The SouthGlos Post

Police have issued an appeal for information following a robbery in the Cadbury Heath area.

The incident occurred at about 6.30pm on Tuesday March 2.

A 16-year-old woman was walking away from the No 43 bus stop near to the Lamb public house in Newton Road.

The victim was approached by a man who demanded her mobile phone, trying to snatch it from her hand. He then demanded money, telling her to empty the contents of her handbag on to the floor.

The suspect then snatched cash and ran off.

Police have described the suspect as a black man, about 5ft 10ins tall of large build, aged between 20-30 years. He was clean-shaven and was wearing a grey coloured hooded top with dark blue jeans.

Police believe there may have been people around at the time of the incident, either returning from work or going out for the evening who may have witnessed the robbery and have information to help their enquiry.

Anyone able to help is asked to contact Staple Hill CID on 0845 4567000. Alternatively, call the charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Source: Avon and Somerset Police

Local campaigners have revealed that a new CCTV system in Cadbury Heath has helped cut local crime by a whopping 25 per cent.

Funded by South Gloucestershire Council, two new state-of-the-art cameras on School Road and Newton Road were switched on in September 2009, after campaigners called for action to tackle numerous incidences of anti-social behaviour and other more serious forms of crime, which have occurred locally over the years.

Figures obtained from the council by local campaigner, Chris Skidmore, and the area’s councillors show that overall crime levels on the Parkwall police beat, which includes Cadbury Heath, is 25 per cent lower in the 3 months Sep-Nov 09 than the same 3 months in 2008 before the cameras were installed.

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Source: Conservative Group on South Gloucestershire Council

Teenage volunteers have helped police and South Gloucestershire Council Trading Standards officers check whether stores will sell alcohol to under-18s.

The operation, on Friday January 29 2010, focused on off-licences and convenience stores in Cadbury Heath, Kingswood, Oldland Common, Warmley and Willsbridge.

Nine premises were checked by the volunteers aged 14 and 16.

In three of them, the youngsters were able to buy alcohol – despite showing an identity card with their true age on it.

Neighbourhood Sergeant Rachael Hodges said: “There is a clear link between under-age drinking and anti-social behaviour, and it’s disappointing that we had sales in Kingswood, Oldland Common and Warmley, where we have been working hard to tackle these problems.

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Source: Avon and Somerset Police

Residents living in priority neighbourhoods across South Gloucestershire are being encouraged to help shape the areas where they live.

A series of ‘drop in’ sessions have been arranged by South Gloucestershire Council to help inform future action in these neighbourhoods, which have been identified by residents and the Council as places where resources could be directed most efficiently in one or more particular areas to achieve the best possible quality of life for all.

Cllr Heather Goddard, executive member for communities, said: “I urge residents to come along to these events and get involved. These meetings are a valuable opportunity for residents, the Council and local organisations to get together and shape the way that services are delivered in the future.”

The sessions will be informal and local service providers including council departments, voluntary and community groups will be on hand with displays and information.

People attending the meetings will be encouraged to give their views on all the information provided. This feedback will help build a better understanding on what life is like in each neighbourhood.

With the exception of Yate and Dodington, each area’s meetings will be on the same day from 10-12 noon and 6-8pm. The dates are:

• Patchway
  • Wed 11 Nov Casson Centre, Rodway Road, BS34 5DQ
• Staple Hill
  • Thurs 19 Nov Salvation Army, Broad Street, BS16 5LN
• Filton
  • Wed 25 Nov Pavilion, Elm Park, BS34 7PS
• Cadbury Heath
  • Mon 30 Nov Parkwall School, Earlstone, BS30 8AA
• Kingswood
  • Thurs 3 Dec Holy Trinity Church , High St, BS15 4AD
• Yate and Dodington
  • Mon 14 Dec 6-8pm St. Nicholas Family Centre, Chargrove, BS37 4LG
  • Tues 15 Dec 10-12noon Yate Parish Hall, Station Road, BS37 4PQ

The sessions will give the opportunity to:

• Look at the feedback on the work carried out by the Council and its partners to deliver what residents asked for in the “Planning for Real” community consultation process.
• Find out about the facts and information compiled about individual neighbourhoods.
• Learn about the details of how and where services have been delivered in the priority neighbourhoods.
• Take away newsletters which showcase some of the great things happening locally.

For further information, please contact Marian Jones on 01454 865839 / 3275.

Source: South Gloucestershire Council

Local councillors have welcomed the switching on of a CCTV system to monitor an anti-social behaviour hotspot in Cadbury Heath, South Gloucestershire.

Funded by South Gloucestershire Council, the two new state-of-the-art cameras have been erected on School Road and Newton Road, after calls from the local community for action to tackle numerous incidences of anti-social behaviour and other more serious forms of crime, which have occurred locally over the years.

The School Road area, in particular, hit the headlines in 2007 when two men blew up a phone box using firework explosives. They were later jailed.

Local traders and residents, including the elderly residents of the nearby Alfred Lovell Gardens elderly people’s home, have regularly been the victims of anti-social behaviour in the School Road and Newton Road areas.

Despite being operational for a matter of days, the new cameras, which are monitored round the clock, have already caught an incident of three teenagers scaling the roof of the Cadbury Heath Hall on School Road with one of the group recorded attempting to break a roof window.

In a joint statement, Tony Olpin and Nick Barrett, Conservative councillors for the Parkwall ward that includes Cadbury Heath, said:

“Crime and anti-social behaviour have blighted the lives of many of our local traders and residents, including those who are vulnerable and elderly, and so we have been pushing strongly for action to address people’s fears.

In the short time the cameras have been switched on, an incident involving several youths climbing onto the roof of Cadbury Heath Hall has already been recorded meaning that the police can more easily identify the perpetrators and deal with them effectively.

We welcome the installation of these quality, state-of-the-art cameras because the more effective tackling of crime and anti-social behaviour that will come through their use will hopefully transform local people’s quality of life and help them to feel safer and be safer.”

Source: Conservative Group on South Gloucestershire Council