Managers at The Willow Brook Centre have threatened to ban all students from the community school while wearing school uniform.

The threat was made to the headteacher of the school, Dave Baker, because of the behaviour of a “minority” of pupils.

Mr Baker said he has had to field complaints from both security staff and members of the public about some students.

In a recent meeting between the centre’s staff and the school a total ban “was mentioned”.

“I asked for students to be given the chance to prove that they could behave appropriately,” said Mr Baker, who says the threat had been lifted.

“This was communicated to students and, understandably, there was a sense of outrage from the vast majority of students who always behave appropriately.”

He has now appealed for pupils to behave while in the centre.

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.”

Bradley Stoke’s latest store is opening on Saturday – a bike store at The Willow Brook Centre.

Giant Bikes, who already have shops in the city centre, Bedminster and Downend – will begin trading in the closest unit to Bradley Stoke Way.

The opening weekend will also feature a prize draw for a new £500 bike.

The only confirmed retailer left yet to open at the centre is Pets at Home.

Bosses at the Willow Brook Centre in Bradley Stoke have finally confirmed that Pets at Home will open there.

The widely rumoured store will open in one of the retail units which were completed in the summer.

The confirmation came in a press release from the centre claiming that since it opened visitor numbers have increased 50%.

Manager Scott Lahive said: “In this current climate it proves the appeal of Bradley Stoke and the great mix of shops and services for our customers.”

Meanwhile Brantano, which was supposed to have opened on Tuesday, has been delayed according to a comment from a reader.

Luke said the delay was “due to them running out of time to set up as they had four lorry loads of stock arrive where they were only expecting three loads”

He added managers “had to sort out somewhere to put it, as the stock room isn’t big enough!”

Discount footwear store Brantano will finally open its doors on Tuesday at the Willow Brook Centre.

The opening marks the first of the larger retail units to open at Bradley Stoke’s town centre.

The retail units are the final phase of the building work to be completed after the mall and Tesco opened last year.

No other confirmed tenants have been named but Pets at Home have been strongly linked after advertising for staff.

In the mall area, only Card Factory and Zero G bikes remain among the confirmed stores which have yet to open.

A 62-year-old woman was injured when she was kicked during a dispute in Bradley Stoke.

The incident took place in the Willow Brook Centre car park on Sunday afternoon.

Avon and Somerset Police say the two motorists were arguing and the man lashed out at the woman.

She was taken to nearby Frenchay Hospital but did not require treatment.

The suspect is described as a white man in his thirties, about 5ft 6ins tall with brown hair

Officers say he was wearing a yellow shirt and blue trousers and have appealed for witnesses to come forward.

Opticians Specsavers are the latest company to confirm they will be moving into The Willow Brook Centre.

Confirmation came through the centre’s website that they would be opening – most likely in a mall unit – later this year.

The centre’s website shows two under offer units there with ZeroG bikes taking the other.

Meanwhile, shoewear firm Brantano has confirmed it will be opening on 21 July 2009.