Police – Warning as Counterfeit £20 Notes Circulating
The police are urging residents and businesses to be vigilant following reports counterfeit £20 notes are in circulation in Taunton.
Officers have received reports the counterfeit notes have been used in separate transactions at two outlets and are now issuing advice on how to spot them.
The first incident was reported at a filling station on Priory Bridge Road at around 7.30pm on Thursday 29 January and at a retail outlet in East Street at around 10.35am on Thursday 5 March.
Similar incidents have occurred in Bristol and South Gloucestershire, and we’ve also received reports counterfeit notes have been used to purchase items which have been advertised for sale on social media selling sites.
PC Luke Elliot, officer in the case, said: “We are aware a small number of counterfeit notes have entered circulation, and we want to warn businesses and the public to remain vigilant and follow our advice to prevent more people becoming victims of fraud.
“A full and thorough investigation into how these notes have entered circulation is being carried out, and we are issuing advice so people can be confident they’re accepting genuine payments for goods and services they are providing.”
If cash transactions are necessary, please follow the advice in the attached PDF.
Attachments:
Police – Burglary Advice
Don’t turn your home into a gold mine. Burglars are targeting households for gold, jewellery, cash and even stealing whole safes.
Do what you can to make your home a harder target:
Please see the attached advice.
Attachments:
Land At OS Plot 5134 & Churchill Cars Ltd Honeyhall Lane Congresbury BS49 5JX
| Date | Thu 29 Jan 2026 |
| Application Type | Change of use |
| Development | Proposed demolition of 2no. existing buildings; change of use of the car workshop to Use Class E (g)(iii) Industrial processes use and erection of 1no. self-build dwelling and detached carport with associated access, landscaping and ecological enhancements |
King George V Jubilee Playing Fields Stonewell Drive Congresbury BS49 5DW
| Date | Thu 15 Jan 2026 |
| Application Type | Tree Works |
| Development | TPO 150 – London Plane – crown reduce by 3m, crown lift up to 3m from ground level to reduce nuisance of low hanging branches. Impacting on neighbouring property, therefore we would request to reduce the crown proportionally to maintain tree symmetry. Tree was previously reduced 2015. |
Unit 1 Bridge Farm Square Congresbury BS49 5DF
| Date | Wed 14 Jan 2026 |
| Application Type | Full Planning Permission |
| Development | Redevelopment of existing single storey barbers shop to create 1no. dwelling over two floors and commercial unit with Use Class E(c)(iii) on part of ground floor. Erection of a detached bike/bin/recycling store and creation of 1no.off-road parking space. |
YACWAG January 2026 Newsletter
Dashcam Appeal Following Death of Man on A38
Police are appealing for witnesses and anybody with information relating to an incident on the A38 which resulted in the death of a pedestrian this morning to come forward.
A man was found critically injured by a member of the public on the A38 Bridgwater Road, Winscombe, between Fox Lane and Fullers Lane, at around 12:10am this morning (Friday 30 January).
A man in his mid-fifties sadly died of his injuries at the scene and his next of kin have been informed. The road remains closed while investigations continue.
Officers remain at the scene of the incident alongside other emergency services and intelligence checks have been carried out.
Police are in the early stages of an investigation to establish what happened. At this stage it is unclear how the man sustained his injuries and are keeping an open mind whether it was potentially a result of a collision with a vehicle and the driver failed to stop.
We are therefore appealing to any witnesses and those with information which could assist our enquiries to come forward.
We would particularly like to hear from any drivers who may have been in the area at the time with relevant dashcam footage, between 11:45pm and 12:20am this morning, to come forward.
We would also like to hear from anybody who saw anything suspicious at the time of the incident, or in the moments immediately before or afterwards, to contact us.
Anybody who can assist with our investigation is urged to contact us on 101 quoting reference number 5226026947.
You can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers 100 per cent anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via their Anonymous Online Form.
No personal details are taken, information cannot be traced or recorded, and you will not go to court nor must speak to police when contacting Crimestoppers.
Motorcyclist Injured in Collision on B3133
Police are appealing for witnesses after a collision involving a Peugeot van and a Lexmoto motorbike in North Somerset.
Emergency services were called to the B3133 Kenn Road, between Yatton and Clevedon, at about 6.30pm on Thursday 29 January. The collision occurred a short distance away from the Lampley Road junction.
The motorcyclist sustained serious potentially life-changing injuries and remains in hospital.
The van driver remained at the scene and has assisted officers with their enquiries.
Police are keen to hear from anyone who witnessed what happened or has relevant dashcam footage of the incident or shortly before.
If you can help our enquiries please call 101 and quote reference number 5226026759.
“Run Fatboy Run” – Support Local Young People
Matt Thomson, our vicar at St. Andrew’s Church is running (and walking) the Alicante Half Marathon to raise money for the Stewart Dewer Fund. Please see below for options on how to support him!
Land To The West And East Of The Strawberry Line Brinsea Road Congresbury
| Date | Mon 05 Jan 2026 |
| Application Type | Application to vary conditions |
| Development | Section 73 application to vary conditions 2, 6, 9 and 23, alongside the removal of conditions 29 and 30 attached to planning permission 25/P/0809/FUL (Ground mounted photovoltaic solar farm together with Battery Energy Storage, associated equipment, infrastructure and ancillary works with new substation off Drove Way) to allow for additional solar arrays to be sited within the area labelled ‘Field 6’ alongside confirmation that the approved substation is not required to be decommissioned alongside the rest of the project after 40 years from first export |
Congresbury History Group Spring 2026 Programme
Congresbury Brownies – need URGENT help.
Without a new leader coming forward, there will be no Congresbury Brownies after July.
Update from Tessa Munt, MP
Three Bays Barn Dolemoor Lane Congresbury BS49 5ED
| Date | Tue 09 Dec 2025 |
| Application Type | Certificate of lawfulness |
| Development | Certificate of lawfulness to establish the building operations relating to the construction of a two storey stone building for use as a dwellinghouse. |
Greenacre Brinsea Lane Congresbury BS49 5JN
| Date | Mon 24 Nov 2025 |
| Application Type | Full Planning Permission |
| Development | Proposed erection of a single storey rear and side extension and conversion of the existing integral garage. Raising of the existing garage roof, new front porch and associated demolitions. |
Beachams Barn Iwood Farm Lane Congresbury BS40 5AQ
| Date | Mon 24 Nov 2025 |
| Application Type | Change of use |
| Development | Retrospective change of use of land from agricultural to additional garden land for Beacham’s Barn and associated works, the retrospective erection of existing workshop and the proposed erection of a home office following removal of the existing shipping containers. |
Norton Lodge Brinsea Batch Congresbury BS49 5JP
| Date | Wed 12 Nov 2025 |
| Application Type | Full planning permission |
| Development | Proposed erection of a single storey side extension. |
30 Silverstone Way Congresbury BS49 5ES
| Date | Mon 27 Oct 2025 |
| Application Type | Full planning permission |
| Development | Demolition of the existing conservatory and proposed erection of a replacement conservatory. |
Oak House Old Weston Road Congresbury BS49 5ED
| Date | Thu 23 Oct 2025 |
| Application Type | Tree works |
| Development | T1 is an English Oak (Quercus robur). We will reduce the crown by approximately 1-2m to manage crown size and maintain a balanced and aesthetically pleasing form and remove deadwood.We will thin the crown by approximately 10-20% to decrease crown density. We will lift the crown to approximately 2.5-3m to create more clearance and create a uniform canopy skirt. |
Land North Of Mulberry Road Congresbury
| Date | Wed 22 Oct 2025 |
| Application Type | Reserved matters application for appearance, landscape, layout and scale for the construction of 70 homes |
| Development | Reserved matters application for appearance, landscape, layout and scale for the construction of 70 homes, public open space (including play space), landscaping, drainage works, pedestrian, cycle and vehicular links and associated infrastructure pursuant to 22/P/0459/OUT (Outline planning application for the erection of up to 70no. dwellings (including 30% affordable housing), public open space, children’s play area, landscaping, sustainable urban drainage system and engineering works, with vehicular access off Mulberry Road. All matters reserved except for means of access. (Appearance, landscaping, layout and scale reserved) |
The Vicarage Station Road Congresbury BS49 5DX
| Date | Wed 24 Sep 2025 |
| Application Type | Tree Works |
| Development | Western Red Cedar (1) – Reduce height by 3m. Raise low canopy to 4.5m above road and 2.5m above ground level rest of canopy. Cut back on West side to give 2.5m clearance from roof. Cut back from street light on North side to give 1.5m clearance to light head. Reason – Canopy below statutory height. Canopy close to roof and shading neighbours house. Cherry (6) – Shorten branches on East side by 1m to reshape crown. Remove deadwood. Reason – Side stem over school entrance on West side recently removed as decayed under 5 day notice. Decayed main stem. End weight reduction on East side of tree required to rebalance tree. Sycamore’s (11,14,17,24 & 25) – Remove deadwood 5cm or above in diameter. Reason – Safety of public |
Land North Of Mulberry Road Congresbury BS49 5HD
| Date | Mon 22 Sep 2025 |
| Application Type | Request to discharge condition |
| Development | Request to discharge condition 20 (Written Scheme of Investigation) from application 22/P/0459/OUT. |
Update from Tessa Munt, MP for Congresbury
Congresbury Youth Partnership – Code Club
Congresbury Youth Partnership run a Code Club for young people aged 8 to 16 on Mondays in term time from 3.30pm to 5.30pm. Would be coders can drop in at any time after their school day finishes, and get involved with projects using SCRATCH and PYTHON coding languages and simple electronics.
These sessions are not like school; they are full of fun, hands on and providing very practical skills.
Interest from adult volunteers with any basic IT skills who could support young people would be very welcome. We would especially like to hear from young people looking for Duke of Edinburgh scheme placements meeting criteria for volunteering or skills units. Contact us at congresburycodeclub@gmail.com, or drop in to Congresbury Youth Club during Monday sessions.
Yeo Meads High Street Congresbury BS49 5JA
| Date | Fri 08 Aug 2025 |
| Application Type | Tree works |
| Development | T1 yew – dismantle yew to leave a 2m stem to regenerate. T2 yew – reduce crown over pub garden by up to 1.5m to rebalance both trees are undermined by badger activity and have become unstable. |
Congresbury History Group: Plea to Congresbury residents!
We have unfortunately lost our website and cannot retrieve any of the information contained in it. We need someone to help us who can set up a new website for us.
Is there anyone in the village who can help us please?
Please contact Chris Short on 01934 833764 or email chriscongar@hotmail.com
Thank you!
Congars Hub (formally Congars Cafe) Events
The Yeo Vale Neighbourhood Policing Team
Sing & Smile Sessions – Yatton
