00:00 Hello, I'm Emma May here with your top five news stories in Bristol this week.
00:09 Our first story this week is a concerning one. Healthcare professionals issued tens
00:14 of thousands of sick notes to patients in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire
00:20 this spring. New figures have shown. Before July 22, only GPs could give out a fit note,
00:27 which tells employers if a patient is too ill to work, or to give recommendations such
00:33 as reducing their working hours. Our second story this week is the Greater Bristol
00:39 Area is one of four city regions identified for public transport improvements by the National
00:45 Infrastructure Commission. The NIC is the executive agency responsible for providing
00:51 expert advice to the UK government on infrastructure challenges facing the country. One of the
00:57 recommendations of the second National Infrastructure Assessment, a five yearly review conducted
01:04 by the NIC, is giving four places a two third share of 22 billion funding for major public
01:11 transport schemes. This would include the Greater Bristol Area, Birmingham, Manchester
01:17 and Leeds. The assessment points out how only half of Bristol's population can currently
01:23 reach the centre of the city by public transport within 30 minutes, something the Commission
01:29 notes is worse than for many European cities of a comparable size.
01:35 Our third story this week is an exciting one for autumn lovers. Avon Valley Country Park
01:40 is back this year and better than ever. As Halloween looms, families are looking for
01:46 the best place to pumpkin pick this year, with searches for pumpkin patches near me
01:52 up by 560% in the past month. Avon Valley's pumpkin patch just outside the city scooped
01:58 fifth place. Visitors can grab a wheelbarrow and roam through a massive homegrown patch
02:05 in Keynesham to find their perfect pumpkin. For those who aren't keen on getting muddy,
02:11 you can even snap up a gourd from the dedicated dirt free area.
02:16 Our fourth story this week is a concerning one. A Bristol primary school teacher who
02:20 sent videos of child abuse on social media has been struck off from the profession indefinitely.
02:28 And finally, an exciting one for the city. Sparks Bristol, the department store with
02:32 a difference that was co-created by Global Goals Centre and Artspace Lifespace, is offering
02:39 a series of workshops for locals to enjoy. The store is offering a variety of classes
02:44 from a little Sparks storytelling workshop to garment repair and alteration classes.
02:50 The venue has a series of Halloween classes for all ages over half term.
02:55 That's you up to date with your top five news stories in Bristol this week. Whatever you
03:00 up to, have a great day.
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