Various action groups have formed to respond to North Somerset’s Strategic plan for a new town of 2,500 new houses at Mendip Spring. For more information click here.
The Strawberry Line – 5 years on
Michael Greaves shares his reflections on the last 5 years of the Strawberry line…..
In 2013 I wrote a monthly account of my walks along the ‘Strawberry Line’ from The Old Station to Thatcher’s Cider Factory. Thanks to my Daughter lending me one of bikes, I have taken to the saddle and enjoyed a few leisurely rides along the ‘Old Railway Line’ and thought some might be interested in what’s happened in the last 5 years.
Looking back at my account of September 2013, we were remembering the last train that travelled from Wells to Yatton on 7th September 1963 – 50 years ago. I haven’t seen any accounts of the 55 years that have now elapsed, but a lot has happened in the last 5 years. Firstly, the Strawberry Line is as beautiful as ever. We are so fortunate to have this open space on our door step. I haven’t been as far as Thatcher’s Orchards for a few years and not since we lost our beloved Black Labrador ‘Minton’. He was the main reason I walked along the Strawberry Line every morning and evening. But, its pure magic and the views are spectacular with wildlife in abundance. Read more
Chess Club at the Library
Residents protest over change to housing plans
Angry villagers from Cobthorn Way, Wrington Lane and Verlands besieged Congresbury Parish Council meeting on Monday to raise their strong objections to the tactics adopted by Strongvox, who have taken over the development at the bottom of Cobthorn Way from Sunley Homes, the original developer.
Strongvox have applied to the planning authority to replace the original mix of 38 properties with 21 four-bedroomed houses, instead of a mix of 1, 2 and 3 bedroomed units, and the original four bungalows reduced to one. The 11 affordable units cannot be changed.
New Village Hall – pledge update
The deadline date for the pledge request has been extended to the end of September to give more time for the community to significantly increase the amount raised currently standing at £111,275.
We have had made some changes; the minimum amount for the shares pledge will be £100, and pledges can be made online via our website – http://www.congresburyvillagehall.co.uk/pledge-request-form/
We are in discussions with a potential investor willing to make a substantial pledge to help the project achieve its targets, subject to some conditions. If we can finalise this pledge it will be a significant boost to the project and help with our discussions with potential funders. But the community must reach the minimum £250,000 target.
Some 127 pledges have been received so there are well over 2,000 other people in the village who could pledge.
We are working through the feedback we have received and will issue further updates over the next couple of weeks.
WORKING TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE THIS HAPPEN
Community Funding for North Somerset
There are a number of North Somerset Grants Programmes currently open – click here for a full list of links.
Any problems with the links, all current grants programmes can be found at www.quartetcf.org.uk, click ‘applying for a grant’ then scroll down to North Somerset.
Village fete sizzling and successful
Tropical temperatures did not deter villagers from flocking to St. Andrew’s church paddock, for Congresbury village fete and Flower show, which was better than ever this year, with attractions for all ages.
The upbeat sound of the Cadbury Saxophones encouraged slackers to the event, and the paddock was filled with stalls, manned by different village groups, coupled with a bouncy slide and ball pool, and a display by Avon Owls.
The Morgan car display of handmade luxury vehicles, and the vintage cars displayed by Debbie Fortune, the Audi shortly destined for Le Mans, drew appreciative crowds, mainly men.
New Congresbury book soon to be published
This new Congresbury publication will soon be available. Launch date will be announced soon!
Wrington Lane Housing Proposal Update
Congresbury Residents Action Group (CRAG) has learned that a number of significant changes to Wrington Lane proposed by land agents Gladman are to be rejected by North Somerset Council’s highways department.
New hall fundraising tops £71,000
Plans for a new village hall and community centre in Congresbury will enter a critical phase in the next few months.
So far more than £71,000 has been raised towards the project with £8,200 raised last year. In the next couple of months, the project volunteers will issue an invitation to pledge money towards the build cost.
“We have set a target of the community investing £400,000 in the building; the absolute minimum that must be raised will be £250,000,” said Ian Sheppard on behalf of the project team.
New Village Hall
The New Village Hall / Community Centre project have changed their Facebook presence from a group to a page so that there is no longer a need to become a member. The page can been found using this link https://www.facebook.com/congresburyvillagehall/ or by searching for ‘Congresbury village hall page’ on Facebook.
Where have all the fish in the Yeo gone?
Micheal Greaves sets out to answer a question many have been asking.
Those who walk over the Millennium Bridge to either stroll around the Green or make their way to school or the shops will notice something missing. All the fish in the River Yeo have disappeared.
A chance discussion with a fisherman on Christmas Eve, provided the answer. The River Yeo has been over fished on a massive scale. Nothing to do with Brexit or the EU quotas but cormorants. These large black birds with a formidable beak and the ability to swim under water have cleaned out the river.
Knighthood for local scientist
Prof Sir Steve Sparks
Professor Steve Sparks CBE has been knighted in the New Year’s Honours for his services to volcano research and geology. Steve, 68, lives in Brinsea Road with his wife Ann and is Chaning Wills Professor of Geology in the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Bristol.
The knighthood is the latest recognition of the influence of Sir Steve’s work. In 2015 he was awarded the Vetlesen Prize in the USA. The prize is awarded for scientific achievement resulting in a clearer understanding of the Earth, its history, or its relations to the universe and is regarded as the Nobel Prize of earth sciences. At the time, Sir Steve was praised for his “highly original and insightful contributions” to the understanding of volcanic eruptions. “His research has had a huge impact globally,” said Prof. Alex Halliday, vice president of the Royal Society.
Sir Steve was elected to the Royal Society in 1988 when he was just 38.
Margaret Gosling remembered
It was an apt ending to Margaret Gosling’s life, which was filled with flowers, that her funeral on December 18 took place in St. Andrew’s church, bedecked with Christmas flowers and floral decorations.
Born in East Dundry, Margaret inherited her love of flowers from her mother, who was an accomplished flower arranger, and a co-founder of the Chew Valley Floral Decoration Society. After attending Dundry village school, Margaret started a family tradition by going to Redland High School for Girls. Leaving at 17, she took a job at Long Ashton Research Institute, involved in research on the growth of fruit, and, with day release to college, gained her Licentiate of Royal Institute in Chemistry.
Margaret met her future husband, Donald, at a dance in Yatton Assembly Rooms (now the Railway Hotel) and they were married in October 1961 in Dundry, setting up home in the house in the yard of the family timber business in Congresbury, where she continued to live until her death at the age of 76. Read more
Wreath making for the new village hall.
On 14th and 15th December, Julia Thyer held wreath making parties at her house which raised £425 for The New Village Hall Project. Liz English arranged the catering, and several people brought soups and puddings as well as greenery from their gardens. After mulled wine and lunch, Julia gave a talk and demonstration, then the guests made their own beautiful wreaths. Julia Koblizek decorated hers with real citrus tree leaves and dried oranges while Emma used honesty seed heads, Mary Faunt created a swirl effect with her stunning design. You may see some of them as you walk around the village.
Liz and Julia thanked everyone for their generous contributions which made each day so enjoyable.
Liz also organised the fun recital The Greatest Story Ever Told given by Tim Lewis which raised a whopping £602, enabling Liz to give a total of £1,027 to the new hall.
Volunteers needed by police
Avon & Somerset Police have set up a new support group and are looking for volunteers.
As a Volunteer in a Circle of Support and Accountability (‘Circle’), you’ll make an important contribution to preventing sexual abuse by helping reduce the risk of further sexual harm by a known perpetrator.
A Circle is a small group of carefully trained and selected Volunteers who meet regularly with an individual who has been convicted of sexual offences (or with harmful sexual behaviour). Volunteers hold the individual to account for their behaviour and support their safe reintegration into the community. They work closely with the responsible statutory organisations. Read more
A new name for The Hort Soc.
This evening, the members and committee of the Congresbury and District Horticultural Society voted to change the name of the society to Congresbury Gardening Club. The well attended AGM was followed by an American supper and raffle. If you are interested in joining our active and friendly club, click here for the form.
Dora Ross remembered
Older villagers will have many memories of Dora Ross, as she lived in Congresbury for the majority of her long life, and died only a week before her 90th birthday.
Report on Strongvox public hearing 21st Nov
More than 25 supporters of Congresbury Residents Action Group (CRAG) turned up for the official hearing into the Strongvox scheme to build 24 houses on land off Brinsea Road. The hearing at the Royal Hotel, Weston, also drew members of the village Parish Council and district councillor Tom Leimdorfer.Read More
Edith Wilson dies aged 82
Edith Wilson: a friend to many
Many Congresbury villagers were shocked to learn of the sudden death of Edith Wilson, at the age of 82, after only a short illness.
Despite her small stature, Edith was a vibrant and engaging personality, involved in many aspects of village life, always ready to volunteer when help was requested, and a loyal and caring friend.
Big Breakfast Success
What a great event we had today. The sun shone and we were very busy the whole morning with a jolly crowd enjoying a full English breakfast. There were cakes, jams and cards for sale, a guess the cake competition and a raffle. Thank you to all who contributed either by helping or by dining. A special thanks to the organiser, Kath Kemplay, who did a brilliant job taking over from the wonderful Julie Gosling this year. We raised £1,455 for Hospicecare, well done!
Remember to take all your unwanted clothes and items to the Hospicecare shop in Broad Street, and have a look for something nice while you are there.
See our Facebook page for more photos.
DVDs at Library
Paper Bead Making Course – a great success!
Ann Kelly came along to the Congresbury Community Library on Thursday 5th October to demonstrate how to make paper beads. The beads come in different shapes and sizes and can be made from any type of paper from magazines to wall paper. The group of ladies used wrapping paper, music scores, maps and a range of other materials to make their beads which can then be glazed and made into necklaces, bracelets or earrings. The session just flew by! Read more
Warning. Fraudsters posing as Police are targeting elderly and vulnerable
We are warning people in Avon and Somerset to be on their guard against a growing fraud.
A number of incidents have been reported to us where people have been duped out of cash and coerced into purchasing valuable items by fraudsters posing as police officers.
We advise relatives of the elderly and those who have elderly neighbours to make them aware of these scams and also report any instances where people may have been victims of the fraudsters.
A police officer, or any other official, will never ask for money or bank details over the phone or on the door-step or ask you to arrange to take them to a pre-arranged location. If you are unsure if the person is who they say they are, ask for identification such as their collar number and call 101 to check the name and the authenticity of the caller.
Always make sure you use a different phone or even get a relative or neighbour to call to ensure the fraudster has not blocked the phone line. It is always unwise to use any number they give you to call back.
Autumn Show Success
Thank you to the organisers of the Horticultural Society Autumn Show for a very successful day which was well attended. There will be a write-up of the show later. If you’d like to enter something next year, the Spring show is on Saturday 24th March. Click here for website.
See lots of photos on our Facebook page.
Firefighters save fish & chips shop
Firefighters from Yatton & Weston battled a blaze in Oldfield Fish & Chip Shop in the Precinct at lunchtime on Tuesday 5th September. They managed to get the fire under control without anyone being injured.
Crews were called to the fish and chip shop in the precinct to reports of a blaze on the ground floor of a two storey building. Once inside eight firefighters using breathing apparatus, a high pressure hose reel, a Co2 extinguisher and a dry powder extinguisher, battled to extinguish the fire.
The blaze caused damage to the ground floor takeaway, as well as smoke damage to the flat above. No one was injured in the blaze, which took two hours to bring under control, which is thought to have started accidentally.
It is not known when it will re-open.
Victories for Congresbury bowlers
Congresbury men celebrated winning the C&D Evening League for the first time in the modern era as well as gaining promotion from Somerset North1 to Premier 2 for 2018. To cap a remarkable season, the B team also clinched promotion from North 2 after a nail-biting victory over closest rivals Bristol B in the final game of the season.
The men were also finalists in the North Somerset KO Cup, losing to Victoria and reached the semi-final of the 4D competition, losing by just one point to eventual winners Clevedon Prom.
Congresbury Chronicle
Please look out for the latest issue of the Congresbury Chronicle that will have been delivered to your house recently. If you need a spare copy you can find them in the Library, in the Parish Office or in the Fish and Chip shop in the precinct.
Village hall project revised
The revised building with a lower roofline seen looking south with the cricket field to the right
Revised plans for a smaller new village hall and community centre for Congresbury are being drawn up to help offset rising costs.
The Congresbury New Village Hall Development Trust has been working with architects Stride Treglown on reducing the footprint of the proposed building, first mooted in late 2013.
Congresbury bowlers shine at Clevedon Tournament
Four of the seven finals at Clevedon’s annual bowls tournament were contested by Congresbury bowlers.
Clive Shipway and Roger Becker won the men’s pairs and Chris Wilcock, Jenny Byett and Angela Jones won the ladies’ triples. Dave Byett was runner-up in the men’s singles and Pat and Barry Baker were runners-up in the mixed pairs.
