Patchway facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Patchway |
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 Gloucester Road shops, Patchway |
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Patchway Town Council logo |
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 Patchway
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| Population | 10,511 (2011 Census) |
| OS grid reference | ST593815 |
| Unitary authority | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | BRISTOL |
| Postcode district | BS34 |
| Dialling code | 0117 |
| Police | Avon and Somerset |
| Fire | Avon |
| Ambulance | Great Western |
| EU Parliament | South West England |
| UK Parliament |
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Patchway is a town in South Gloucestershire, England. It is about 6 kilometers (4 miles) north-northwest of central Bristol. Patchway has grown to be a place where many people from Bristol live. It is connected to Bristol's main urban area, along with nearby towns like Filton and Bradley Stoke.
Patchway has special friendships with towns in other countries. It is "twinned" with Clermont l'Herault in France and Gauting in Germany. Patchway became its own separate area, called a civil parish, in 1953. Before that, it was part of the nearby area of Almondsbury.
Contents
How Patchway is Governed
Patchway has its own local government, called a town council. This council helps make decisions for the town.
Understanding Patchway's Electoral Ward
An "electoral ward" is like a special area for voting. Patchway has an electoral ward with the same name. In 2011, about 9,071 people lived in this ward.
Who Leads the Town Council?
The town council has 15 councillors. These councillors are chosen by the people of Patchway every four years. The person in charge of the council is called the Town Mayor. The mayor is one of the councillors and is chosen by the other councillors each year.
As of May 2023, the Labour Party has 10 councillors. There are also 4 Independent councillors and 1 Conservative councillor.
Places and Businesses in Patchway
Patchway is home to important businesses and has different areas.
Major Employers and Industries
Rolls-Royce is a big company in Patchway. They make parts for airplanes. Patchway is just north of Filton Airfield. Other large aerospace companies, like BAE Systems and Airbus UK, are also nearby.
Different Areas of Patchway
Patchway used to include three main areas: Patchway Estate, Stoke Lodge, and Aztec West. In 2015, Stoke Lodge became its own separate area with its own council.
Patchway Estate and Shopping
The houses in Patchway Estate are southwest of the main railway line that goes from London to South Wales. A road called Coniston Road goes around the estate. Many streets here are named after birds and trees.
The Patchway Trading Estate is next to a dual carriageway (a road with two lanes in each direction). This road connects the A38 and M5 motorways. The Mall and two retail parks at Cribbs Causeway are just north of Filton airfield. This is the biggest shopping center in South West England.
Aztec West Business Park
Aztec West is a large area with offices and warehouses. It is on the northern edge of Patchway, between Patchway Estate and Stoke Lodge. This business park started in the early 1980s. New parts of Aztec West are still being built today.
Major Motorway Connections
A big four-level motorway interchange is near Aztec West. This is where the M4 and M5 motorways meet. It's called the Almondsbury Interchange and was finished in the early 1970s.
Walking and Transport in Patchway
Patchway has a nice path called Patchway Greenway. This path goes from Patchway Common east towards Bradley Stoke. There is also a footbridge over the M5 motorway, known as the Banana Bridge. It leads to a path that goes down a steep hill into the village of Over.
Patchway railway station is on the main railway line that connects South Wales to London. However, trains to Bristol are not very frequent.
Patchway's Story: A Look Back
Patchway has changed a lot over time, from a small village to a busy town.
Early Days of Patchway
At the start of the 1900s, Patchway was a small village. It was centered around an area now called Patchway Common. Part of the village was along Gloucester Road, south of a bridge over the Great Western Railway line. The Patchway Tunnel was also nearby.
Growth of Industry and Housing
Industry began to grow when a flying school at Filton Aerodrome became a factory for airplane engines in 1920. This happened when the Bristol Aeroplane Company (BAC) took over another company called Cosmos Engineering.
In the 1930s, new houses were built in Patchway Estate, near Filton Aerodrome. More homes were also built on Stoke Lane. BAC also started building more factories on Gypsy Patch Lane during the 1930s. They built places to test engine parts next to the railway line in the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s.
Changes During and After World War II
A dual carriageway, called the Filton Bypass, was built through Patchway Estate in the late 1930s. This road helped direct traffic away from Filton. During World War II, the US Army had a camp with tents along the wide sides of this bypass.
In the late 1940s, the bypass was cut off. This was because the main runway at Filton aerodrome was made longer for a large airplane called the Bristol Brabazon. This project also meant that a nearby small village called Charlton had to be moved. Many of its residents moved to Patchway Estate.
Modern Developments and Boundaries
In the 1950s and early 1960s, many bungalows were built in Stoke Lodge, next to Patchway Common. A very large housing area was built behind Patchway Estate in the mid-1960s.
Also in the mid-1960s, a new road called the New Filton Bypass was built. This road is now part of the M5 motorway. It runs along the edge of the Severn Escarpment. This road marks the boundary between Patchway and the nearby Green Belt area.
Rolls-Royce has built new factories on the Gypsy Patch test site, close to the A38. They have taken down older buildings to build new ones. All of Rolls-Royce's facilities in Bristol are now north of Gypsy Patch Lane.
Modern Patchway Today
Patchway is one of the 44 Parish and Town Councils in South Gloucestershire. It has many useful places for its residents.
Community Facilities and Services
The town has a fire station, a library, a doctor's clinic, and schools. There is a Day Centre for older people and a play area for children. For sports, there are cricket and football fields, and a sports hall.
In 2010, the old library building was taken down. A new building called "The Hub" was built in its place. The Hub opened in September 2011. It has many health and well-being services for people of all ages, as well as a new library. The Hub is now a very important place in the community.
Patchway has a long history with the Scout Movement. Their main building is on Worthing Road. In June 2011, the Scouts celebrated their 70th anniversary.
Road Changes and New Parishes
In late 2011, work began to change the road layout on Highwood Lane. This change meant that regular traffic could no longer go all the way through the road.
On April 1, 2015, the Stoke Lodge part of Patchway became part of a new parish called Stoke Lodge and The Common. This area is north of the railway line and east of the A38 road.
Charlton Hayes: A New Community
Charlton Hayes is a new area that has been added to Patchway. It is named after a village called Charlton that was taken down.
Building a New Neighborhood
Construction on Charlton Hayes started in late 2009. This development includes about 6,000 new homes. It also has a new bypass road that goes from the A38 to the bottom of the Cribbs Causeway Mall.
The new link road, called Hayes Way, opened just before Christmas 2010. It helped reduce traffic on Highwood Lane. This road connects The Mall (Cribbs Causeway) directly to the main A38 road. It also goes towards the M5/M4 junction at Almondsbury. Before the Aerospace Bristol museum was built, people using this road could see the Concorde 216 airplane.
In May 2023, Charlton Hayes became its own separate parish council. This means it is no longer part of Patchway Town Council.
Media and News
People in Patchway can watch local television news. These include BBC Points West and ITV News West Country, both broadcast from Bristol.
The town also has several local radio stations. These include BBC Radio Bristol, Heart West, Greatest Hits Radio Bristol & The South West, Hits Radio Bristol, BCfm, Kiss, and Bradley Stoke Radio. Bradley Stoke Radio is a community station run by volunteers.
Local newspapers include the Bristol Post and the Pathway Journal, which is an online newspaper.
Sports in Patchway
Patchway has its own local football club called Patchway Town F.C.. They play their games at the Scott Park ground.
Images for kids
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Gloucester Road shops, Patchway
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St Chad's mixed Church of England and Methodist Church
