A new housing development named after a local historian has been officially opened in Little Stoke.

Housing association Bromford has completed work to its regeneration scheme in Collins Avenue, which has seen ten old properties demolished and replaced with 15 modern, energy-efficient homes. Delivered in partnership with United Living, the project, which began last year, has now been shortlisted for a prestigious Inside Housing development award.

The new road has been named Sharon Ubank Close, after the local historian, who died last year. Sharon was the editor of The Stokes Standard booklets for many years which covered topics on local history, flora and fauna. An active member of Christ the King church in Bradley Stoke, Sharon would visit local schools to take part in assemblies and loved reading stories to the children. She also wrote books about the history of the local area and had finished her final book, ‘Saxonpath’, just before she died in July 2018. It was published online by her family to coincide with the opening of the road.

Many of Sharon’s family and close friends joined staff from Bromford, United Living, South Gloucestershire Council and local residents to celebrate the official opening of the road on Friday 27th September.

Speaking at the opening of the road, her brother, Andy Stafford, said:

“We are so honoured to have the road named after Sharon; it’s quite hard to put into words what this means for us. To see something like having Sharon’s name on a street sign, it’s quite amazing to see her remembered in this way. She did an awful lot for the local community, especially anything to do with the environment.”

“It’s very unusual to have the full name on a street, but it means people can look her up and find out about her. I think she would be pleased to have a road named after her but may have wondered what all the fuss was about.”

More: Sharon’s book ‘Saxonpath’ is available for free download »

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Housebuilder Crest Nicholson has wasted no time in getting started on its new 763-home Brooklands Park development in Harry Stoke, with foundations for the first properties going in just weeks after final planning permission was granted on 19th September.

As previously reported, work on constructing a new east-west link road across the site, already approved under outline permission granted in 2007, started in earnest this July.

Two-way temporary traffic lights have been in operation on Westfield Lane since August to facilitate the tying-in of the new link road and the installation of water, gas and electric feeds for the new development.

The Brooklands Park site extends all the way down to the A4174 Ring Road (near UWE). The current activity is focussed on the northern section where 284 homes are planned.

This will be followed by the central section (206 homes).

The southern section (beyond the right edge of the photo above) will then follow, but only after the two high voltage powerlines which cross this area have been undergrounded.

Photo: Aerial image recorded on 27th October 2019, looking south-east from Westfield Lane (near The Aviva Centre). The existing Highbrook Park development of 163 homes can be seen top left. The new road linking Highbrook Park with Westfield Lane runs diagonally to the bottom right of the image. Also visible to the left of this is a new estate road leading to the location of the first foundations. [Credit: Steve Pitts]

Related links:

• More aerial images by Steve Pitts in hi-res on Google Photos
• Map showing location of Brooklands Park

This article originally appeared in the October 2019 issue of the Stoke Gifford Journal magazine (on page 7). The magazine is delivered FREE, EVERY MONTH, to over 5,000 homes in Stoke Gifford, Little Stoke and Harry Stoke. Phone 01454 300 400 to enquire about advertising or leaflet insertion.

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The 2nd Stoke Gifford Rainbow Unit have been putting the finishing touches to their Armistice Day tribute. The Rainbows have been getting crafty and have made hundreds of pom poms in red & black and purple & black in order to honour the fallen soldiers and animals.

The pom poms will be used to adorn the Stoke Gifford Toy Library, both inside and out and will be in place ready for the Stoke Gifford Remembrance Day parade (details below).

The photo above shows a trial run of the external decorations; these will be reinstated on the day of the parade.

Poppy decorations inside the toy library will be installed on 1st November.

More: Details of the 2019 Stoke Gifford Remembrance parade »

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The Stoke Gifford branch of The Royal British Legion (RBL) launched its 2019/20 Poppy Appeal with a ceremony in the foyer of Bristol Parkway Station on Friday 25th October.

The branch was pleased to welcome a special guest, Chelsea Pensioner John Honey, who cut a ceremonial ribbon to mark the start of the local appeal. Mr Honey retired from the army in 1960, having served overseas in Aden and Kenya with the Royal Army Service Corps. He became a resident at the Royal Chelsea Hospital in 2012, at the age of 72.

The ceremony was also attended by D-Day veteran Ron Stevens, 95, a resident of Filton. Mr Stevens joined the army at the age of 14 and served with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. Based on Jersey in the early part of World War 2, he was evacuated on the last boat to leave the island before the Germans invaded. On D-Day, he landed at Juno Beach and went on to serve at vehicle workshops in France, Holland and Belgium. His military career spanned more than 30 years.

Also present at the event were West of England mayor Tim Bowles, Jack Lopresti MP and representatives of several local groups including ATC North Bristol Squadron, Stoke Gifford Scouts and RBL Riders (motorcyclists).

Parkway Station is one of the main sites for the branch’s fundraising efforts, along with the Asda store in Filton, Sainsbury’s in Stoke Gifford and the Willow Brook Centre in Bradley Stoke.

Money raised through the Poppy Appeal goes to the RBL’s Welfare Fund, which is used to give help and support to serving and ex-service personnel and their families.

The RBL has a drop-in centre at 60 Union Street, Bristol, where people can call in for advice and information on the charity’s support and community services.

More: Details of Local Remembrance parades and ceremonies »

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