Car park charges are bad for the environment
AS a Downend resident, I choose to use Staple Hill High Street most days of the week.
I am a member of Snap Fitness, and choose to shop in local shops such as The Card Shop, Cold Beer Cave and Nom Wholefoods as much as I possibly can, as I believe choosing to spend my money in small businesses will benefit our local economy, much more than giving it to huge companies such as Tesco and Sainsbury’s.
The recent article about the new car parking charges (Charges ‘will kill off shops’, Voice, August), focused purely on the financial impact on both shoppers and business owners.
I’d like to point out the environmental implications it is causing.
Recently I did a big shop for my daughter’s birthday party, and chose to stop in Staple Hill to buy what I could from my list from Nom Wholefoods.
As this would only take around 15 minutes, of course I did not want to pay £3 to park in Byron Place car park – who would?
As the free on-street parking was full, I drove around Byron Place and back onto Broad Street to find someone leaving their space.
I was lucky this time – I only had to do one loop – but it made me think how many people must be doing the same, congesting the local streets with car pollution from driving in circles waiting for that free parking spot to become available.
I hope, when the council meets to analyse the impact of the charges, that as well as reporting how many valued local businesses have been lost to our local economy, they might think also about how this magical money grab is affecting our local air quality and natural environment.
Charlotte Powles
Downend
Help our tennis club
build a new clubhouse
DOWNEND and Frenchay Tennis Club offers a friendly place for all ages to enjoy tennis, make friends, and stay active.
As our club grows, so does our need for a modern, accessible clubhouse. We dream of a new space that will serve as both a hub for tennis and a gathering place for community events and local groups.
We’re fundraising to build a new, welcoming clubhouse, complete with modern facilities, accessible toilets, and energy-efficient features.
This project will help us expand programmes for juniors, host community events, and make the club more inclusive for everyone.
Your donation, big or small, will help us reach our fundraising goal.
You can give by bank transfer, by emailing the club or online at tinyurl.com/ywatp85f.
Businesses keen to sponsor part of the clubhouse can be recognised with advertisements and banners.
Our club is valuable to members of all ages. Your support can help us sustain it for generations to come.
For more information email info@downendandfrenchay.co.uk.
Together, let’s build a bright new home for Downend and Frenchay Tennis Club!
Penny White
Downend and Frenchay Tennis Club
Recycling boxes need lids
I HAVE no issue with the changes to the recycling system as such, but have very strong objections to the change to open green boxes with no lids – I must emphasize the “no lid”.
In this form they are totally unacceptable.
I do have a box that still has its original hard lid, which always keeps the contents inside.
The new boxes are provided with no lid and are used for the items previously put into the large bag-type containers.
The bags worked excellently but the new boxes are a complete waste of time as, every collection day, the boxes and their contents end up all over the streets, creating mess and hazard, particularly for older people or those with infirmity or sight loss.
Often the mess is caused by foxes but also by people putting too much in and, of course, the weather!
I feel very strongly on this matter and am also sending a copy of this letter to our local MP.
I am hoping the reasoning behind the green boxes with no lids is just an oversight by the council and not a commercial money-saving attempt by Suez.
Cliff Yeo
Downend
Get your lifesaving
cancer vaccine
GP PRACTICES are sending invites via letters, emails, texts and the NHS App to patients aged 16-25 who did not get their lifesaving human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination in school.
The vaccine is routinely offered each year to boys and girls in year 8 (aged 12-13) to help protect them against catching the HPV infection, which causes nearly all cervical cancers.
We know that uptake of the HPV vaccination in young people has fallen significantly since the pandemic, leaving many many thousands across the country at greater risk of HPV-related cancers.
This is a real concern, as each HPV vaccine gives a young person good protection against the devastating impact of these cancers, which include cervical, genital, mouth and throat cancers.
The new catch-up campaign is a really important opportunity for us to make sure that no teenage girl or boy, young woman or man is denied that protection.
Studies have shown that the HPV vaccine stops 90% of cervical cancer cases.
We’re calling on all parents to return their children’s HPV vaccination consent forms promptly.
For young adults up to age 25, who missed their school vaccinations, please speak to your GP about catch-up options.
The vaccine can also be given to those up to age 45 with immune-compromised conditions and men who have sex with other men.
It’s never too late to get protected.
Dr Alasdair Wood
UK Health Security Agency South West
Correction: Harry Francis
AUGUST’S Voice included an article about Second World War veteran Harry Francis, celebrating his 100th birthday and remembering VJ Day.
We have been asked to make it clear that Teresa and Andy, who were referred to in the article as Harry’s daughter and son, are in fact two of his step-children.
We are happy to set the record straight.