The South Glos Post

Nursing staff at the new community hospital planned for Frenchay will not work for the NHS it has emerged, prompting claims from Labour councillors that Frenchay is being “part-privatised”.

At a meeting of South Gloucestershire Council’s Health Scrutiny Committee on Wednesday, bosses from North Bristol Trust (NBT) who currently run Frenchay said that they do not see themselves as running the new community hospital when it opens in 2014. Instead they intend to put the running of the hospital out to tender and confirmed that the successful bidder would also be expected to provide the nurses to look after the 68 patients undergoing rehabilitation that the new hospital will cater for.

Speaking after the meeting, Labour’s spokesperson on Health, Cllr Ian Scott (Labour, Filton), said;

“This revelation came completely out of the blue. I don’t think anyone ever expected that the new community hospital at Frenchay would not stay entirely within the NHS. It goes to show that the NHS is clearly not safe in the hands of a Tory government.”

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Source: Labour Councillors on South Gloucestershire Council

A number of overnight road closures have been scheduled for the M32 junction 1 and Coldharbour Lane during September.

The closures take place between 8pm and 6am and form part of work to increase road capacity and improve traffic flow prior to completion of the showcase bus corridor scheme in Spring 2012.

On the M32 junction 1, the northbound slip road from the ring road onto junction 1 of the M32 will be closed on 8th, 9th, 10th, 22nd, 23rd and 24th September for resurfacing works. Temporary diversion routes will be clearly signed.

Coldharbour Lane will also be closed on 5th, 6th and 7th September for resurfacing works, again with clear temporary diversions. On 19th, 20th and 21st September there will be lane closures at Coldharbour Lane but the road will still be accessible to traffic.

Read on for full details of the diversions that will be in force »

Police arrested a man in Frenchay on Wednesday 25th August after being called by a householder who disturbed a man in his garage.

Officers attended at about 8pm and arrested a 26-year-old Bristol man.

Police subsequently searched a property in Bristol and seized car stereo equipment they suspected to be stolen.

Neighbourhood Sergeant Clive Johnson said: “Criminals have been targeting garages and sheds across South Gloucestershire to steal bicycles, tools and gardening equipment.”

“As well as being costly to replace, some of the tools could be used to break into your own or neighbour’s homes, so it’s important to have good quality locks and hinges on your outbuildings. Shed alarms are now widely available from around £15.”

“Marking property with your post code and registering it on the free national database www.immobilise.com also deters thieves.”

Source: Avon and Somerset Police

Jack Lopresti, the MP for Filton and Bradley Stoke, teamed up with one of the most famous names in English women’s cricket to celebrate a new coaching initiative at a local cricket club.

Jack joined Charlotte Edwards MBE, the England Women’s cricket captain and ECB Coaching Ambassador, at the recent special lunch event, held at Frenchay Cricket Club.

The event was organised to mark the latest initiative to promote and expand women’s cricket at the club, by improving its coaching facilities and techniques – a three-day coaching session of girls’ cricket.

During the event, Jack and Charlotte met with officials from the club, as well as the Grade 2 coaches to learn more about how the club is promoting the sport to girls of all ages in the local area.

Speaking after the event, Jack said: “Encouraging our children to participate in sports is so important, and I was delighted to see how the cricket club is trying to get as many youngsters as possible involved in cricket.

“To see the determination at the club, and hear about the plans that they have for the future, was extremely impressive and should be commended.”

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Source: Filton and Bradley Stoke Conservatives