DOWNEND & Bromley Heath parish clerk Angela Hocking received a fitting send-off after 20 years of service.
Angela, who retired at the end of March, was invited to the annual parish meeting on April 18, when parish council chairman Janet Biggin presented her with a selection of gifts bought with donations from councillors, residents and people who worked with Angela during her two decades in post.
Describing her as “the most amazing lady”, Cllr Biggin said: “She has been a real stalwart, in taking us through some difficult, interesting and very happy times.
“She has had to turn her hand to such a variety of things, such as Christmas trees and lights, the building of a skate park, the Wallace & Gromit and a Unicorn Fest, not to mention all those litter and dog bins, planters and park benches!”
Drain plan for park
DOWNEND & Bromley Heath Parish Council is weighing up its options for improving drainage at King George V playing fields after recent heavy rain caused part of the park to flood.
Water flowed continuously from a bank between Mangotsfield Cemetery and the sports pitches on the lower part of the playing fields earlier this year, forming a pond around the path behind homes in Farm Court, following months of heavy rain.
Last month’s Voice reported that the parish council, which is responsible for the upkeep of the park, was investigating the source of the water, which could be a natural spring.
Readers have pointed out that the area where the flooding occurred was previously the site of a pond, before the park existed.
At April’s parish council meeting, clerk Kevin Spratt said the source of the water had not yet been located. It is believed it may be somewhere under the cemetery.
The area has a ‘French drain’, combining pipework and gravel underground, but this was overwhelmed by the recent rainfall.
Wessex Water, which is responsible for the sewer system, has said it is not possible to link the drain to its storm drainage.
That leaves the council with the option of either installing an underwater soakaway tank, which would cost up to £100,000, or a gravel pit costing around £5,000.