About the Forum

Alveston’s Parish Plan, published in 2008, identified certain actions, some of which have been tackled by Alveston Community Forum in the past eighteen months. The challenges have been real but progress has been very satisfying and has benefited our community in many ways.

Village of the Year Plaque at Jubilee Hall

At a very early stage we were able to secure support from local businesses. The Ship Inn provides a conference room for our monthly meetings and Alveston House Hotel hosts Working Groups as well as providing refreshments for quarterly litter picks. We have not, therefore, had to find funds to rent rooms and we are very grateful for this.

We were also fortunate to receive running costs funds from our supportive Parish Council. Forum continues to apply for project funds from various sources and seeks advice through Funders’ Fairs and other contacts etc.

CPRE Village of the Year Competition 2011

The Forum is proud to announce that our village has won the 2011 CPRE Avonside Village of the Year Competition. Our village has again been judged the overall winner in the large village section ahead of Timsbury, district winner in B&NES and Wrington, district winner in North Somerset.

Elaine Lee, leader of the Village of the Year Working Group, would like to thank all the members of the working group for attending meetings and pooling ideas as well as helping with litter picking and weed clearing etc. Elaine is delighted the village had held on to the Wills Cup.

She would like to acknowledge the combined efforts of so many caring groups, clubs and individuals in our vibrant community. Special thanks to Alveston Litter Busters and to our Parish Council, our Churches, schools, businesses, pubs and hotels for their continuing support.

A prsentation of the awards will be arranged in the next couple of months. Thank you Alveston and Congratulations everyone!

Wish List of the Parish

A number of actions identified in the Parish Plan are now in place, and with these successes, this is an ideal time to re-visit the “Wish List of the Parish”.

What do you think would benefit the Community? Your ideas/suggestions could make a difference.

Remember the Alveston Community Forum consists only of volunteers within the Parish and projects may require funding. Where this has been necessary we have been successful so far.

Click here to download the suggestion form [PDF, 281kB]

Alveston Parade Project Working Group

Parade Maintenance Plan

Many volunteers and local traders have been involved in the work recently done to improve the Parade. It is important that we take steps to ensure that the Parade is maintained and does not deteriorate over the years.

It is proposed that a team of volunteers be recruited, each one responsible for keeping an eye on the parade for a few days each year. They will not be required to do very much. Perhaps a little light weeding, watering vulnerable plants after a dry spell, removing litter etc. If they see the need for heavier work or for repairs to be made they can report their observations to the Committee who will be there to arrange funding or a working party as appropriate.

Some of the volunteers may be young members of such organisations as the Scouts or Guides working under the supervision of their leaders or school children working with their parents.

In addition the Committee will hold two working events per year for volunteers. One in the Spring to ensure that the bed is stocked and the shrubs and trees are healthy for the start of the growing season. The other in the Autumn to tidy the beds, remove dead or unwanted growth and prepare for the winter.

If you can help with this important work please contact Peter Waller by e-mail at or by phone on 01454 415717 with your name and details. Thank you.

Environment

Early on it was decided that the Forum would set out to improve the privately owned forecourt of Greenhill Parade. As most of our village shops are based here it is the centre of our Parish. A dedicated Working Group has met regularly, since Forum’s inception, planning and implementing improvements.

Funds from Magnox and South Glos Environment Fund have paid for tree removal, paving repairs and reshaping of flower beds ready for replanting. We have had hundreds of bulbs donated by a local garden centre and planted by children from the local school. Bricks donated by Ibstock Cattybrook enabled repairs to be made to the steps, and a hand rail supplied and fitted by Magnox workshop has improved safe access to the shops for less mobile residents. Bicycle stands have been installed and seats will be put in soon.

The Parish will benefit hugely from the improved safety and appearance. The help and advice of local volunteers and tradesmen has been greatly appreciated. Many hours of hard labour, as well as planning, are still being devoted to this project but the results are now becoming clear to see.

The Alveston Community Show

The Forum has twice combined with the Flower and Craft Show to provide an improved event for the Parish. This is in response to the requests recorded in about half of our Parish Plan questionnaires. We had over six hundred people at this year’s event which included charity and craft stalls, Police, Fire service and SSCG. The Show also provided the venue for a showcase of local groups and societies who entertained us.

A great deal of positive feedback confirms our plan to extend and improve the Show year by year. It was a real community afternoon. The Community Forum records its thanks for the generous support of Thornbury Carnival Committee and Old Down Park. Contact us if you can help.

Other Ideas

Smaller projects such as working with the Mobile Library Service to provide another stop in Alveston, establishing a Film Club and making Tennis Courts available within the village have all made significant steps forward and have either been achieved or are in progress.

We are also trialling a Village Café and, subject to appropriate funding being found, we will look for other projects to benefit the community.

Contact Us

If you would like to join in any of our activities, even if you cannot be a regular contributor, we would love you to contact us.

We meet on the first Wednesday of each month at 8pm at The Ship Inn. The Parade Project also needs volunteers.

Contact: Phil Squires (Chairman) Tel: 01454 615138 email:
Elaine Lee (Secretary) Tel: 01454 419322 email:
Bob Walters (Treasurer) Tel: 01454 411277 email: