The final public meeting of the Sea Mills & Coombe Dingle Community Project will be on Tuesday 4 November at St Edyths, starting at 7:30 pm.
Community Voice
No. 16
Autumn 2004
Contents
Next issue of Community Voice - Spring 2005. Contributions by mid February 2005 via Sea Mills Library or via website or email to communityvoice1@hotmail.com. Thanks.
ASBO-LUTE ACCORD AT AGM?
- AntiSocial Behaviour Unit 916 5155
- Police Enquiries/reports 0845 456 7000
- Vehicle crime 0845 723 4999
- Crimestoppers 0800 555 111
- Emergency 999
- Streetwise, 916 5160
- Housing 903 9730 (please correct your Handbook)
At the Project’s October AGM there was much agreement on the need for improved Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs). Area case officer Andrew Snee with Helen Morgan, Police Liaison, spoke on how the new Anti-Social Behaviour Unit (ASBU) intends to deal with antisocial behaviour in Bristol (one of 10 ‘trailblazer’ councils) working in a new partnership of Housing, Police, Social Services and others.
Their mission is to ‘prevent the few from disrupting a whole community.’ And the eventual benefits are for everyone, not just Council tenants.
We were told UK spends £3.37 billion/year on tackling anti-social behaviour, defined as behaviour causing alarm, harassment or distress to one or more people not of the same household as the accused.
Summary justice
Most importantly the Unit must keep their witnesses ‘on board’ – a problem with previous procedures; so witness protection includes using professionals if a witness feels too threatened.
Examples of what the Prime Minister calls ‘summary justice’ - action against the over 10s, house repossession, ‘crack house’ closures, group dispersal orders, action to prevent re-offending.
But the meeting’s accord only lasted until ‘questions from the floor’, during which it was felt that unless policing is increased in areas like Sea Mills, yet another initiative will fall by the wayside.
Persistent harassment
The meeting also heard local people giving personal instances of harassment and feelings of isolation, including one leading to family break-up and another racially motivated.
Those involved in security at the church and its grounds also spoke of the problem of poor response to vandalism etc. Others felt the young seem to have had a right to misbehave for too long.
However, as from the beginning of November new shift patterns for beat officers will help them respond to calls more readily at those times when they are most likely to get them. So let’s hope we’ll no longer be kept waiting for the phone to answer or have to sweat it out at a ‘scene of the crime’ while miscreants can take half an hour over their get-away.
Useful phone numbers
NB: ASBU’s handout has more information – see a copy now at the Library.
At the AGM a good attendance of 35 people listen to Fay Wilkinson giving her Chairman’s Report on the Community Project’s activities over the last year. As in previous years, newcomers took up Project membership.
Note the relative calm induced by tea and biscuits in the interval before a noisy question time following an earlier presentation by Bristol’s ASBU (also see page 2). However, it was good to hear that cases in Sea Mills are being reviewed even as we go to press, & that we can expect results in the next 2 months.
| (Photo TW) |
BRING YOUR CONCERNS HERE
The Project’s Action Forum is set up to, among other things, help local people resolve concerns over the quality of life around them. Whether you live or just work here the Action Forum can help you, but only if you tell them of your problem.
The Action Forum meet every 6-8 weeks as a group from the Community Project, along with representatives of Police, Youth Service, Housing, Social Services, SureStart and so on.
If the Forum don’t have an answer for you they will put you in touch with those more likely to be able to help.
Next meeting is Tues 2pm 18 Jan at the Library. Come along for a free cuppa.
CORRECTIONS
We made a record number of mistakes in our last issue, for which we must apologise: LOLA stands for Leave Our Lane Alone, so please note their email address:-
We also got BLAutos telephone number wrong in their front page advert in issue 15. So make sure you ring for your bargain car or van on the right line – 0117 968 8429.
| (TW) |
OUR ADVERT RATES
- small advert (as p 4) = £5 per issue;
- medium (as on p 3 or 4) = £25;
- large (as on p 2) = £30;
- front page large = £35.
To encourage more smaller businesses to use our advertising space to reach all in Sea Mills & Coombe Dingle we have reconsidered our tariff, so now:-
Or we’ve discounts for a year’s-worth (3 issues) – except for the front page.
WHICH? MAGAZINE SAYS JOIN THE UNION!
Severn Four Credit Union Ltd, covering Lawrence Weston, Avonmouth, Shirehampton and Sea Mills has welcomed the report in August’s Which? magazine encouraging its readers to consider credit union membership. In a full report about credit unions in Britain, Which? urges its readers to think again if they thought credit unions weren’t for them, and says, ‘Credit unions offer their members cheap flexible loans, and many pay good returns on their savings accounts too.’
The best of 25 credit unions beat Which? magazine’s Best Buy savings accounts and do well when it comes to loans too. They offer good value and ‘Some of the bigger ones beat not only high-street banks, but some Best Buy savings accounts too’.
No fat cats
When it comes to loans, rates are lower than ‘Big players like Barclays and HSBC.’ Credit unions can be ‘A particularly good bet if you want to borrow small amounts over a short time.’
Where credit unions also stand out from commercial competitors are free life insurance provided by ABCUL credit unions, no charges for early repayment, and the fact that ‘The money you are saving is being used to help other people in your community, instead of lining the pockets of fat-cat executives in the City.’
Credit unions are regulated by the Financial Services Authority, and savings are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme on the same basis as if held in a bank or building society.
Kathryn Hutt, President of Severn Four Credit Union said, ‘We paid a dividend of 2% last year, and members pay no more than 1% interest/month on reducing loan balances (12.68% apr) and receive life insurance built in.’
Example: Borrow £100 & repay loan over 52 weeks for a total of just £6.21 interest!
Easy access
Anyone who lives, works/volunteers in Lawrence Weston, Shirehampton, Sea Mills or Avonmouth can join up and gain the benefits of membership.
You can access their services through PayPoint collection points, standing order, or at our office at 115 High St, Shirehampton. For more information, please contact Jan or Tracey on 938 1439 or visit www.severnfour.co.uk
BUILDING OUR DREAM
Leb and Abby take a break from building
the Dream House in deepest Somerset. (Photo AF)
 |
In March my partner Leb and I took part in a TV show called Building the Dream. When we first heard about it we knew twelve couples would be building a house together, during which they would periodically vote each other off the show in an effort to win the house!
We later discovered it was going to take place in Somerset, an area we have wanted to move to for a long time. And we also wanted to learn the skills needed for a self-build. It was a great opportunity.
So we went for it. And it was fun. Despite what you may have seen on TV, most of the experience was enjoyable! I loved learning the new skills — project management, brick laying, carpentry, roofing etc. It was a great break from desk work!
It was a shame to eventually have to leave the site – we’d made great friends, especially with some of the builders, in the nine weeks we worked on the house. We still go back to visit the village, it’s a great place and we miss the friendship of the villagers.
But now it’s back home to Sea Mills to pick up where we left off! I would recommend the experience to anyone – after all, it’s the things you didn’t do that you’ll regret 20 years from now!
Personally, I really learned a lot about myself on the show. I learned that my principles and values are more important to me than money. I learned about people and how they interact under pressure, and I also learned that reality TV isn’t as ‘real’ as it pretends to be!
| (AF) |
HANDBOOK OUT NOW
The latest edition of the Project’s Handbook for Sea Mills & Coombe Dingle 2004-2005, in its distinctive green cover & map of the area, is available – free – from many local outlets.
The booklet is full of information on local groups, facilities and services, many of which maybe you didn’t even know existed! You should find it at the Library, Sea Mills Post Office, Community Centre, shops in Westbury Lane & Stoke Bishop, Riverleaze Surgery and Green dentists, local schools, nurseries, churches and clubs, estate agents around Shirehampton and Westbury, and wherever anyone has been kind enough to stock them.
Copies have been reserved for our 120+ Project members and were made available at our AGM. Otherwise, pick it up from the above comprehensive choice of outlets.
• Two important phone numbers need correcting:- please note the Community Centre booking secretary is Jacky Trivitt on 987 7963, and the Housing General enquiries number is 903 9730. Apologies for any inconvenience caused.
| (TW) |
SURGERY CUTS
- Phone NHS Direct for medical advice on 0845 4647
- Phone Sea Mills Surgery which automatically transfers you to NHS Direct where their nurses will assess your needs. They will then either offer you medical advice over the phone or transfer you to the North Bristol Primary Care Centre where a doctor will assess your needs. If you need a doctor, you’ll be asked to visit the Primary Care Centre, Southmead Hospital next to Casualty. You can park in the Casualty car park. A doctor will only visit at home if absolutely necessary.
- Phone or visit a Walk-In Centre. The nearest Walk-In Centre to Sea
Mills is Bristol City Gate Walk-In Centre, 33-34 Broad St, and can
be contacted on 906 9600. It is open 8am-8pm every day.
If you are mobile and need nursing care, please use the Walk-In Centre. - If you are housebound and need nursing assistance, please contact the Duty District Nurse on 965 6061.
As from 1 November 2004 the GPs at Sea Mills Surgery are no longer responsible for care of patients outside normal surgery times. Your Out-of-Hours care will be by doctors at North Bristol Primary Care Trust.
The surgery itself will also be closed on Saturday mornings. We were one of the few practices in Bristol that continued to provide a Saturday morning service, but this is now also taken over by the North Bristol Primary Care Trust from 1 Nov.
Surgery opening times from 1 Nov:- Mon-Fri: 8.30am-1pm & 2pm-6.30 pm.
Here are the options if you need medical attention when the surgery is closed:-
AOB SETS LIGHT TO AGM
- redevelopment due to covenants,
- owner-occupiers currently extending properties that are semi-detached from tenant neighbours,
- the need for more dwellings and thus smaller gardens due to high land values,
- how to ‘lever in’ useful backland sites.
It’s often the way at community meetings that things hot up when it gets to questions-from-the-floor and that great unknown — A.O.B. (‘any other business’). After thanking all those involved in the activities of the Project, our AGM began quietly with Co-chair Fay Wilkinson reporting on the Project’s new Youth Forum (see picture p 1). As well as its original grant of £3500 for summer activities the Forum has just been awarded a further £545 for half-term events at the SOS Club, the Library, and the Boys & Girls Club. For the moment the meeting remained calm…
Development Worker
Then Fay told us about the Project’s proposal to employ a Community Development Worker for the admin and contact work which will help the Project Directors realise their proposals more efficiently. No argument there…
Finally a bouquet was presented to Abby Frary who will soon be leaving the area. Abby will be known to many for having started up a successful Neighbourhood Watch Scheme (see #13) and for being particularly active in the Community Project (also see p 2).
And so the meeting took a break…
REBUILDING
But then, after tea and biscuits, several questions from the floor forced the issue of lack of police presence (see lead article on p 1) followed by equally loud complaints about the Housing Department’s consultation with tenants and neighbours about the PRC houses which need rebuilding. The meeting noised its disquiet politely but robustly…
On the housing question Cllr Bees explained the Council’s position, reminding us of the problems involved in decisions that wouldn’t be final for a long time. He added that the Housing Department will face many problems over:-
The meeting also deplored any loss of the area’s desirable Garden Suburb character which Sea Mills has enjoyed for the last three-quarters of a century – a matter that could affect us all…
| (TW) |
ASHTON PARK ATTENDANCE AWARD
‘
I went to a special assembly for attendance. My most fun bit was when
they set off 800 balloons and several of then popped,’ said Sea
Mills Junior pupil Peter Leaman at Ashton Park School’s recent
Attendance Awards when Lord Mayor Simon Cook presented him with his
100% Attendance Certificate.
Well done, Peter, lets hope you weren’t marked absent from school that day!!!
BIZZINESS AS USUAL
On Saturday 16 October 80 volunteers gathered at the Community Centre with one aim – to give Sea Mills & Coombe Dingle an early spring clean. Yes – the annual Bizz was up and running once again.
Members of Bristol Clean & Green with two 5 tonne lorries helped volunteers to clear rubbish and brambles from gardens, scour the River Trym for shopping trolleys, clear pathways and pick up litter. Local councillors John Bees and Judith Price were there to help, plus members of the churches, local residents, Woodlands Church and Bristol University Social Action Group.
After hot-soup-and-rolls back at the Community Centre, Pam Scott-Cook, one of the coordinators, said it had been an excellent morning – ‘We have achieved so much in the past two years and this year the lorries and equipment have helped us reach even further into the community. Well done everyone.’
LETTERS
Only in the UK do we consider having a block of toilets as the centre piece of a Square! (see #15) It’s hardly something to be proud of – an eyesore, rarely used, and just a target for graffiti artists. Indeed, it merely attracts gangs of youngsters to do whatever ghastly things they do in bus stops late at night!
This is a great chance to tidy the Square – I say knock it down & replace it with a proper perspex bus shelter.
| (Dave Jones) |
Yes, we do want to keep all the toilets. In The Community Voice, and I quote, ‘Sea Mills toilets are only used 60 times a day’. If they are closed then the bushes will be used 60 times a day!! The provision of toilets, whether it be in Tobermory or Sea Mills, is a public service and must have funding. Is it more important to keep toilets in W-o-T for 360 visits? A toilet is essential even if it’s only used by one person who has a need.
Many elderly citizens need to use the toilet before boarding a bus to town or after alighting from it.
| (Hazel Watson) |
I have only just heard that BCC are considering closing the toilets in Sea Mills Square, saying the usage isn’t sufficient to justify keeping them open. For a community with many elderly persons these toilets are essential and I hope I’m not too late to add my name to others who are against this closure.
I have visions of a toiletless Sea Mills Square. It is winter, the cold is intense, and a group of elderly people have been waiting ¾hour for a 43 bus. Long before it arrives a line of men are urinating in the gutter and the women are squatting on the grass. There is no cover at all in this bleak and exposed place, and the winter winds cut cruelly through the thickest clothing. No over-60’s bladder can defy conditions like these (not many young children’s either).
| (John Terry) |
Unfortunately there has been another accident at the end of our road today. I was wondering whether there might be any plans to do anything about it. I noticed some people in reXective jackets with notebooks the other day – could there be plans afoot?
There was a letter in the Summer Community Voice about the re-routing of the 41 bus and the road safety issue. I think there is a more general issue that people are using Westbury Lane (and consequently Shirehampton village) as a shortcut rather than using the ‘official’ route along Sylvan Way/Portway. If something could be done to make this route less attractive then it would make Westbury Lane safer and I am sure reduce accidents at the junction.
I have looked at the Council’s Road Safety Report which says that there were only 10 reported accidents in the 3 years to Dec 2003. It seems to me there’s an accident every few weeks. I shall be writing to the Council, but I just thought I would check whether any activity was already under way within the community.
| (Martin McDonnell) |
FORTHCOMING EVENTS IN SEA MILLS
- Sea Mills Junior & Infant Schools Christmas Fair, Infant School, Friday 3 December, 3-6pm
- Community Centre Christmas Fair, Community Centre, Sunny Hill, Saturday 4 December, 1-4pm
- Scouts/Cubs/Beavers Christmas Fair, Scout Hut, Bluebell Close, Saturday 4 December, 2pm
- Sea Mills Junior School Carol Concert, St Edyth’s Church, Wed 15 Dec, 6.30pm + drinks & mince pies
- Christingle, St Edyth’s Church, Friday 24 Dec, 4pm
- Jumble Sales Scout Hut, Bluebell Close, Sat 15 Jan & 12 Mar
SURESTART TO SEE THE LIGHT
At last all the planning applications have been agreed and contractors appointed. The first workers should be on our site at West Parade by 15 Nov 2004, and the beautiful new building completed by July 2005. It’s a tight time scale, so fingers crossed for good building weather.
Everything must be completed by 1 Sept when the doors will be open and children and parents/carers will start using the many services provided. A grand opening will be held later in Oct/ Nov 2005. Look forward to seeing some of you then.
BROWNIES WANTED
Lots of fun, activities, making things, trips, Brownie Camp & much more on Wednesdays at Sea Mills Methodist Church
Age: 7-10 years
Contact: Brown Owl (Emma Lockett) 0794 949 1224
SOS…SOS…SOS…
Calling all children & parents in the Sea Mills and Coombe Dingle area. We are the SOS Club and we provide care for children aged 4-11, both after school and in the holidays, at the Community Centre, just behind Sea Mills Library.
We were recently awarded £5000 from Comic Relief (& we’d like to give them a big thankyou) so we employed a new senior playworker and have an exciting timetable for after-school and holiday activities.
For bookings and more information please ring Deb on 0781 3761577 (24 hour answerphone)
HISTORY GILD
Sea Mills History Gild have put together their first term of acivities since the group’s reconstitution (see #15). We have visited Blaise Museum, as well as the Create Centre & the Bristol Record Office’s 350th Quaker Anniversary exhibit.
On 3 Nov Mr Ralph Hack treated us to a fascinating talk on Sir Robert Southwell, and the term will end with readings of Bristol prose and verse on 17 November, followed by a Grand Quiz & Social on the 24th.
New members are welcome either at St Edyth’s Parish Rooms at 2pm on term-time Wednesdays or ring 956 3519 for a timetable.
LIBRARY JOTTINGS
The Library’s Book Club has now grown to 7 members. They meet monthly on a Monday at 10.30am having read a book which they then discuss – more or less noisily depending on their reaction to it.
They wish to apologise to other readers for sitting in front of the copier, which they hope will be moved to a more convenient position soon.
THE RAYBRIDGE CLUB
BRITISH EMPIRE AND COMMONWEALTH MUSEUM
Until 31 August 2005
Follow the explorers of the New World. Sail a Tudor ship, skirmish with pirates and take part in our treasure trail. Track animal footprints on a journey deep into the forest. Sit round the campfire and listen to a story in an Indian tepee. Meet Pocahontas and Chief Powhatan; experience song and dance Native American style; discover the truth behind the birth of Modern America & see what happened when Native Americans and English settlers met for the first time.
‘PowWow’ is an entertaining hands-on experience for all ages!
Plan a special birthday party around the theme of Pocahontas, Princesses or Pirates!
Christmas Holiday Family Trail... Mon 27 Dec-Thurs 2 Jan, 10am-5pm: ‘Christmas Around the Commonwealth’.
Prices:
Adults £6.50
Children £3.95
Concessions £5.50
Family Ticket £14
Open 10am-5pm every day except Christmas Day & Boxing Day
British Empire & Commonwealth Museum Station Approach, Temple Meads, Bristol BS1 6QH
Tel: 9254980 Web: www.empiremuseum.co.uk
ROUND ONE TO LOLA
A redevelopment at Westbury Lane/ Arbutus Drive (see issue #15) has been refused planning permission.
The LOLA (Leave Our Lane Alone) poster campaign by Westbury Lane United Neighbours, the group of residents against the proposals, was largely responsible.
The refusal was based on the scheme being out of character, creating a loss of privacy, substandard road access and detrimental loss of trees.
The developers could appeal, but it’s equally likely they’ll redesign their scheme, having ‘flushed out’ local concerns.
The LOLA campaign isn’t necessarily against any development come what may; it just wants to guard against schemes that adversely affect the local community. So campaigners are being warned to remain watchful.
LOOT FOR GROUPS
Are you a group who’d like to run a course but can’t afford to? Community Education want more groups to apply for funds for ‘learners’ under 65. You get money for tutors, crèche workers, room hire & materials.
You’ll need min 6 learners who haven’t been in further or higher education in the last 3 years; each course must have different learners.
Tel. Fonthill Centre, 903 0059 or email jean_rodgers@bristol-city.gov.uk.