Congresbury.net

Police are appealing for information following a catalytic converter theft in Congresbury.

On Monday 28 February, the catalytic converter was stolen from a black Honda Jazz while it was parked in the car park at Cadbury Garden Centre, close to the store entrance.

It’s believed the theft took place between the hours of 3.20 and 5.20pm.

Police would like to hear from anyone who may have witnessed the theft or noticed any suspicious activity.

If you can help, please call 101 and give the call handler the reference number 5222052711, or complete the online appeals form.

Catalytic converters contain precious metals such as rhodium, platinum and palladium. The sharp rise in the value of these metals over recent years has driven up the rate of catalytic converter theft.

They can take less than a minute for a thief to cut and remove.

Avon & Somerset Police are urging motorists to help protect their vehicles from becoming an easy target by taking these steps:

• Avoid parking half on the pavement, half on the road, as this may provide thieves with easier access to the underside of your vehicle.
• Park your vehicle in a locked garage whenever possible.
• Try to park in busy, well-lit areas, or areas covered by CCTV.
• Ask your garage to tell you your catalytic converter’s serial number, and make a note of it.
• Consider purchasing forensic liquid and using it to mark your catalytic converter.
• Place a protective covering over your catalytic converter.

For more information on catalytic converter theft visit Crimestoppers: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/keeping-safe/home-property-safety/catalytic-converter-theft

The Centre for Sustainable Energy is running an online consultation about renewable energy on behalf of North Somerset Council. The centre held a public workshop in January when residents supported the possible development on wind turbines and solar farm expansion.

Have your say on this in this short survey: https://communityenergyplan.commonplace.is/proposals/congresbury-and-puxton/step1

A tree has come down in the Community Café courtyard and the café will not be opening on Saturday February 19.

Storm Eunice has been declared a major incident by the Avon and Somerset Local Resilience Forum due to the potential for severe disruption.

A red weather warning has been issued by the Met Office for extremely strong winds between 7am and midday on Friday 18 February.

The storm has the potential to cause significant disruption and dangerous conditions along the length of the west coast of Somerset through the Bristol Channel and Severn Estuary into Gloucestershire.

The Environment Agency has issued a flood warning for Severn Beach and flood alerts for Porlock Weir, along the Severn between Avonmouth and Sharpness and along the Avon into Bristol. You can check your area’s risk of flooding on their website.

There is also a risk of 90mph gusts of wind causing coastal flooding and affecting trees and temporary structures. This could cause disruption to the road and rail network, flights, power and communications systems with a high likelihood that both the M4 Prince of Wales bridge and the M48 Severn Bridge will be closed.

Members of the public are asked to avoid travelling on Friday morning wherever possible and to follow weather and travel bulletins on local radio or check on local media websites.

Travel information will also be shared by National Highways, Travel Somerset, Travel West or you can check with your local public transport provider.

Emergency services, local authorities, National Highways and other voluntary and statutory agencies are on stand-by to put well-rehearsed plans into place.

You can report trees fallen into a major road to National Highways and on local roads to your local authority. 

Please call 999 if there is an immediate risk to safety such as a fallen live power cable. 

Links:

https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/

https://check-for-flooding.service.gov.uk/alerts-and-warnings

https://nationalhighways.co.uk/travel-updates/

https://travelwest.info/travel-updates

The Centre for Sustainable Energy held a public workshop on behalf of North Somerset Council on 23^rd January. At this, residents in Congresbury and Puxton gave conditional support to the possible development of wind turbines and the expansion of existing solar farms in the area. 

At the workshop, participants (all residents of the local area) gave conditional support for:

• Medium scale wind turbines (up to 1 megawatt in output and 100 metres in height), ground based solar panels and community scale battery storage by the M5 to the northwest of West Hewish, on the condition the turbines are community owned.
• The significant expansion of the four existing ground based solar farms within the two parishes with the potential to approximately treble their size.

Please share your thoughts on what was said and view a map of the suggestions in this short survey: https://communityenergyplan.commonplace.is/proposals/congresbury-and-puxton/step1

The workshop and this online consultation will inform North Somerset Council’s planning policies for renewable energy in the emerging Local Plan. The consultation will be open until Monday 14^th March. There also will be further opportunities to comment on the Council’s emerging planning policies. Please share the consultation with friends and family so they can feed in their thoughts. I have also attached a poster to help you spread the word.

If you have any questions please email communities@cse.org.uk OR call 0117 934 1400 for a paper summary and form.