LOOKING back on some of the stories the Gazette has reported through the years...

November 1977

MEMBERS of the County Ratepayers Federation expressed their concern regarding press statements on the likely level of the following year’s rate increase that it was part of a softening up campaign to persuade the public that a large increase in expenditure would be called for.

The view of ratepayers’ organisations was that there was no case for increased spending while the county still had enough funds to lavish on a range of schemes.

They however recognised that police, firefighters and some other employees had not been treated fairly and would require salary increments above the normal to maintain services.

November 1987

THE FIRST residents of Bradley Stoke were officially welcomed to their new home as the new town was opened.

Julian Pontin and Nicola Durbin moved into their three-bed semi-detached home the weekend prior, but went on to host a group of VIPs including the chairman of Northavon District Council, for a house-warming party they were unlikely to forget.

Julian, 22, an aircraft mechanic at British Aerospace, had been living with his parents in Winterbourne, while Nicola moved from Brislington where she worked as a secretary.

The couple had secured their place on the housing ladder having camped out overnight outside the sales office to make sure they got their names down for one of the town’s first 45 houses.

During the party, the couple were presented with a colour TV set as a gift from developers Ideal Homes.

It was announced that over the following 10 to 15 years, 8,500 homes would be planned for the area.