| Security advice from our PCSO’s |
| Please note that the 3 burglaries in Congresbury were all committed at the rear of the properties. All 3 had side gates but unfortunately they were unlocked and allowed easy access. This is the same method used in other villages in North Somerset. I recommend that all side gates are locked / bolted top and bottom and preferably solid in structure. Please make it as hard as possible for opportunist thieves to succeed. If you would like any specific Crime Prevention advice please contact: PCSO Marie Broomfield – 8879@avonandsomerset.police.uk or PC Paul Morris – 2955@avonandsomerset.police.uk |
Village burglaries
Public Consultation
YACWAG Newsletter
CRAG’s report from Parish Council meeting
CRAG was well-represented at Monday’s meeting (19 August) of Congresbury Parish Council’s planning committee. The agenda item which attracted CRAG members was the appeal by Gladman to the Planning Inspectorate against North Somerset Council’s rejection of the scheme for changes to Wrington Lane.
Committee chair Michael Greaves summarised the council’s objection to the scheme, stating that Wrington Lane was totally inadequate for more traffic, a situation that would be exacerbated by the development at Cobthorn Way. Read more
Update on Congresbury Residents Action Group
Click here for update on CRAG
You can email comments by 4 September to: West1@planninginspectorate.gov.uk.
To comment online, go to:https//acp .planninginspectorate.gov.uk. All communications must include the appeal reference – APP/D0121/W/19/3232479.
Celebratory Tea for Tom and Di
A celebratory party was held on Sunday at the Old School Rooms, to thank Tom Leimdorfer and Di Hassan for the immense amount of work they have done for the village. Tom was Ward Councillor for 16 years and Di was a parish councillor for 10 years, 6 of which she served as chair. They steered the community through some very difficult times and were thanked during a tea party of over 100 people. Liz Greaves arranged the planting of trees for the occasion and the party processed to the Community orchard and paddock at the Milllennium Green, where they were photographed at the field maple for Tom, and the Quince for Di. It was a very memorable and happy occasion for all who attended and just shows what a special village this is.
We wish Stuart Treadway (the new ward councillor) and Arthur Hacking (the new chair of the parish council) the very best in their endeavours.
Somerset Methodist Circuit Spring Harvest 2020 in Minehead
Congresbury Methodist Church is hoping to take a group from the Circuit to Spring harvest at Minehead for 4 nights from 13th – 17th April 2020. The theme next Easter will be ‘Unleashed – the Acts Church for Today’. Over the 5 days there will be a programme of worship, speakers, workshops, bible study and leisure activities, including full use of all the Butlins entertainment on sight, including the swimming pool and rides! Read more
Fish return to the River Yeo
Three years ago the River Yeo lost most of its fish to cormorants using the river in Congresbury as a fast food outlet on their way to Blagdon Reservoir.
Once again, the miracle of nature has happened and fish are back in our river. Over the Easter weekend we were blessed with sunshine and clear water in the River Yeo. Looking over the Millennium Bridge the sunshine illuminated the river bed and to my delight and surprise, there were shoals of roach! Some of the fish appeared to be 12 inches long, but there were dozens of smaller fish enjoying the fine weather and no doubt the water insects emerging from their winter hibernation.
The River Yeo was once one of the best rivers in the area for coarse fishing and several fishing clubs leased fishing rights for their members. We even had a trout fishing club who stocked the river from the Tumbling Weir to Iwood Bridge. Regretfully, poaching and predators such as minx and cormorants as well as pollution brought about their demise.
As the old saying goes ‘One swallow does not make a summer’ but a few fish might mean our river is returning to its former glory. Please don’t tell the cormorants.
Michael Greaves
Bristol Airport’s new biometric trial
New SelfPassTM biometrics solution from Collins Aerospace among the first to connect multiple airlines, airports and countries. A biometric, single-enrollment identification streamlines the passenger’s outbound and return journey at multiple airports
Passengers traveling through England’s Bristol Airport and Ireland’s Dublin Airport can look forward to a new streamlined journey with Collins Aerospace’s SelfPass biometric solution. The solution, now being trialed at Bristol Airport and Dublin Airport, is believed to be the first biometric solution that enables passengers to use a single enrollment in multiple countries Click here to read full report
Calling all knitters & crocheters!
Alterknit Universe Wool Shop on the corner of Main Road & Bishops Road, Cleeve, are involved with knitting teeny hats for the Innocent Smoothies, which gives 25p for each bottle wearing a hat, to Age UK. The shop is a collection point for them. They are also looking for knitters & crocheters to knit toy animals to raise money for PDSA & Holly Hedge. Pop along to their shop for more information. So …. get out those needles!
Peewits on the Strawberry Line
The recent snow and heavy rain has flooded many of the fields. The saturated ground must force worms and other grubs to the surface providing a good meal for the ‘Peewits’. We were lucky, as they chose the water logged fields along the Strawberry Line between Congresbury and Churchill. In times past they were a regular winter visitor and it was not unusual to see large flocks circling the low lying fields. But not for some time have I seen this number. An unexpected and most welcome treat.
Wassail at the Millenium Orchard
On Saturday 12th January, 2019 at 3pm more than 50 adults, children and pets met at the Youth Club building by the Riverside Car Park to take part in the third village Wassail. The crocodile of folk who were singing and making lots of noise to ward off evil spirits, paraded across the Millenium Green, over the bridge to the orchard. They were led by the Green Man (Brian Kemplay) and the music of Dave Byett with his squeeze box. After a speech by the Green Man the three Congresbury Beauty apples were danced around 3 times in a clockwise direction by villagers making as much noise as possible. The trees were then blessed and two young helpers put toast on the trees & sprinkled cider at their base to encourage new growth and fruit.
Afterwards the revellers returned to the Youth Club to enjoy hot apple juice from the Orchard and a variety of apple cakes made by volunteers from Congresbury Youth Partnership.
Editorial & photographs by Peter Hughes & Bryony Goodesmith
New surgery gets go-ahead
A new doctors’ surgery will be built in Smallway, Congresbury, replacing the Yatton and Congresbury facilities.
North Somerset planners approved amended plans this week having previously turned down the application despite council officers recommending approval.
The new surgery will be on land opposite Cadbury Garden Centre.
The original plans had been refused because of concerns over access, particularly pedestrian access.
Councillors approved the plans, noting that if it went to appeal, they would lose.
Mendip Vale Medical Group looks after 44,000 patients as a result of merging with the Riverbank Medical Centre in Worle and Sunnyside Surgery in Clevedon. Its modern Langford facility was built in 2013, and the purpose-built St Georges site opened in 2012.
Avon & Somerset PCC blog
Avon & Somerset Police & Crime Commissioner Sue Mountstevens has her own blog ….
https://www.avonandsomerset-pcc.gov.uk/Your-PCC/PCC-Blog/PCC-Blog.aspx?medium=email&source=govdelivery
Congresbury badminton player in European Seniors Championships
Congresbury resident & retired Backwell School teacher, Cathy Alexander, has just returned from competing in the badminton European Senior Championships in Guadalajara, Madrid. Cathy who plays for St Katherine’s Club in Pill, and her partner Penny Shears (Beaufort Badminton Club, Bristol) were representing England for the first time. The pair had to play at least four qualifying tournaments around the country – one of which had to be The Nationals or All England. The top 6 pairs were then selected to play in the Championships. Cathy & Penny got through to the quarter finals beating pairs from France, Germany, Finland and Sweden. They fought hard in the quarter final, 21-18 & 21-19, – only just losing to the No. 3 seeds from Denmark.
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
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.
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.
MILLENIUM GREEN MANAGEMENT – VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
The Parish Council has been the Sole Trustee of the Millennium Green since May 2012 and is assisted in the day to day running by a Management Group. The 3 officers of that group namely Chair, Secretary and Treasurer have stood down at the AGM held last Monday and no nominations were received from the floor of the meeting. In order to help the Trustee make an informed decision on the future management of the Green if there are any volunteers to take on one of these roles could you please inform the Parish Clerk by Fri 4th August.
For further information please contact Di Hassan on 01934 876454 or Liz Greaves on 01934 838802.
Neighbourhood Watch News
Members of the Neighbourhood Watch scheme are invited to contact the Avon and Somerset Neighbourhood Watch Association and start the discussion around the fantastic opportunities they could bring to further develop the partnership between local policing teams and NHW.
Library Coffee Morning
New village hall / community centre revised plans
Due to the significant increase in construction costs the Development committee took the decision that we needed to reduce the overall build costs. We are working with our Architects Stride Treglown on a revised plan as part of the next stage of the project. The initial draft we showed at the coffee morning would result in a reduction of 27% in the footprint but allow for future expansion. The main reduction comes from reducing the size of the main hall, which would still accommodate 260 (Memorial hall – 150, Old School Rooms – 120).
The reduced footprint will still mean we would meet our vision of providing a multi-use quality building to meet the needs of the village.
We are now reaching the stage of looking at the fine detail of the design, the finishes etc. and are looking for people to be involved in helping us get this right first time. We be at the village fete on Saturday, come and have a chat.
Police Notice
Over the past couple of weeks a burglary occurred at High Street, Congresbury. Access gained into the property but there are no details as to any items stolen.
SYLVIA JAGO
Villagers representing facets of Sylvia Jago’s 84 years of activity were among the congregation in St. Andrew’s Church, Congresbury, for a celebration of her life on April 4th.
Burglary Alert!
During the evening of 10 April a burglary occurred at a farm at Iwood Lane, Congresbury. Entry was gained by breaking window and items stolen include cash, laptops and a radio.