The Willow Brook Centre car park in Bradley Stoke has been awarded the ‘Park Mark’ Safer Parking Award for the second year in a row.

‘Park Mark’ is an initiative of Chief Police Officers aimed at reducing crime in public parking areas, a very welcome initiative as nationally, vehicle crime accounts for a high percentage of all crime (up to 20%), and it is estimated that 22% of vehicle crime occurs in parking areas^*.

For Bradley Stoke shoppers, using a registered Park Mark Safer Parking car park means that the area has been vetted by the Police and has measures in place in order to create a safe environment designed to deter criminal activity and anti-social behaviour.

Scott Lahive, Centre Manager at the Willow Brook Centre, said: “We are delighted to retain this nationally recognised award

“We have been monitored over the past year and in addition to safety, security and surveillance criteria we are judged on boundaries and access for vehicles and pedestrians, lighting, cleanliness and signage.”

Details, including directions, can be found at www.parkmark.co.uk.

*Between the Lines: an evaluation of the ‘Secured Car Park Award’. Home Office Study 266

Salary: £12,000 to £15,000 depending on experience

Hours: Full Time

Contact: Terri/Ed 01454 275 020 or mgr.bradleystoke@st.uk.specsavers.com

Closing date: CVs in by 1st June 2012

Customers at Bradley Stoke opticians Specsavers can now have their specs made up within the hour following the creation of a new in-store lab service.

The Specsaver store in the Willow Brook Centre has recently invested in a brand new glazing machine from Thornbury-based Essilor Ltd. The state-of-the-art equipment allows for glasses to be glazed onsite meaning certain prescriptions can be made up at the store rather than having to be sent away.

Ed Stanleigh, store director at Specsavers in Bradley Stoke told us: ‘This is a significant investment on our part and one which we’re sure will benefit our customers. The one hour service will give greater flexibility and mean a faster turnaround on some prescriptions. We know that a lot of our customers lead very busy lives so anything we can do to help them save time has to be a good thing.

‘We’re also proud to have sourced the new machine from a local company. We feel strongly about supporting businesses in the area and with Essilor, a subsidiary of the largest ophthalmic lens manufacturer in the world, being in Thornbury, it’s great to be able to get behind an organisation that’s on our doorstep.’

The store has also employed a technician to operate the machine and the one hour service will be available Monday to Saturday.

For more information or to make an appointment, visit Specsavers in the Willow Brook Centre, call 01454 275020 or visit their website here.

In contrast to previous years when the event has been fronted by Heart FM (we reported in 2009 & 2010), this year will see live music and entertainment provided by our own Bradley Stoke Radio (BSR).

Visitors will have a chance to win £250 to spend at a store of their choice at the Willow Brook Centre by entering a competition during the event.

We’ve heard that BSR are planning kids’ magic, balloon modelling, music quizzes, choir singing, dance groups and, of course, seasonal music and jingles.

The action gets underway at 2:30pm and runs until 5:30pm.

Could the event rival last week’s Olly Murs lights switch-on at The Mall, Cribbs Causeway (the Patchway Journal reported)? MC Andy of Bradley Stoke Radio will no doubt give it his best shot – streamers and artificial snow machines at the ready!

Spenhill, the regeneration subsidiary of Tesco, has let an 8,000-sq ft unit to Argos on a new 15-year lease. Argos will be situated in Unit 3 between Brantano and Peacocks facing the car park which has over 1,000 free spaces.

The Willow Brook Centre opened in October 2008 and comprises over 300,000 sq ft of town centre retail and office space. Retail tenants include Tesco Extra, Boots, Specsavers, Pets at Home, Poundstretcher, Peacocks, Brantano, Carphone Warehouse, Shoe Zone, Timpson, Harvester, Greggs, Simpsons Fish & Chips, Subway, Costa and KFC.

Joint agents Alder King and Morgan Williams acted on behalf of the landlord while Hartnell Taylor Cook acted for Argos.

Willow Brook centre manager Scott Lahive said: “Willow Brook was created as a town centre to serve the local population of Bradley Stoke and in 2010 attracted over 4.3 million visitors. Considering we opened in the downturn yet have achieved 100 per cent retail occupancy just three years on shows how successful the centre has become.”

Join up now to be a part of the Willow Brook Mummys Breakfast Morning held every last Tuesday of the month at Harvester.

To register simply send an email to mummys@willowbrookcentre.co.uk and inform us of your full name and address.

Why not mingle and mix with other parents whilst enjoying a complimentary drink at Harvester whilst the little ones are entertained. You also get a Mummys Morning Membership card entitling you to discounts and promotions and many of The Willow Brook Centres stores.