The Shirehampton Community Plan includes many things the community would like to see happen.

One in particular is an outdoor or indoor market. The exciting news is Shirehampton will see a selection of markets opening very soon!

outdoor market on the back burner

We may have been forced to put the outdoor market on the back burner due to Bristol City Council Parking Services wanting to charge a large sum of money for using the site we chose for the market each month. However we have not given up and we now have our licences to run the High Street Market and, the added bonus, we will also be running a number of themed annual markets. These markets are not only for the community in Shirehampton but also for the communities in Avonmouth, Lawrence Weston, Sea Mills, Kings Weston, Coombe Dingle and Stoke Bishop. We also want to support our own High Street traders with our markets. Here are the dates so far for you all to mark in your diaries for this year.

Shirehampton High Street Markets will be held at The Tithe Barn, High Street, Shirehampton on Thursdays 5th September, 3rd October, 14th November, 3rd December, 10am ‐ 3pm.

The themed markets for this year are being held at The Public Hall, Station Road, Shirehampton on Saturdays 3rd August for the Arts And Crafts Market and 5th October for the Health And Wellbeing Market. Both from 10am ‐ 3pm.

Additional themed markets will be 'Cultural', 'Sustainable', 'Gardens' and 'Christmas'. More dates for all the markets taking us through 2020 will be announced in due course.

We have spent most of this year doing research…

We have spent most of this year doing research, liaising with many traders for the main market, and dealing with mounds of paperwork. The main High Street Market is being held on a Thursday as many of the stalls we want can't do Saturdays due to other work commitments. The core organisers are Ash Bearman from SCAF, Katherine Birth and myself. However, we want to say a big thank you to Shirehampton Community Plan Steering Group, many of Shirehampton's shop keepers and traders, local Councillors Don Alexander and Jo Sergeant, Eric Dougall, Robin Haward, Jake Tovey, St. Nicholas Markets, Amanda Parsons from the Public Hall, Eleanor, Phil and Helen from St. Mary's Church, Ed and Gail Amphlett from the Craft Exhibition, and to the Market Traders and our volunteers now and in the future for their help, support, encouragement and interest in what we wish to achieve for the High Street and our communities. Without them Shirehampton Markets would not be a reality.

We look forward to seeing you at the markets and don't forget to tell your family, friends and colleagues about us. We have listened to you and hope the markets will bring a smile to your face and pleasantly surprise you,so please make sure you visit the markets to shop, as well as venturing into our High Street.

You can find regular updates at www.facebook.com/shirehamptonmarkets or send an email to shirehamptonmarkets@outlook.com

Kathryn Courtney.

I expect that many Shire residents can remember a time when milk was delivered in glass bottles. If you're awake at 3am you might still hear the quiet hum of a milk float as the milkman does his deliveries. We know that it's a he, and that it's 3am as we have a one year and a three year old and have spent more time awake at night than we'd like lately!

When we moved to Shire we decided to start having our milk delivered. We don't have a car so carrying heavy, cold bottles back from the shop isn't ideal, and with the kids time is short and running out was always an option. Now Milk and More drop off a few pints every few days, though it does cost us more.

The kids have driven the change, as when we thought about the climate emergency they'll be dealing with we decided the cost was worth it. Milk in glass bottles is nothing new, and has massively cut down the amount of plastic in our recycling bin.

We are so lucky to live in Shire, where (amongst many other things that we love) we know our milk is safe until it gets brought in for breakfast, and that empties stay put until collection. I don't suppose it would be so straight forward in town.

We're being told we need to make changes to our lifestyle and our buying habits for our kids and grand‐kids' futures. It's interesting that a lot of those changes just involve remembering what we did before plastic arrived!

The three year old is certainly fully supportive. She just loves getting a spoon and scooping the thick layer of cream from the top of the full fat bottles ‐ delicious and guilt free!

RS

Litter is a problem everywhere. In our cities, towns and villages but is it an issue in Shirehampton and if so what can we do about it?

Barbara works in one of the local High Street shops. I think the litter problem in Shirehampton is awful. I am quite disgusted by the mess I see everywhere. People just drop their litter on the floor and think the litter fairies are going to pick it up. I sweep up outside the shop every day but it makes no difference even with a litter bin around the corner. And if you ask anyone to pick up their own litter they've just dropped you are met with abuse.

Maybe a few more bins in Shire might be the answer. I don't know. If I can't find a bin when I'm out I take my litter home with me and put it in the bin there. Maybe this is something others should do too? We can all do our bit for Shire and lead by example. If children see an adult drop litter in the street they follow the example and do the same because the child is led to believe that it's ok. We all need to take responsibility for the mess and not leave it to others to clear up.

Ash Bearman is from SCAF. We organise litter picks on a regular basis around Shirehampton and try and encourage children and adults to help out as well as learn about solving our litter problem in the area. Our litter picks are widely publicised and we hope it sends a message to some to not drop their litter in the streets. It makes Shire look unsightly, there are health and safety issues and it's bad for our pets and the wildlife.

Children and adults of all ages are equally responsible. If you can't find a bin take it home to recycle or put in your own bin. We need to take a bit more pride in Shirehampton as the litter problem is making our village look grotty. We can't go out litter picking everyday and each and every one of us can do our bit to keep Shirehampton litter free and tidy once again.

Kathryn Courtney

The 30th June was a scorching Sunday when the weather was too hot to be borne and the sheep were all shorn.

Except they were goats. We were joined by Street Goat again for bramble clearance and 6 runners from Good Gym Bristol who stick into weeds and bramble like this is the last gym circuit they will do. Caroline, Andy, Ruth all joined the maintenance team at the field and whilst Caroline and Good Gym moved a large chicken run 500 metres lifting it over a fence, Andy cut grass and Ruth nettles.

Then it was time to de root large thistles.

All growing members are needed to be 100 percent involved in maintaining the field because in our Constitution it states we are a team so... There will be even more challenging workdays to come during the coming months which set us apart from the standard council allotment.

Tynings Field are hosting a 5k run followed by half hour weeding. 2pm Sunday 1st September.£5 to join help us raise funds for the field Meet by the gate of the field. An hour of adrenaline.

AND There will be a Tynings Field meeting on Saturday 7th September at 8:30 pm in the PBA.

Our summers wouldn't be the same without Steve England, award winning conservation educator, horticulturist and Bristol Post columnist.

He was making a welcomed return on 6th July to Lamplighters Marsh to take a group of people on a walk they would not forget.

John Knight gave us all a bit of background history on the Lamplighters and marshes before handing over to Steve.

Taking us on a little detour we came across a couple of men fishing. They had caught some sea bass from the river. Steve explained why he loved fishing and the type of fish we could catch in our area of the river Avon. Further along he showed us the little bugs circling in the water explaining they were a food source for the fish.

As we continued walking through the marsh towards the yellow brick road Steve showed us a number of plants that were easily edible and a couple to avoid at all costs. We all learned that brambles are a food source as Steve handed out cut down strips for us all to try.

There was a couple from Portishead on the walk and a young family from Italy, visiting relatives in the area. Their two sons now know how to make a fire for cooking and to keep themselves warm without the aid of matches or lighters.

Steve England is a font of huge knowledge when it comes to conservation and survival in the great outdoors. The one thing I will remember next time is to wear my walking boots!

Kathryn Courtney

Bristol City Council is consulting on two options to reduce air pollution within the central area of the city, where the levels of pollution, particularly nitrogen dioxide (NO2) are particularly high and exceed legal limits.

Air pollution is a danger to health.

Breathing polluted air can cause breathing problems such as asthma and heart problems, leading to shortened lives. It's a problem for everyone, whether you drive a car, cycle or walk.

Poor air quality is caused by pollution from a range of sources, including cars and other vehicles. This is why these options tackle the number of polluting vehicles coming into central Bristol.The proposed options are one element of the wider environmental plans for Bristol, announced by the Mayor of Bristol on Clean Air Day. The two options are:

• Option 1 Clean Air Zone (private cars not charged)
  • A zone in which older, more polluting buses, coaches, taxis, heavy goods vehicles (HGVs, i.e. goods vehicles over 3.5 tonnes) and light goods vehicles (LGVs, i.e. goods vehicles not exceeding 3.5 tonnes) would be charged. The following proposed charges would apply 24 hours a day, seven days a week and would be charged once in each 24 hour period: Non‐complaint taxis and LGVs would be charged £9, HGVs, coaches and buses £100.
  • Option 1 would also include:
  • a 24 hour a day, seven days a week HGV weight restriction (for HGVs over 3.5 tonnes) on the worst polluted routes;
  • All diesel car ban on Upper Maudlin Street and Park Row running from St James Barton roundabout to Park Street between 7am and 3pm, seven days a week (the ban would not apply to taxis, private hire and emergency vehicles);
  • Bus and local traffic changes in the most polluting areas including an inbound bus lane on the M32, an inbound bus lane on Cumberland Road, and using existing traffic signals to control the amount of traffic entering congested areas with poor air quality;
  • A scrappage scheme (up to £2,000) for private diesel cars. This would provide a grant towards a new vehicle or an alternative mode of transport (e.g. bus travel, purchasing a bike).
• Option 2: Diesel car ban
  • Banning all diesel cars from driving in a specific central area (small zone) from 7am to 3pm, seven days a week (this would not apply to taxis/private hire or emergency services).

Other measures, including a scrappage scheme, could also be included.

There will be a drop‐ in session to provide the opportunity to discuss the options in more detail on

Tuesday 6 August, 2:30 ‐ 6:30 pm

City Hall (Vestibule)

College Green, BS1 5TR

To let us know what you think go to: bristol.gov.uk/trafficcleanairzone

The sun shone brightly on Saturday June 29th ‐ the fifth Annual Presidents Day at the City and Port of Bristol Bowling Club.

A fun afternoon of bowling starting with the now traditional spider, won this year by Ken Davies, and a game of ten ends of bowling between ladies and gentlemen was followed by a parade of silly hats judged by Shirley Parker and won by Julie Looker who wore a hat with a basket on top to catch plastic balls ‐‐‐ well, it was sillier than the others.

At the end of the afternoon there was an excellent barbeque prepared this year by Brian and Dee Crawley, Gill Hinksman and Shirley Parker. There was a prize for each member of the four winning by the greatest margin in the Ladies v Gents.competition. The President, David Hinksman, was one of that four ‐ the others were Flo Grimes ( playing for the men), Bill Hatherall and John Conroy. The men were overall winners.

Thanks to Warburton's for once again supporting Presidents Day.

On Tuesday 18th June Richard Hoskin of Radio Bristol came to the green to find out what the sport of bowling is about. He talked to members about various aspects of the game and why they like it so much. A game of bowls was in progress so Richard donned a white bowling jacket and bowled his first ever woods on the green. The recording was broadcast on Radio Bristol on Wednesday July 3rd.

Sunday June 16th ‐‐‐ not only Father's Day but also Big Band Night at the City and Port of Bristol Club. The David Salt Big Band lead by Andrew Champion played songs from the shows, Glenn Miller, and a whole variety of classics to listen and dance to.

The Ladies League Team lead by Gill Hinksman enjoyed great success in June winning away to Bristol to help them climb the league table. And there was a big win for the Men's League Team lead by Bill Hatherall away to St.Andrews on June 27th. They took the maximum ten points for the first time this season.

Away from match days and often unseen, lots of work goes on at the green. Volunteers from within the membership do a fantastic job to keep the green surround and buildings in good and safe order all year round.