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A Congresbury family has opened an online Christmas gift shop, offering local deliveries and no-quibble returns.

Ellie Munro, of Silver Street, says the shop previously traded as the Green Room boutique shop in Hay-On-Wye. She says: “We have a huge range of items that will make perfect gifts for your loved ones this Christmas. We can deliver our products safely and conveniently to people in our community and beyond, and we want especially to help those who cannot shop as we would all much prefer to during these difficult times. 

“We can offer local delivery, collection from Congresbury or Clevedon giving complete peace of mind to those who may be unaccustomed to online shopping.”

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Send us photos of any Christmas light displays in the village which have that wow! factor and we’ll put together an album to help keep us all smiling. You can send them on Facebook or on email editor@congresbury.net

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North Somerset council has issued advanced warning that Stock Lane, Langford (B3133 ) will be closed from Monday November 23 for four weeks to complete drainage improvement and carriageway resurfacing works. 

This will be to complete phase one of drainage works and will be for 24 hours a day.

Phase two of the drainage works are anticipated to start on Monday 4 January for two weeks and will also be for 24 hours a day. 

Phase Three, surfacing works, are anticipated to begin on Monday 18 January and last for five days working 8pm to 6am. 

Stock Lane will be closed from its junction with the A38 to its junction with Langford Road. Diversions will be in place.

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Police are asking motorists to be vigilant following a recent increase in thefts of catalytic converters from vehicles.

Catalytic converters are attractive to thieves due to the current high prices of the metals inside them, and because they are relatively quick and easy to steal. Hybrid cars such as the Toyota Prius, which have more valuable catalytic converters, are particularly likely to be targeted.

During the past six months, Avon and Somerset police have seen a spike in these types of thefts at Park and Rides in North Somerset, Bath, Bristol and Taunton. Neighbourhood police are carrying out targeted patrols of the affected areas.

Police have also been visiting local scrap merchants to remind them of their responsibilities. Under the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013, dealers must request photographic identification and proof of address from people selling scrap to them. The law also bars cash payments for scrap.

If you see someone acting suspiciously around a vehicle, report it to police on 101. Ideally, provide a vehicle registration/make/model and colour, and a description of the suspects.

If you witness a crime in progress, call 999.

You can help to deter thieves by:

• Parking your vehicle in a secure garage overnight or somewhere that makes it difficult for thieves to access its underside
• Parking where neighbours and passers-by could see anyone tampering with the vehicle
• Installing motion activated security lighting or CCTV
• Marking your catalytic converter with a commercially-available etching kit or fitting a ‘cat’ clamp or alarm. This can also help police trace the item and prove a theft, helping us bring offenders to justice.

You can find more crime prevention advice on the Avon and Somerset website.

If you are home alone and feel vulnerable, whenever you answer the door remember to LOCK, STOP, CHAIN, CHECK.

LOCK: secure all your other outer doors as the person at the door may intend to distract you while an accomplice gets in through a back door
STOP: think about whether you’re expecting anyone
CHAIN: put the door chain on or look through the window or spyhole to see who’s there
CHECK: ask for an identity card and examine it carefully – you can always tell the caller to come back another time when someone will be with you.

Do you have thoughts on your local police service?

Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Sue Mountstevens wants to hear your views about police and crime services in your community.

Please see the attached document and follow the link to take the survey, which will help the police understand which issues matter most to you.

Take the survey by clicking on this link

The new North Somerset Local Plan 2038

We’re in the early stages of preparing a new local plan for North Somerset. The North Somerset Local Plan will guide housing, jobs and business investment, transport, community facilities and supporting infrastructure in the area until 2038.

It will also shape investment and funding for the infrastructure which will support new homes, workplaces and community facilities for the next 15 years and beyond.

The way we live our lives has changed over the last 15 years and will continue to change in many ways. The Covid-19 pandemic has made us all think about how we plan for the future.

This first stage of Local Plan consultation focuses on the challenges we believe we face in North Somerset and the issues the plan needs to address:

• the climate emergency and the need to work towards a low carbon future
• job creation and the allocation of space for business
• how to provide the right type and number of houses and create new communities
• creating high quality, sustainable places
• protecting important green and blue spaces as well as the character of existing villages and towns
• the future role of the Green Belt.

An online consultation will run for the six-week period Wednesday 22 July to Wednesday 2 September 2020 at www.n-somerset.gov.uk/newlocalplan

The online consultation will be supported by regular updates across the council’s social media platforms. There will be many other opportunities to get involved and have your say but the time to really influence the development of the new Local Plan for North Somerset is now.

The responses received to this summer’s consultation will guide the next stage of creating the plan, which will focus on the choices around the location of future development.

Have your say and help shape North Somerset’s future.

Thank-you
Planning Policy Team

The Police have asked for information about this burglary which took place between 11:50pm on 24th and 00:20am on 25th April.

The offenders gained access by forcing the south porch medieval door and stealing two boxes of Foodbank produce before entering the church and departing with nativity figurines. The perpetrators were seen both entering and leaving the building carrying boxes.

The Police would like anyone with information about this incident to contact them by calling 101 quoting reference number: 5220091185, or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

A short history from Michael Greaves about the marking of the village’s boundary can be found here.