Opticians Specsavers has opened in Bradley Stoke’s Willow Brook Centre creating seven new jobs.

The facility has been opened some 25 years after the first branch began trading in Bristol’s Bond Street.

Specsavers founder Dame Mary Perkins said: “The Bristol area has always proved a successful trading environment for us and we are incredible grateful to our loyal customers.

“This is a great way of giving something back by providing a more convenient service to Bradley Stoke residents, and we are also delighted to be created new jobs in the community.”

Store directors Vivek Lakhanpaul and Edward Stanleigh have experience of the immediate area with Mr Stanleigh acting as store manager at the Chippenham branch.

Mr Lakhanpaul, who has worked as an optometrist at Bracknell, said: “We’re really excited about opening the new store and are looking forward to welcoming customers through the doors.

“We hope that people will see us as the equivalent to their friendly local GP – providing them with the best possible eye care.”

Meanwhile, The Willow Brook Centre will be celebrating its first birthday at the weekend – and visitors could bag some freebies.

Free goody bags filled with treats and birthday cake will be on offer on Saturday, 10 October 2009 between 11am and 4pm.

Centre manager Scott Lahive said: “We are all very excited to be celebrating this special day with the residents of Bradley Stoke and the surrounding areas.

“In tough economical times we want to give something back and celebrate with everyone who has supported the centre in its first year, and will continue to provide high levels of service to keep shoppers coming back next year.”

Community radio station Thornbury FM has announced it is extending its broadcast coverage to Bradley Stoke.

The station, which first started in 2005, will soon be available over much of South Gloucestershire.

To tie in with the extended area, bosses at the station say they will now change their name and want the help of the community to decide what it will be called.

David Primrose, Thornbury FM chairman, said: “Our new extended coverage area means that we need to change to ensure we are relevant to our new listeners.

“We need to reach-out to more local organisations in the community, involve yet more budding local presenters, and appeal to people across the wider South Gloucestershire area.

“To do this effectively we think we need to find a new name that recognises that we now serve more than just Thornbury.”

The station currently broadcasts in month-long chunks on restricted service licences but is currently mulling a move for a full-time licence.

Suggestions for new names for the station can be registered at www.thornburyfm.org

Virgin Media says installing broadband in Bradley Stoke “would not be viable” despite a high-profile campaign by The Bradley Stoke Examiner which attracted hundreds of backers.

The firm says it will not be bringing its fibre optic network to areas of the town which were not hooked up when the homes were built.

Currently, some 2,000 homes are without the network – and some 281 of those recently petitioned the firm to plea for faster broadband.

But it now appears the campaign will not work despite more than 10% saying outright that they would join Virgin Media.

A recent meeting also heard that the firm has also rejected pleas from Bradley Stoke Town Council.

The only saviour for homes, which are now officially some of the slowest areas in the South West of England, could be BT.

A technique called Fibre to the Cabinet – where fibre optics are used between street-end and exchange with copper wires completing the rest – is to be rolled out soon.

A company spokesman told us: “BT is planning to start its roll-out of superfast broadband (fibre to the cabinet) in January next year.

“Consumer trials are currently underway at Muswell Hill London and Whitchurch, Cardiff.”

The Bradley Stoke Examiner has already been lobbying BT to consider Bradley Stoke as a matter of priority but the firm would not be drawn on the order in which exchanges would be activated.

Just to let everyone know there won’t be any updates on The Bradley Stoke Examiner this week.

We are away spending time with family following some bad news – thanks to everyone for the messages of support.

The website will be back up-and-running from w/c 5 October 2009 – please continue to send press releases and news tip-offs to news@sadlybroke.com

Bowling could return to Bailey’s Court after an agreement by the town council will see them negotiate with Bradley Stoke Bowls Club.

Northavon Bowls Club collapsed following a long-running battle over rent but councillors will now negotiate with the newly-formed team.

The decision, though, is only the start of the process with Jim Durlacher, former president of Northavon Bowls Club, warning it could take time to set up the team.

Mr Durlacher told the BBC that it “would not happen overnight” and that the original team took some 15 months to get started.

The town council has said it wants competative play to return in the 2010 season.

Deputy chair Ben Walker said: “I’m delighted my colleagues have supported this proposal, there are still some details to work out but we’re all looking forward to seeing the bowlers back on the green.”

Town Mayor Mark Forsyth said: “This is a fresh start for local bowlers and I’m looking forward to working with the new club.”

“This administration has always supported local sport and we work particularly closely with both football and cricket, there is no reason why bowls should be any different.”

Bowling is to return to Bradley Stoke next season after Bradley Stoke Town Council came to an agreement with a new club.

A former president of Northavon Bowls Club will form Bradley Stoke Bowls Club which will play at Baileys Court.

Northavon Bowls Club were evicted from the green earlier this year and the club was eventually disbanded.

The row got so heated that it made the pages of the local press and featured on regional TV.

But, the new club is set to take to the green following and agreement with the town council landlords.

More to follow on Thursday.

Bradley Stoke councillor David Skeet has stepped down from his Meadowbank seat, Bradley Stoke Town Council has announced.

Cllr Skeet, who had come under some criticism at council meetings for his poor attendance, has been suffering from illness.

He said in his resignation letter he had been “ill for some months” which “I have been criticised by members of the public”.

“I feel it is the best thing for the council that I step down and make way for a person who will be a more positive and active person for the ward,” he added.

Mayor Mark Forsyth thanked Cllr Skeet for his service and wished him well for the future.

“At the end of the day Town Councillors are all volunteers and sometimes life is for living,” said Cllr Forsyth.

The vacancy on the town council will now be advertised and if more than 10 residents of the ward request a by-election it will be held within 14 working days.

Footnote: Apologies for the lack of live coverage of the full council meeting – unfortunately family illness means we cannot attend.