fire engines attended the scene and the whole forecourt was closed off as a precautionary measure.

A spokesperson for Avon Fire & Rescue told The Journal that residual fuel from one of the pumps had leaked onto the forecourt.

The incident was dealt with by Tesco staff using on-site sand supplies with the fire service appliances standing by as a precaution.

No fuel left the site and no environmental damaged was caused, according to the fire service spokesperson.

The station was still closed at 6:30pm as staff from waste solutions specialists Cleansing Service Group cleaned up the site.

A customer services representative at Tesco Bradley Stoke said the duty manager was unable to provide a comment.

Tesco Extra manager Oliver Hill is scheduled to address this week’s meeting of the Bradley Stoke Safer & Stronger Community Group to be held at Baileys Court Activity Centre on Tuesday evening (7pm start).

Meeting chair Julie Snelling of Southern Brooks Community Partnership says Mr Hill, who has managed the store since it opened in October last year, will pick up any issues that the public bring up about Tesco’s.

Rachel Sharvell-Jones, the new full-time youth worker for Bradley Stoke, will also be present at the meeting, as will Steve Shields of South Gloucestershire Council, who will have some news about planned changes to the district’s Safer & Stronger Communities Partnership Strategy.

The February meeting of the SSCG was well attended and five priority topics were agreed for the police to address – these can be seen on the Bradley Stoke Beat page of the Avon & Somerset Police website.

One of the priority topics – anti-social behaviour in Saxon Way – is sure to figure again in discussions as that road subsequently became one of those affected by the suspected arson attacks of Friday 6th March in which three cars were destroyed during the early hours.

Police Inspector Bob Evely sparked controversy at the last meeting when he refused to discuss concerns raised by local residents about the activities of sex film producer James Edwards at his property in The Coppice. The row was later compounded when the published minutes of the meeting contained no mention of the topic being tabled. A subsequent re-issue of the minutes corrected the omission.

Hundreds of defective shopping trolleys at the Tesco Extra store in Bradley Stoke are due to be replaced over the weekend, according to Customer Services Manager Matt Hill.

Wheel locking devices on the faulty ‘shallow’ trolleys have been spontaneously seizing up ever since they were introduced when the new store opened last October.

Over the last week, most of the rogue trolleys have been chained up near the store entrance, with a notice apologising for “the inconvenience caused”.

Mr Hill told The Journal that a consignment of 400 replacement trolleys is expected to arrive this weekend.

Tesco trolleys were also discussed at the recent Bradley Stoke Safer & Stronger Group meeting, where residents complained about the number of discarded trolleys around the town. Willow Brook Centre Manager Scott Lahive was actioned to speak to Tesco about the issue and invite them to attend the next meeting in April.

Asked about the discarded trolley problem, Mr Hill said that Tesco employs a firm of contractors to recover stray trolleys, but added that they can only do so “when they know about them”.

Abandoned trolleys can be reported by phoning the store on 0845 6779088. Why not put the number in your mobile now?

Related Links: Get something Done About It! (The Journal)

In our PicasaWeb gallery:

• Bradley Stoke Christmas Lights [album; slideshow]
• Bradley Stoke Christmas 2008 [album; slideshow]

Useful holiday information:

• Christmas opening hours at our local shopping centres