"IN VIEW"

The Free Magazine for
the Villages of:-
Easter Compton, Pilning
& Severn Beach

Letters

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Pressed into service

I was recently invited to talk about New Passage on Thornbury Radio, and took the opportunity to read again some of my contributions to In View. I was surprised to find that there were people who didn't know about the ferry that ran from New Passage, or about the railway lines that ran behind our gardens right down to where the new houses have been built on the site of the New Passage Hotel. People generally assume that the only ferry ran from Aust, or Old Passage, as it is marked on old maps. There is a commemorative plaque about New Passage and its railways, on platform 2 of Temple Meads.
The river Severn, up to Gloucester was designated as Open Sea by Act of Parliament in 1798. This was because the Royal Navy relied heavily on the press gang to man its sailing ships. The gangs who 'found' these 'sailors' went about their heartless task in deadly earnest, often swinging a tarry rope about, and conscripting all who were touched by it. They could only do this in sea-port towns, so the more sea-port towns the better.
There are tragic stories about this_ the gangers would haunt local inns and get young men drunk enough to enlist - and they would wake up on board of an outward - bound ship. Apparently many of these boys would jump overboard and try to swim ashore, aiming at Denny Island. So many were drowned doing this that a mortuary was built at Bank farm - just lower down from Chittening Pill, to house the dead men, so their parents or wives could come to identify them. This practise ceased in 1835, but lingers on in literature, folk song and local legend.
The Severn has always been a Highway, and in the Second World War it drew the German aircraft, the river gleaming under the moon and showing the way to Bristol and Filton. Oil tankers dubbed 'Severn Submarines', stealthily and tirelessly made their way to the Midlands all through the war. New Passage attracted bombers too; it had a battery of guns and a training school for gunners, the rifle range - opposite the Zion chapel. The chapel itself became a canteen, run by local ladies, and a meeting place for troops from all over the UK to relax in, until a proper Naffi was built.
It was great to talk about my beloved bit of countryside and the river, on local radio. I hope that all I said made sense. Bland's Row is a lovely place to live, to me because of its long, long historical roots. Every square yard holds a secret _ it is a precious heritage.

Patricia – Bland’s Row.

Four Peacocks and a Website.

My husband recently purchased four peacocks to add to our growing menagerie of pets. Now these peacocks were supposed to have had their wings clipped to prevent them flying away. Well apparently not well enough, as within hours they had absconded. They were sighted about 30 feet up four trees but then we lost track of them. So I thought I would log the escapees with the police in case anyone happened to see them on the road anywhere.
My intention was not for the police to apprehend them but just to pass on any sightings so that we might try and recapture them.
A very helpful and enthusiastic call handler took some details. I was expecting the usual name, address, number and last seen location but she wanted more. Did they have any distinguishing marks? Well yes, two are bright blue, two are white, and they have tails about four feet long that go into big fans! This was noted. Then the next question. Did we have a photo of them? Now I find it hard to believe that there are so many missing peacocks reported that there would be a need for an identity parade!
But the best bit was the offer of putting the details on the new police website called reportmyloss.com the young girl explained that there were three categories, Bicycles, Electrical or Other, which would I like to put it under?
After some consideration I decided on other. To date we have not had a lot of success so I am thinking maybe Bicycles might have been a better option!
As Terry Wogan would say "Is it me?"

Sheila Cook.

Junction 17 Roundabout.

Dear Mr Sherman,

The road markings at the exit of B4055 to M5 Junction 17 have just been restored to visibility, and a new sign installed. The lane markings on the road surface now differ from those previously and ambiguously marked.

Identify the 3 Southbound exit lanes 1, 2 & 3, left to right, and the Northbound lane 4.

Lane 1 was originally used solely to access M5 (N) (although cheats used it for the Mall, but the markings were confusing). Often a source of anger.

Lanes 2 & 3 were used for any destination, but it was sometimes possible to negotiate the congested roundabout using 3 to get on M5 (S), even illegally briefly trespassing in lane 4.

The ability to use lane 1 solely for M5 (N) was valuable to bypass Mall traffic, thus reducing the queues up Blackhorse Hill. It relied on Mall traffic to leave it free; sadly 50% of drivers are below average intelligence, and will not foresee this.

The new layout allows Mall traffic in 1, and we have now lost this valuable relief to M5 (N). Untold misery is forecast this summer.

Would it be possible to have a rethink about this problem, consulting those who frequently use this junction? The problem is now particularly important because of the planning approval for the adjacent extra roundabout for Zoo access.

Maybe we could widen the B4055 to give 4 exit lanes? With only 3 I suggest:-

|| 1 for M5 (N) || 2 for Mall & Bristol || 3 for Bristol and M5 (S) ||

Yours hopefully, James Morrell.

Bus Passes.

I didn’t mean to cause so much discussion and correspondence of opposing views but to try and clarify the new situation. My sources of information were the Cornish County Councils publication with the rate demand, TV programme on the problems being put on London Transport and a regular commuter to the capital. Currently we don’t have our new passes etc.

The new system means that the Government allocates money to Local County Councils to distribute to residents on the local transport as they see fit. Bus Passes, Train Fares, Travel Tokens, Community Transport are methods which can be used.

The scheme is UK wide but Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales have their own separate systems.

Each County Council is responsible for its own residents travel expenditure and any journey incurred by the resident. While I naïvely assumed that the local council allocations would be nearly the same Nationwide this is not the case, as in isolated places like North Devon & Cornwall etc. where local bus services have been scrapped. Local bus companies have no problems dealing with locally issued cards which are charged to the local county council.

Problems arise when passengers travel outside their local bus companies area and they cannot charge the relevant council.

London is a classical example, bus companies know these passengers are entitled to free travel but have no means to claim their fare from the responsible council. This is why some guest passengers in London are still being refused free travel. As the TV programme said these problems will take sometime to iron out. If you are travelling a fair distance and want to use your bus pass, please check the bus company will accept it.

Ed.

Letter to Editor. Re Hayes Unit incident.

On the 16th of March there was an incident at the Plough Inn Pilning in which a patient from the Hayes Unit caused a violent affray when he was asked to cease making unwanted approaches to female customers. The patient was forcefully restrained by his carer and by two police officers. I have written to Steven Webb, the MP for S. Glos. and David Davies MP for Monmouth about this matter. David Davies is currently investigating the earlier incident in which a 20 year old male patient absconded from the Unit in February and is charged with the rape of a 14 year old girl in Chepstow and a burglary in Bristol. At the time of the Healthcare Commission inspection in 2004 it was noted that the Unit's missing person’s policy 'appeared minimal' and that the risk management policy did not differentiate between those patients who were liable to be detained and those who are voluntary or Informal. The Unit is described as a 'low security’ premises. I have received a reply from David Davies saying that he is meeting with the National Autistic Society and from Steven Webb to say that he has taken up this matter with the Regional Director of the National Autistic Unit. If anyone affected by these issues wishes for any further information then I am happy for them to contact me through the email address shown below.

Tony Wakefield tony.wakefield@lineone.net

Subject: TESCO

Dear Editor,

So the resident of Ellinghurst Farm at Marsh Common has departed.

So Ellinghurst Farm will no longer be a farm, and will presumably be demolished.

So the extensive ground around has been pegged out furtively already.

So the flood plain will be further endangered by the erection of another giant distribution tin shed and an access road to the M49.

So TESCO will use its power and money to commandeer forever our precious green land and prevent any development for the benefit of the local population.

Is there no way we can prevent this steady degeneration of our countryside?

James Morrell.

Dear Mr Morrell,

The land at Marsh Common Rd, to which you refer, has had planning permission since 1958. The validity of the consent has been challenged by your Councillors, via the Planning Inspectors, at one point in the High Court and, without going into a very long saga; the old planning permission is still valid and could be proceeded with at any time.

Some long while ago there was a proposal to allow all the flat land from Avonmouth to Aust to be developed for industry, served by the A403, and this area formed the first part of that, hence gaining a blanket consent. Thankfully attitudes have changed since then and there has been a growth in understanding of the fragility of our environment and the value of our green spaces, to say nothing of an awareness of the increasing threat of flood risk.

Those who have been present at Development Control meetings will know how strongly I have argued to defend our green fields. I have persuaded the Council to include Ellinghurst Farmhouse on the Local List of buildings that are considered important, but I am advised that even that status could not stop the owner demolishing it tomorrow if he wanted to.

Anyone who has submitted a planning application recently will know that the Environment Agency is quite determined to resist any further development in the flood plain, (which by the way extends all the way in-land to The Fox at Easter Compton). But neither they, nor the Council, can stop the development of land that already has permission.

I have raised the issue with Steve Webb MP, bearing in mind that there are other areas of the country where there are similar old planning permissions in the flood plain, and he is raising the matter with the Ministers. We know we shouldn’t build in the flood plain, but South Glos. cannot cancel planning permissions unless we are willing to pay serious compensation to the land’s owners for the loss of its value. We need government intervention, and money, to protect the floodplains – this is our ‘Northern Rock’, and every bit as important.

I too have heard the rumour about a major supermarket building their distribution centre here, but as yet (10^th June) no planning application has been submitted.

Peter Tyzack

South Gloucestershire Councillor for Pilning & Severn Beach

Tel: 632764 – email: peter.tyzack@southglos.gov.uk

Severn Beach Cleanup.

This is now taking place on the first dry Friday of the month at 10.00am. The meeting place will be variable. Please ring 632624 for information.

The team have cleared many bags most of it for re-cycling. Plastic bottles are the most prevalent on the beach. We have collected some tins, glass bottles and refuse also.

The only problem we have is moving the large logs from the footpath onto the beach. No-one official is interested in them being moved. If you have equipment that can move them or a group of strong volunteers who could move them, we would be grateful.

If you cannot make our normal meeting time, please feel free to fill a bag of plastic or glass bottles, beer cans or rubbish and dispose of it in your own time. Hopefully by July we shall have completed a first pass from the Burger Bar to New Passage. The target is from ICI to New Passage but we need your help to clear and keep it so.

Ed.

Dear friends

On April 21^st we celebrated the birthday of the twins Jacob and Alex who were born to our son and his wife five years ago. They were born prematurely at twenty five weeks and weighed in at just 1lb 6oz and 1lb 10oz and both would have fitted on an A4 sheet of paper! Now they are healthy five year olds, attending school and growing stronger year by year. Maybe some of you remember hearing of their birth and sharing in the many prayers that were offered to God for their survival at that time.

How quickly time flies! When I have mentioned that it was their birthday and asked people to guess how old they were most guessed three or possibly four years old at the most.

In a few weeks time I will be retiring from the ministry and moving on from Severn Beach. In our Methodist Church we call it being given permission to ‘sit down’ from ministry. It will be a very significant time in my life and one I thought would be a long time coming, but now it’s just around the corner and I can hardly believe it. No doubt many of you who are reading this will be able to identify with the thoughts and feelings that are going through my wife and I’s mind at this time.

In the quiet moments of the day or evening I often find myself going back over my past life, the places where I have been and the people I have met, remembering how they have been significant in some way or other. Is this a sign of just getting old? Like all of us who reach this time in life I realise that there is now more time behind me than there is in front of me and it is because of this that I want to make every day count.

Each day is a gift from God and is to be enjoyed. Some people have asked me if I am counting the days to my retirement but in all honesty I can answer that I am not, there is still work to do. Also in spite of the ‘quiet moments’ of the day, referred to above I am resisting strongly any tendency to live in the past. The future and the past are times I can do nothing about, the only time I have is the day God has given me today.

Therefore it is really important not to take anything for granted, to notice the beauty and sound of creation all around us. To remember that we can all be a source of encouragement and blessing to others, a simple smile a cheerful good morning, a telephone call a letter or special card sent can make a difference in the life of another. Many and varied are the ways we can make the day we have been given count. On the window sill in her kitchen my wife has a card that was sent to her some time ago, it says this. ‘This day is a gift from God what we do with it is our gift back to God.’ It’s something worth taking note of.

Every blessing and thanks for all your support during my time among you.

Rev George Nuttall