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
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.



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.
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.
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
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
Brinsea Road residents campaign for 20mph limit
Families living on Brinsea Road want a 20mph speed limit to help curb the speed of vehicles that frequently break the existing 30mph limit.
Christine Nuttall, who has lived on Brinsea Road for nine years, has launched a petition calling for further restrictions. The petition has the backing of Congresbury’s North Somerset councillor Phil Neve.
“Over the years I have lived here, the speed of cars and HGVs going through our village has increased to the point it’s now becoming a danger to the residents young and old so I’ve decided it’s time to do something about it,” said Christine.
The petition can be signed at the Co-op, Cottage Loaf, Hodders Butchers and the Post Office.
Garage break-in
A garage has been broken into around 3:30am on the 26th in Furnace Way, Congresbury. A local resident called police when they observed four males, three in black the other in white, gaining entry. The suspects had been through the garage and stolen electrical tools before making off. |
Rec Club opens as warm space

The Strawberry Line in winter
Rich history of Congresbury railway station
YACWAG’s call for volunteers to help start work to reveal the platforms at Congresbury’s long disused railway station (see details here) prompted Michael Greaves to contact us with this sketch and a note on the station.
“It was always my hope that when the platforms are restored the original Waiting Room could be rebuilt,” he writes. “I am attaching a copy of my thumbnail sketch of the original waiting room that was sadly demolished when the line was closed.
“The platforms are unique as the up line platform was built with carboniferous limestone from Henley Quarry on Cadbury Hill, but the down platform is the lovely stone quarried at Draycott in Somerset. It’s a Dolomitic Conglomerate stone which when polished is known as Draycott Marble. Perhaps the most famous use is the table top in the entrance of Longleat House in Wiltshire. Both platforms are excellent examples of Victorian engineering and form an important part of Congresbury’s history.

MERRY CHRISTMAS
The Editors wish all our readers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
We look forward to receiving your news and articles in 2023.
Congresbury Station project
CRAG blames council as it pulls out of Wrington Lane footway fight
CRAG, Congresbury Residents’ Action Group, has stopped its fight against the Wrington Lane footway scheme. Here, CRAG secretary Viv Tomkinson, explains why.
“After a long, increasingly frustrating and expensive fight, I have to tell you that CRAG has sadly had to decide to withdraw our challenge to the Wrington Lane footway scheme.
“We have been opposing this development for over 7 years. As most of you know, construction of the footway was necessary before the 50 houses could be built. CRAG has always maintained that the footway scheme could not be delivered without encroaching on private land.
“After years of trying to convince North Somerset Highways Department and the Planning Officers of the veracity of our claim, eventually even employing an ‘expert witness’ boundary surveyor and a specialist land and property disputes solicitor, but the NSC officers still obstinately claim that the footway can be delivered using only land that is part of the public highway and indeed they have again said this in their most recent response which we received in the last week.
“We believe they are wrong but we have decided, after deep thought and consideration, that we have to face the reality that we cannot stop the development
“We know that it would now cost North Somerset Council a great deal of money to stop Vistry.
“In order to make a legal challenge against NSC we would have had to instruct a barrister to take court action and this would have incurred fees costing tens of thousands of pounds.
“It would also put an unacceptable strain on the residents because NSC have in their latest response stated that it is the residents who would need to be named in any court action.
“So, it is now a question of damage limitation. We need to be sure that the outcome for the residents most directly affected by the delivery of the footway suffer minimal damage to their land, hedges, walls and lawns. Some residents will be losing hedges and the ends of their driveways. Residents are now in discussion with the contractors about what exactly will be done, and how it will be made good afterwards.
“CRAG owes a huge debt of gratitude to these residents, who have been under enormous pressure from the developers over recent years.
“We are also extremely grateful to all CRAG supporters who have submitted objections and supported our challenge to this development. And also for the donations from supporters and the support given by the Parish Council which helped us pay the legal costs and the costs of the boundary surveyor’s report to progress our challenge to NSC’s position.
“We do know that the impact will extend further than just the part of Wrington Lane required for the footway scheme and we understand the worries that all of you will have about how life will change in Wrington Lane after this development is completed.
“We also appreciate the upset caused to all those households affected by the developers’ frequent inconsiderate abuse of the conditions under which they were supposed to carry out the preparatory works on the site.
“CRAG blames North Somerset Council for the whole debacle. The previous administration should never have approved the planning application. Officers seem to have acted with no scrutiny from Councillors regarding our arguments, and have not enforced the site regulations about the construction process in spite of frequent complaints from residents. We intend to have all these issues investigated and are engaging with our local Councillor about this. We will be submitting a complaint to NSC and we will escalate our complaint to a higher level if this is necessary.
“We hope you understand why we have taken this decision, but please be assured that CRAG will continue the fight against other inappropriate development within our community.”
Public living rooms plan to keep people warm
With the price of energy set to rise this month, North Somerset Council and its partners in the North Somerset Together network are working together to develop a network of public
living rooms across the area to help people keep warm this winter. Public living rooms are safe, welcoming and non-judgemental spaces for people to come together to stay warm and perhaps enjoy a hot drink and a biscuit. These venues will also have information to help people who might be keen to learn more about the support available to tackle the cost of living crisis.
The sorts of venues that might be suitable for hosting public living rooms include community buildings, sports venues, places of worship,libraries and any organisation willing to make a space available for people to use.
Cllr Mike Bell, North Somerset Council’s deputy leader and chair of North Somerset’s cost of living working group said: “We are a council that cares about people and addressing the cost of living crisis is the top priority for every member of the council’s Executive. No-one should have to go cold this winter. We know already that some of our residents are worried they might have to choose between heating and eating, so to help we want to create a network of places across North Somerset where people can keep warm.
“Our goal is to create a directory of all the places available to our residents across the public, private, health and voluntary sectors and to ensure this information is clearly promoted so everyone who is feeling the cold knows where they can go to get warm, stay warm and enjoy a little company and some hot refreshments.”
To enable public living rooms to be set up or maintained, grants of up to £1,000 will be available to organisations in North Somerset. The grants are funded by North Somerset Council, supported by Alliance Homes, grant funding. Applications will be accepted from North Somerset agencies and community-led organisations delivering services for people in North
Somerset. More information about the scheme and grant application process is available on the council’s website at www.n-somerset.gov.uk/col
The North Somerset Together Network will promote the directory of public living rooms as soon as they begin to be established with the hope that more venues will become available as news of the initiative spreads across North Somerset.
Cllr Bell added: “Our ambition is that all communities across North Somerset that need a public living room have at least one that their local residents can use to help stay warm and well.”
Residents ‘furious at road closure plan’
Residents of Congresbury are up in arms about a decision to close a road for up to five months to accommodate work on a controversial housing scheme.
More than 200 householders will be affected by the temporary closure of Wrington Lane, due to be imposed next week by North Somerset Council.
Members of Congresbury Residents Action Group (CRAG) reported that homeowners in the lane and surrounding roads are “incandescent” with rage over the notice issued under provisions of section 14 of the Road Traffic Act 1984.
Work is scheduled in three phases. The first phase, due to start on 3rd October includes the section down to Cobthorn Way. Phase Two covers the section from Cobthorn Way to Wrington Mead with Phase Three from Wrington Mead to the junction with the A370.
Residents have individually expressed their anger to MP John Penrose, district councillor Phil Neve, North Somerset Council and contractor Vistry Homes.
CRAG chair Mary Short said the action by North Somerset Council was totally unreasonable. “There are people with limited mobility, elderly folk and parents with young children who will become virtual prisoners in their homes if they cannot use their cars. Many residents in the area rely on their cars to get to work, to go for appointments and shopping etc. and have no idea what access they will have.”
The planned road closures would operate from 8am to 5pm weekdays with “occasional Saturdays from 8am to 1pm.”
Apart from Wrington Lane itself, the closure would directly affect access for residents of Cobthorn Way, Weetwood Road, Wrington Mead, Ward’s Hill, Verlands and Furnace Way.
The Council responded to one resident: “I am sorry that you are concerned about the works that are proposed to take place in Wrington Lane. Please be reassured that access is maintained for residents and emergency vehicles. The works are programmed in a phased manner so access can be maintained.”
The background to this case, which has blighted residents for more that six years, involves a dispute over land ownership. The housing project was only granted on condition that the developer provided a footway in the Lane before building work began.
The Council claim that that the footway can be built on public highway land. Residents dispute this, and have evidence that the footway will need land which is part of their property and has never been adopted as public highway land.
John Mills
A370 crash appeal
Police are appealing for witnesses and dashcam footage following a collision on the A370 at Congresbury on Friday afternoon
Officers are investigating the circumstances around a collision between a motorcycle and a car, which happened at around 12.30pm near the Esso garage.
One person has been taken to hospital by air ambulance with injuries which are believed to be life-threatening. Their family are aware and being supported by specialist officers.
Police are asking any witnesses, or drivers with dashcam footage, to come forward and call us.
If you can help, please call 101 and give the call handler the reference number 5222212042, or complete our online appeals form.
Rebuilding the Rec Club: your questions answered
The KGV Trustees have answered many of the questions villagers have asked about plans to demolish and rebuild the Rec Club. See attached file below. There is another public meeting on Monday September 5th at 6.30pm in the Rec Club when the trustees will give an update and answer further questions.
Rec-Club-QA_Sept01Alarm scares off burglars
A garage was broken into around 2am on Saturday (August 20th) in Duck Lane, Langford. Six male offenders, all wearing dark clothing, forced entry to the garage via the main door with bolt cutters and crow bars. Once inside they conducted an untidy search until an alarm was sounded, they then made off on foot.
Any information please contact the Police on 101 quoting reference number: 5222200333 stating NHW release. Or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Burglar steals jewellery and cash
A home in Cobthorn Way, Congresbury, was burgled on Saturday afternoon (August 20th) between 12:30pm and 4:30pm. The offender gained access by forcing a downstairs lounge window and once inside conducted a messy search of the upper level. A safe containing cash, jewellery and documents were stolen before the offender made off via the patio doors.
Any information please contact the Police on 101 quoting reference number: 5222200753 stating NHW release. Or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Building consultants’ claims ‘laughable’, says CRAG
Congresbury residents are angry at the “dismissive and bullying” tone adopted by consultants working for a firm of developers.
Following more than 800 objections to the plan for a new housing estate behind Park Road, consultants employed by developers M7, claim to have answered all the objections.
They now want North Somerset Council to give outline planning permission to the scheme for up to 100 houses on fields leading down to the River Yeo.
Congresbury Residents Action Group (CRAG) disputes the claim by consultants Lichfields and has written to the council’s planning office pointing out the anomalies in their case.
Said CRAG chair Mary Short: “This plan has attracted more objections in this village than any other. Apart from challenging their assumptions on specifics such as environmental and wildlife damage, transport and highways, we contend that this site itself is just not suitable for new housing.
“There was a scheme for building a quarter of the number houses on this site 20 years ago and a public inquiry turned it down on the grounds that it would destroy the traditional landscape of a pastoral scene leading down to the river.
“If 25 houses were though to damage a view of rural tranquillity, how much worse would four times that number be.?”
“Such a scheme would be viewed by future generations as nothing less than architectural vandalism. We cannot allow this to happen when there are other more suitable sites for development.”
Some of the claims by the consultants are almost laughable – they mention transport links like a “ghost” bus service along Brinsea Road and include reference to a village GP surgery which has been closed for nearly two years.
This is another example of a firm of land agents trying to make money by putting housing schemes where they are not wanted, are completely unsustainable in terms of employment opportunities and which if built would lead to more car use, more pollution and even greater traffic jams, said CRAG.
Car tyres slashed
A car has been damaged overnight on Sunday while parked on Chestnut Close, Congresbury. The owner was notified of the damage by a neighbour and upon checking all four tyres had been cut through.
Any information please contact the olice on 101 quoting reference number: 5222183264 stating NHW release. Or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
BLUEY Annual General Meeting to be held by ZOOM

The Annual General Meeting of Congresbury Community Transport will be held on Wednesday 3rd August at 7.00pm.
Due to the rising numbers of COVID19, the meeting will be held by Zoom.
To attend the meeting, please email BlueyBus@gmail.com for the Zoom joining instructions before 6pm on the 3rd August.
Appeal for crash witnesses
Police are appealing for witnesses and information after a motorcyclist was injured in a collision with a car in Congresbury.
It happened just after 9.10am on Sunday 10 July on the A370 at Rhodyate Hill near the Star pub.
A man riding a black Honda motorcycle was involved in a collision with a black Volvo XC60 which was turning onto the road.
The motorcyclist went to hospital by ambulance for treatment to serious injuries which are not believed to be life-threatening or life-changing.
Police are keen to hear from anyone who witnessed the collision or who has any dashcam or other footage of that stretch of road at the time. Please get in touch if you can help.
If you can help, please call 101 and give the call handler the reference number 5222169655, or complete our online appeals form.
Plans for new Rec Club finalised
Exciting new plans to rebuild Congresbury’s ageing Recreation Club pavilion have been submitted to North Somerset planners.
The plans involve a two-storey building on the same footprint as the existing club which is now 60 years old and in a poor state of repair.
These revised plans follow feedback from both North Somerset planners and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to initial pre-planning submissions made in November 2021.
The major change to the external appearance is the addition of a pitched roof, recommended by North Somerset.

The ECB supports a two-storey building with a viewing balcony because of the constraints of the site. This allows for 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.
The decision to press ahead with the redevelopment of the Rec Club was taken by the Trustees of The King George V Playing Fields when plans to build a new village hall on land adjacent to the Rec Club and tennis courts were halted through lack of funding despite the huge efforts of those involved.
Echoes of the original new village hall plan can be found in this redevelopment with the ground floor social area capable of being divided into two so both private and members’ use is possible at the same time.
The Trustees are submitting the plans for the new building which will serve the needs of the cricket, tennis and football clubs as well as the social members of the Recreation Club.
Chairman of the trustees Les Owen explained that the pandemic had caused some inevitable delays to the project. “We consulted villagers on our plans more than a year ago and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive.
“Since then we have spoken to North Somerset planners and been in regular contact with the ECB to make sure our plans are acceptable to them since they are potentially a key grant funder. I’m confident that the plan we now have will not only meet the needs of the sports and recreation clubs but also the whole village.”
The cricket club wants to provide first class facilities for its members with a particular focus on the development of women’s and girls’ cricket and improving facilities for juniors.
The club regularly hosts junior county matches but has had to turn down requests to host junior county girls’ matches because of the current inadequate changing facilities.
“New changing rooms are essential for us to meet the demands of the modern game, increase participation and attract the calibre of players we need,” said chairman Geoff Wilcock. ‘’Four flexible use changing rooms will enable us to grow our girls’ and women’s section and to increase the amount of girls’ and women’s cricket played through the ability to host away teams.’’
For the tennis club, which has ambitions to build a fourth ‘pay and play’ court, a new pavilion with more flexible changing rooms and enlarged social facilities would allow it to recruit more players while raising additional funds through more social events.
“We want to increase junior coaching, offer cardio tennis and walking tennis for injured, less mobile and older players, and provide disabled access to the courts with the potential for wheelchair tennis,” said chairman JL Hagger.
Stu Smith, chairman of the football club, believes that wider community participation in the Recreation Club “can only bring the football club to more people’s attention and would hopefully lead to more support in terms of volunteers, spectators or players and may even help in the formation of new teams.” A lack of volunteers means the club does not at present run junior teams but it is keen to reintroduce them as well as adding women’s and veterans’ teams.
Could bats stop Park Road development?
Winged cavalry in the shape of horseshoe bats have joined forces with CRAG in an effort to thwart the building of a new housing estate behind Park Road, Congresbury.
In a review of the developer’s Ecological Impact Survey, the Natural Environment Service office finds that more information is needed to comply with UK wildlife law and both national and local policy. The office states that before determining the outline application for 90 houses on land north of Mulberry Road, developer M7 must show clear proposals for “replacement horseshoe bat foraging habitat to be provided.”
If that was not enough to stop the development in its tracks, the review continues: “Lighting strategy to be provided demonstrating habitats retained as dispersal corridors and foraging habitat for horseshoe bats will remain unlit.”The office also wants to know how the developer will create a wildflower grassland on site; the location of a reptile receptor site, and the location of compensatory hedgerow planting.
The office concludes that: “An application should be refused (or withdrawn) if there is insufficient information to form an evidence-based assessment or if it cannot be demonstrated beyond reasonable scientific doubt that there will be no significant negative impacts on the SAC (Special Area of Conservation).It sounds to CRAG as if the best way to meet all these requirements, is to leave the field exactly as it is.
John Mills
Cricket club launches crowd-funding appeal
Congresbury CC is a thriving cricket club at the heart of the village and is a big part of the community. With the expansion of junior, women’s, girls and senior men’s cricket the training facilities are of vital importance to the club.
The club’s practice facilities/ nets are no longer fit for purpose, with one of the two original nets completely unusable. The current nets have been in place for well over a decade and they are dangerous to use and will be replaced with two brand new, state of the art bays. The club has worked hard over the last couple of years to secure various grants, including one from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).
However, the club will need to raise £10,000 to reach its target. The impact of a new net facility will be felt throughout the club and hopefully within the community. It will provide a safe environment for the junior teams to train and will give individuals the opportunities to improve their cricket. The nets are also vital for senior and women’s cricket as they will provide somewhere for players to practice while other matches are going on. There will also be opportunities for members of the public to book and make use of the modern facilities.
To help the club reach its target, please follow this link.