Date | Thu 23 Mar 2023 |
Application Type | Retrospective application |
Development | Retrospective application for the erection of a timber framed car port. |
Coronation celebrations
Catalytic converter stolen in daylight
Thieves stole the catalytic converter from a car while it was parked on High Street, Congresbury, between 2pm and 3.15pm on Saturday March 25th. If you have any information about this incident, especially CCTV images, please call the police on 101, giving reference number 5223069886 and tag the call as NHW. Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 |
New play area delayed
The planned opening of the new play area on the King George V Playing Fields has been delayed because of technical problems with the trampoline equipment. It is now unlikely that it will be ready in time for the Easter holidays. The new equipment includes a zip wire replacement. As soon as we have any more news on its opening we will let you know.
YACWAG Swift Conservation online talk Wed 29th March 7.30pm
Find out more about these fascinating birds whose numbers are in steep decline, and how we can all help our local swifts as part of the YACWAG Swift Project.
The talk will be given by Edward Mayer of Swift Conservation who has been pioneering action for swifts for over 20 years.
More info at www.yacwag.org.uk, contact secretary@yacwag.org.uk to receive Zoom details. Please support YACWAG by joining as a member via the website (if you aren’t a member already), options start from £5 per year for a household
Methodist Church News
North Somerset Arts Week at Holy Trinity, St. Barnabas and Cleeve Village Hall
North Somerset Arts Week is celebrating its 21st anniversary and from 28th April to 8th May over 200 local artists will be opening up their homes and studios or gathering in shared venues to show their latest work.
Holy Trinity Church is hosting 10 artists and makers – Dawn Cox (Painting and Drawing), Sarah Boden (Painting/Drawing), June Bensted (Painting/Drawing), Jane Canning (Ceramics), Elke Davies (Jewellery, Textile Art), Emma Garland (Jewellery, Various), Joan Hudson (Painting/Drawing), Ann Kelson (Painting/Drawing), Wahida Phillips (Illustration, Mixed Media) and Hannah Vigneron (Ceramics).
Refreshments will also be available
As before, there will also be artists at St. Barnabas in Claverham – Mandi Baykaa-Murray (Painting/Drawing), Gabbie Gardner (Enamels, Jewellery, Mixed Media, Painting/Drawing, Textile Art) and Hayley Jones (Metalwork, Sculpture). Both venues will be open from 10am – 5pm.
On May 4th and 5th the North Somerset Embroidery and Textile Group will be holding an exhibition of their work (10am – 6pm) at Cleeve Village Hall and on both afternoons there will be a mini-workshop on Doodle Stitching from 2-4pm (cost £7, with all materials provided). There will be threads and other items for sale and refreshments will be served. Further information on the group can obtained by emailing elkedavies@btinternet.com or from the website at www.northsomersetembroideryandtextilegroup.wordpress.com
Watch out for the distinctive pink flags to lead you to over 38 locations across the county and be inspired by a wide variety of work.
You can also follow the Arts Week on instagram @northsomersetarts and #nsaw23, on
facebook.com/nsomersetarts and the website northsomersetarts.org.



Playing field trustees need a volunteer treasurer
The trustees of the King George V playing fields in Congresbury, home to the cricket, tennis and football clubs, are looking for a volunteer to take on the role of Honorary Treasurer.
The KGV Fields were established in 1935 under a trust with the core purpose of the provision of sport and recreation for those who live in the Parish of Congresbury. The fields were transferred to Fields in Trust and are administered by the Trustees of the KGV Fields, Congresbury which is a registered charity.
Under the terms of the trust the trustees consist of nominees from each of Congresbury cricket, football and tennis clubs, Congresbury parish council, St Andrews School and the British Legion. Additional trustees may be co-opted
The trustees delegate the day-to-day management of the playing fields to Congresbury Recreation Club.
The role of the treasurer is to manage the trustees’ bank account, report on the financial position to the quarterly trustee meeting and prepare simple annual accounts for approval by the trustees. There are only on average three or four transactions a month with trustees net assets of some £5,000. Activity will increase going forward as the trustees will be the developer of the replacement sports and recreation building for which planning permission has recently been granted.
The role of Honorary Treasurer is not onerous and even with the increased activity involved in the development of a new building should not involve more than a few hours a month. Some financial knowledge/experience is desirable. The trustees use QuickBooks, a simple online accounting package. Training in the operation of this would be provided if required.
The KGV Fields are central to village life in Congresbury and are a fantastic community asset providing sport and recreational facilities to people of all ages. The cricket, football and tennis clubs are all thriving and the prospect of a new, modern building with facilities for all represents an exciting future. Please consider whether you would like to be involved.
If you are interested please contact
Les Owen, Chair of the KGV Trustees
07902 874142
Methodist Church News
Live music at the Memorial Hall
Families ‘worried sick’ over lack of traffic control
National Grid will soon close Wrington Lane completely for up to six weeks for essential work to replace electricity cables. For residents of just under 200 homes the only way in and out will be the narrow stretch of the lane that leads up to Wrington Road and has no passing places.
Although National Grid will be providing radio control for traffic by banksmen at either end from 7am to 7pm during the week there will be no traffic control when they are not at work – evenings, weekends and Bank Holidays.
Residents are concerned that this will put drivers at risk of collision or of multiple vehicles having to back up or down the narrow sunken lane. The lane is only one car wide, is without passing places and has blind turns at top and bottom.
“It’s a nightmarish thought,” said Susan Hibberd, one of the villagers who will be affected by the closure.
“There must be around 350 residents’ cars that would need to use the diversion, quite apart from delivery, service and emergency vehicles.
“We have been begging North Somerset Council’s Highways Department to allow National Grid to install traffic lights. This happened some years ago when Wales and West Utilities closed the lane to replace the leaking gas mains and residents had to use the diversion. National Grid is willing to use traffic lights but cannot do so without permission from North Somerset,” she explained.
Villagers say their fears are being ignored despite so many of them contacting ward councillor Phil Neve about their concerns. Mr Neve has tried tirelessly to convince North Somerset officers of the danger to residents, as has CRAG, the residents’ action group.
“Many of us are afraid of being trapped in our homes or facing unmanageable traffic problems,” said Mrs Hibberd. “We are sick with worry.”
The reasons given by North Somerset officers for refusing installation of traffic lights are that the lane is two-way, that motorists should “give and take” (though there’s no forward vision from top to bottom of the lane and the newly built footway reduces that even more), that lights would put pressure on Wrington Road and that they would be dangerous.
“We don’t question the need for power cables to be replaced and we accept the considerable disruption this will entail. But we want to feel safe, able to continue our normal lives and leave home without dreading what may happen,” she said.
Hear all about the RSPCA
Photography competition
Singers tune up
Congresbury Singers start rehearsing again, Tues 18 April 7.30pm Congresbury War Memorial Hall – all welcome – no audition- for more details congresburysingers@gmail.com or 07803040175
Events at Congar’s Cafe
Congar’s Cafe in Broad Street is holding a gin tasting this coming Friday 10th March, 7.30pm. Please book through Clevedon Distillery.
Mango Hub is having a curry night on Friday 17th March, 7pm. Book through the cafe.
There are many other events coming up including a chance for women under 55, with chronic health conditions and hidden disabilities, to get together for a cup of coffee and a natter, on Monday 27th March at 11am.
The cafe is also holding a poet writers’ evening on Friday 31st March and on Friday 28th April Eyres Jewellery will be having a pop up event in the evening.
For more information and to book a space for some of the events, then, please contact Congar’s Cafe.


Soups & Puds
Thursday 23rd March, Methodist Hall, 2 High St, Congresbury.
Soup and Puds lunch in aid of Children’s Hospice South West. £5. Homemade soup, bread roll, homemade pudding and tea or coffee.
Raffle; cakes and preserves for sale.
Methodist Church News
Witness appeal after A370 crash
Police are appealing for witnesses after a two-vehicle collision in Congresbury on Sunday.
Avon and Somerset Police were called at around 2.15pm on Sunday 26 February following the incident on the A370 Weston Road, in Congresbury, which involved two cars, one of which left the road.
Five people were taken to hospital, with one person in critical condition.
Officers are keen to speak to anyone who was in the area at the time of the incident and may have seen the collision or have dashcam footage.
They are especially keen to speak to the driver of a vehicle travelling towards Puxton who was seen at the area at the time of the collision.
The A370 remained closed between M5 Junction 21 and Congresbury and was reopened at around 1.45am on Monday.
Planning Application Land Off Wrington Lane Congresbury
Date | Wed 15 Feb 2023 |
Application Type | Non material amendment to application 19/P/1657/RM |
Development | Non material amendment to application 19/P/1657/RM ( Reserved Matters application for appearance, landscaping, layout and scale for the erection of 50no. dwellings and associated work pursuant to outline permission 16/P/1521/O ) The amended plans concern a materials layout plan showing an additional brick added to be used as a detail brick. This new brick is also depicted on a materials sheet. Additionally, due to internal discussions regarding standard product; barge boards have been removed from all housetypes and garages where practicable. Because of these changes, the corresponding plans from reserved matters application19/P/1657/RM are to be amended |
Charity quiz
Plough Inn Quiz, Sunday March 5th at 8pm, in aid of Children’s Hospice South West. £1 to enter, teams of any size, everyone welcome. Raffle.
50th Anniversary of the Swiss Air Disaster -10th April 1973
Please help us to raise funds for a Rose Memorial Garden in Congresbury Churchyard
This year will be the 50th anniversary of The Swiss Air Disaster in Basel on the 10th April 1973, where 108 people from Congresbury and surrounding local villages lost their lives.
On the flight there were 20 people from Congresbury, none of whom survived the crash.
The group, from the Memorial Hall Social Club Ladies skittle team, included men and women, children, friends and families from Congresbury, Wrington, Claverham and Bristol on a trip to Lake Lucerne.
Relatives of people who died in the disaster are working closely with Reverend Matthew Thompson, Congresbury’s vicar. The aim is to have a permanent memorial to the 20 villagers, to mark the largest loss of life in one incident in the history of Congresbury.
The planned Rose Memorial Garden, within the Churchyard at St Andrew’s Church, will contain a new plaque listing each villager’s name for posterity and, if funds allow, replacing some broken benches. It is intended that this will ensure that the villagers who lost their lives in the disaster can take their place in Congresbury village history.
If you can, please donate any sum you can afford to:
Account name. St Andrews Congres PCC
Account no: 72280484
Sort code: 60-23-32
Reference. Swissair
Bluey day trips to Cribbs Causeway and Wells

New Rec Club plans get go-ahead

Ambitious plans to rebuild Congresbury’s ageing Recreation Club as a two-storey, multi-functional pavilion and clubhouse have been approved by North Somerset planners.
A very rough cost estimate is between £1.2million and £1.4million giving the team behind the rebuild, known as Project Construct, two priorities, explains Les Owen, chairman of the King George V Trustees and president of Congresbury Cricket Club.
The first is to develop more detailed plans and costs and agree the building approach. The second is to develop the fundraising strategy and plans.
Project Construct already has a small group of people with building and project management experience serving on a development committee. Their role is to determine the detailed approach to the rebuild. They will also be responsible for seeking proposals from builders and appointing contractors.
“If anyone else in the village with relevant experience wants to join us, they would be very welcome,” said Mr Owen adding that the Trustees will act as the developer with all funding, accounting and financial control through the Trustees’ accounts.
A fundraising committee is also being established. Project Construct already has the backing of benefactors who have pledged significant financial support and is being advised by the England Cricket Board (ECB) and the Somerset Cricket Foundation.
Revised plans to rebuild the Rec Club were submitted to North Somerset planners in July last year following consultation with the ECB and feedback from North Somerset to initial pre-planning submissions made in November 2021.
The new sports and recreation building will have four separate unisex changing rooms and showers for both the cricket and tennis clubs for men, women and children to use on the upper level. This layout creates far more space for the social activities of the club on the ground floor that can be divided into two so both private and members’ use is possible at the same time. It can also be opened up into one area for larger events.
“The new sports and recreation club building will deliver an important, modern facility in the centre of Congresbury,” said Mr Owen, adding that the trustees and the project committee would like to hear from anyone who is interested in helping in any way with this exciting village development.
You can get in touch by emailing newrecclub@gmail.com
Methodist Church News
Planning Application Willowmead 27 Silver Street Congresbury BS49 5EY
Date | Wed 15 Feb 2023 |
Application Type | Full Planning Permission |
Development | Proposed erection of a detached garage. Proposed material alteration to existing cladding and store room door at the North elevation of the existing dwelling. |
Planning Application Mendip Spring Golf Course Honeyhall Lane Congresbury BS49 5JT
Date | Mon 13 Feb 2023 |
Application Type | Full Planning Permission |
Development | Proposed erection of a rural workers dwelling. |
Planning Application Congresbury FC, Broadstone Playing Field Stonewell Park Road Congresbury
Date | Tue 31 Jan 2023 |
Application Type | Full Planning Permission |
Development | Siting of a temporary building (for period of 3 years) as storage and as a fitness training business for the club and the wider community |
Methodist Church News
Planning Application 23 Southside Congresbury BS49 5BS
Date | Wed 01 Feb 2023 |
Application Type | Full Planning Permission |
Development | Prior approval request for the erection of a single storey rear extension with a flat roof that would 1) extend beyond the rear wall of the original house by 6.00 metres; 2) have a maximum height of 3.40 metres and 3) have eaves that are 3.00 metres high |