Congresbury.net

North Somerset Council has been informing households that it will be carrying out resurfacing works and installing traffic calming on Brinsea Road and High Street.

The attached letter provides details on the planned works.

Yeo Vale Neighbourhood Policing Page: https://www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/your-area/yeo-vale

A day to celebrate the life of Mary Short, who died recently after a stroke, has been arranged for Sunday July 20.

Mary 83, was a former member of Congresbury Parish Council and was its chairman during the 1980s, later to become chair of the trustees of the Millennium Green project.

Although no longer active in the council, she had many other interests and hobbies, including art, history, bridge and a reading group.

A former language teacher at Churchill School, Mary was also a founder member and chairman of Congresbury Residents Action Group – CRAG – which over the past decade has rallied residents against unwanted development in the village.

Because of her association with the parish council, the family has been given the use of the Old School Rooms in which to hold the celebration.

Husband Chris Short expressed his thanks to the council and added: “Mary was involved with so many groups and had so many friends, the Old School Rooms are not large enough to have one event.

“So we are arranging it in two sessions – morning from 10am to noon and afternoon from 2pm to 4pm,” said Chris. The morning session will be open to all but the afternoon session is by invitation only for family and close friends.

Donations to the Southmead Hospital charity in Mary’s memory can be made via the following link: 

https://www.muchloved.com/Donate/DonationAmount?id=f72aeef6-efe2-49dc-83bb-def4218d6ac3

This year’s Summer Reading Challenge, supported by your local library and the Reading Agency, is entitled The Story Garden – Adventures in Nature and the Great Outdoors.

It runs from 5 July to the 13 September and is FREE to all children between the ages of 0 and 11. They need to make just 4 visits to the library and read a minimum of 6 books, collecting stickers along the way and receiving a certificate and medal when they have completed the challenge.

We also have a number of activities that you and your child can engage in  throughout the holiday that are not only free but require a minimum of materials.

Research indicates that reading levels can decline during the summer holidays, a phenomenon often referred to as the “summer slide”.  This decline is more pronounced in children who do not engage in regular reading activities over the break.  Some studies even suggest that students can lose up to two months of reading skills during the summer.  By encouraging your child to participate in the Challenge you can help to avoid this “summer slide”.

Messages of condolence and sympathy continue to pour into the family of Mary Short who died last weekend following a stroke.

A founding member of Congresbury Residents Action Group (CRAG) in 2014, Mary was known to several generations of students at Churchill School, where she had been a language teacher and head of Tudor House.

Mary had a wide knowledge of local government through her service as a councillor and former chair of Congresbury Parish Council. She was leader of Millennium Green Trustees, and worked closely with former Congresbury parish clerk Sue Grant.

She was instrumental in the success of CRAG which did much to save the village from over-development.

As well as CRAG, Mary was a member of several other village groups including the art and bridge groups that meet at the Old School Rooms, and was a founding member of a local reading group.

Through husband Chris, Mary supported the local history and archeology groups. As well as Chris, she leaves children Kirsty and Matthew and grandchildren Freya, Arthur and Forrest.

In line with Mary’s wishes, a private funeral has been arranged, and the family is planning a day for her many friends to celebrate her life.

Donations to the Southmead Hospital charity in Mary’s memory can be made via the following link: 

https://www.muchloved.com/Donate/DonationAmount?id=f72aeef6-efe2-49dc-83bb-def4218d6ac3

The Police has issued the warning below. Although the reference is to parking in Watchet there are fake QR codes in use elsewhere so please take care and check that the QR code is not a sticker over the original code.

We want to make people aware of criminals who have put a fake QR code over the genuine article on parking ticket machines in Watchet. These are the codes that can be scanned by smart phones to make payments, such as paying for a parking space in these occasions. Instead of payment going to the legitimate operator, these payments are going to the offender. Typically these scams may only take a small sum so it doesn’t raise any suspicions to the victim, allowing the fraud to continue.

A QR (Quick Response) Code is a two-dimensional matrix barcode which gives access to websites, digital content, or other information. At it’s best it provides swift access for payments, which comes from PayPal or similar companies, who then take payment for the user. At worse, it may also download phishing or malware viruses. Always check there isn’t a sticker over the original code. Be very careful if a smaller sticker seems to be over of a larger size or shows signs of tampering. Be especially aware if the website asks for sensitive information or offers unrealistic deals.