Bradley Stoke
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bradley Stoke is a town in southern England, on the north side of the city of Bristol. Named after the local Bradley Brook and Stoke Brook streams, the town was planned in the 1970s and building began in 1987. The town is residential with some retail and commercial areas. Bradley Stoke is often perceived as a large residential suburb of Bristol rather than a town in its own right, especially since it is only 10 km (6 miles) from the city centre and has no central business district / town centre of its own.
Contents |
[edit] About
Although there is some provision for local employment, such as the business parks at the north of the town, the Aztec West business area and the two supermarkets, it is a commuter town, with many people travelling daily to the nearby city of Bristol. The town is close to its planned population of 25,000. Parts now join with Little Stoke, Stoke Gifford and Patchway, and further growth is restricted by the M5 motorway and M4 motorway.
With the increase in interest rates in the 1990s and the subsequent housing slump, it became nicknamed "Sadly Broke" by some Bristolians due to the rising levels of negative equity within the area.
Bradley Stoke is twinned with Champs-sur-Marne in France, on the outskirts of Paris.
Bradley Stoke is regarded by some as a large-scale, soulless housing development, albeit without the social problems historically experienced by many older estates. The planning was built around domestic residence and the car, providing little in the way of public space and other facilities normally found in an area of comparable size and population such as parks, playing fields and public houses. This situation is fast improving.
Many of the differences between Bradley Stoke and the Bristol area can be attributed to either the difference in demographics, or local political geography. While Bristol has a wide ranging demographic expected from a populous city, Bradley Stoke in 2001 was largely made up of white, owner-occupier, young families[1]".
As of 2007, the town was 20 years old, an occasion that was marked by a one day only 'BBC Radio Bradley Stoke', organised by BBC Radio Bristol.
[edit] Facilities
Many of the facilities in the town were to be funded by the housing developers from housing sales, via 'Section 106' planning agreements. When house building and sales slowed for a time in the late 80s, there was a significant slowdown in facility completion. This included the late provision of the road joining the north and south sides of the town, and also completion of the doctors' surgery.
There are 6 primary schools, a leisure centre with a swimming pool and library, an emerging district centre, and a secondary school (Bradley Stoke Community School). The secondary school opened in September 2005 and will eventually cater for 900 students. The school is also home to one of the youth football teams: Bradley Stoke Youth.
Plans for a new Tesco supermarket, at its present site, were approved by South Gloucestershire Council on 13 November 2006. The plans for expansion, which includes some smaller retail units, a restaurant and a hotel, will form the town's centre. Plans were met with opposition by the local community, who felt the development may worsen traffic issues in the area, although accepting the need for a town centre with additional shops and services. Plans and copies of the discussion can be found online on the South Gloucestershire Planning Applications website. In addition the town is served by 2 Tesco Express stores, and from summer 2007 an Aldi store (on the former Somerfield site) [2].
As of June 2006, the Bradley Stoke Community School had 216 Year 7 pupils, with expected expansion as there were 2 year groups the following year, continuing until all 5 year groups have pupils. There are 3 year groups going from Year 7 to Year 9. The school also plans for a sixth form building and a dance studio.
[edit] Business
Employment is particularly found along the Great Park Road, at the Almondsbury Business Park, and at the Aztec West development.
[edit] Community
[edit] Bradley Stoke Town FC
Bradley Stoke Town FC are a small football club formed in February 2005, by two locals wanting to start a team for local players and an adults team for the youth players to progress on to. The team joined the Bristol and District League at start of the 2005/06 season, finishing mid-way in Division 6.
At the start of 2006/07 season, the Reserves team entered the Bristol & Avon League. The First team became champions of Division 6 at the end of the season, with the Reserves finishing mid-table in the Avon league. The First team also reach the final of the GFA Minor Cup, losing narrowly 2-1 to Brislington Cricketers, a team two leagues above BSTFC. The Reserves picked up the Sportman Trophy for fair play.
At the start of the 2007/08 season, the First team played in Division 5 of the Bristol & District League, The Reserves also joined the District League in Division 6 and a Third team replaced the Reserves in the Avon League. The First team were runners-up in Division 5 and therefore achieved back-to-back promotions to Division 4 for 2008/09 season. The Reserves finished 7th and will remain in Division 6 next season. The A Team finished 4th from bottom in the Avon league, however they were successful in lifing the Jack Jenkins Cup by beating Lawrence Rovers in the final 1-0.
website: [3]
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Bradley Stoke town council website
- Bradley Stoke street map
- Bradley Stoke Examiner
- Bradley Stoke Matters
- Bradley Stoke Community School
- St Mary's Catholic Primary School
- Bradley Stoke Football Club
- Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre
- Church of Christ the King website
- Holy Trinity Church
- Bradley Stoke Evangelical Church
