Just a reminder that the closure date for submitting comments on the above consultation is approaching.
Several parish residents have complained that it is proving impossible for them to make complex comments on the on-line consultation form. For example, many residents believe that the current proposals would adversely affect the Post Office, the School and parking spaces but the on-line form does not allow any feedback about this.
I have been informed that the best way to make such comments is to email Kate Hobson, Somerlink Project Coordinator for Bath & North East Somerset at Kate_Hobson@bathnes.gov.uk.
Please pass this information on to anyone who you think might wish to know.
Sue GrimesChair, Publow with Pensford Parish Council
There was a large attendance and a lot of interest from local residents at this event. Some parish councillors and our ward councillor were present. Residents asked a large number of questions and expressed concerns.
The main item of direct relevance to our parish concerned Pensford Bridge. The proposal is to install two upgraded bus shelters (including real time information and seating), a shared mobility option (car club or bike hire, for example), widened and improved footways, improved pedestrian crossing points over Church Street and Publow Lane and a cycle stand.
Publow with Pensford Parish Council will be submitting an official response to the proposals and we will consider this at our meeting on 10th March. We invite feedback from local residents and others to assist us with our response. If you would like to make your views known to the Parish Council please send them by email to chair@publow-with-pensford-pc.gov.uk by latest 5th March.
Please include the following information:
Name: _______________________________
Postcode: _______
Phone No: ____________________
Email: ________________________________
Do you support or oppose the scheme planned for Pensford?
Your comments
Thank you
Sue GrimesChair, Publow with Pensford Parish Council
MP Watch are hosting a public meeting regarding Flood Risk in the Chew Valley at The Space (above the library) in Keynsham on Thursday 13 March at 7pm. Speakers include representatives of The Environment Agency, Simon Hunter of BART (Bristol Avon Rivers Trust) plus Jim Dale an expert meteorologist. BANES emergency planning team have been invited. Admission is free, however there will be a retiring collection to cover costs.
The Parish Council are looking for a dedicated passionate person who would like to take on the Footpaths Officer position under the direction of the Parish Council. You will be required to keep the Footpaths in the Parish of Publow with Pensford and Woollard open and clear to walk.
The position is completely flexible. All we ask is that the Footpaths are kept open!
If you are interested please e-mail Clerk: Helen Richardson clerk@publow-with-pensford-pc.gov.uk
All Applications should be received by Monday 16th March 2025.
Short Lane, Pensford will be temporarily closed from the A37 New Road up to Hillcrest to enable contractors to carry out repairs to a damaged wall from the 24th February 2025 for a maximum period of 6 months.
As a result of changes to national policy and the government’s proposed revised housing figure aimed at tackling the country’s acute housing crisis and stimulating economic growth, Bath & North East Somerset Council is resetting its Local Plan. This document explains why they need to reset the Local Plan, what it means, and outlines some broad approaches to accommodating new housing, employment development, and supporting infrastructure across the District. https://www.bathnes.gov.uk/local-plan-reset-feb-2025
Bath & North East Somerset Council is also running another call for sites to hear your suggestions as to potential sites they should consider for development for housing and economic uses. The call for sites consultation closes 24th March 2025.
If you have any queries relating to this consultation, please email planning_policy@bathnes.gov.uk.
Publow with Pensford Parish Council approved its response to the Bristol Airport Draft Final Master Plan Consultation 2024 at its meeting on January 13th 2025 and this has now been submitted. The full text is here:
Publow with Pensford Parish Council’s response to Bristol Airport Draft Final Master Plan Consultation 2024 to increase Airport capacity to 15 mppa
It is just over two years since planning consent was granted by Inspectors for growth of Bristol airport to 12 mppa and Publow with Pensford Parish Council objects to the new proposal for further growth to 15 mppa.
The key reasons for our objection are summarised below:
Location of the Airport
Publow with Pensford Parish consists of mainly quiet rural villages in a conservation setting, washed over by the green belt. The parish is located in the Bath and North East Somerset council area, approximately 6.5 miles to the east of the airport.
The proposal is for incremental growth from 10 mppa, then 12 mppa rising to 15 mppa with yet another 5 mppa proposed sometime in the 2030s. If approved, this further expansion would likely have a significant detrimental effect on our Parish and residents by way of an increase in flights, traffic, noise, and night flights.
Transport:
We do not believe further airport expansion is sustainable. There is no escaping the fact that Bristol Airport is situated in a rural location with a poor transport network, well outside the Bristol city limits. The entire transport network and infrastructure surrounding it is highly inadequate to serve a major airport. In particular, there is no rail link, no mass transit system, no dual carriageway, and no direct main road link to the M5.
A large proportion of airport-related traffic movements are to/from the City of Bristol, North Somerset and parts of Somerset Council area, using the largely single carriageway A38. The Master Plan does not extend beyond road improvements to the A38 in the immediate vicinity of the airport. However, the effects of this expansion will be felt well beyond the immediate vicinity. The wider network of roads would need significant improvement if it is to cope with the increase in traffic arising from growth to 15 mppa.
There is no direct main road from Pensford to the airport. A large proportion of airport related traffic already passes though village of Pensford on the A37 and through the other Chew Valley villages in Bath and North East Somerset using the B3130. This is not the “official” through route, but there is no deterrent to out of area traffic using the B3130.
There is no direct public transport from Pensford to the airport. The only viable way to travel to the airport from Pensford is by car or taxi (33 minutes). The only public transport alternative is by bus and coach via Bristol (1 hour 31 minutes).
There is no direct public transport from Bath to the airport. The quickest way to travel from Bath to the airport is by car or taxi (36 minutes). The only public transport alternative is by train and bus via Bristol (56 minutes).
It therefore stands to reason any airport expansion will generate a lot more traffic in and through our area from people travelling to the airport by car or taxi.
Pensford village in particular already suffers from significant airport related road traffic movements and we would expect this parish to experience an increased traffic impact from any airport expansion.
The main signposted access road between Pensford and the airport is via the main A38 route to the A4174 Avon Ring Road and A37. In the absence of duelling, any significant growth in passengers will mean that the main A38 route to the A4174 will remain at capacity and heavily congested. More and more cars travelling to and from the airport from the City of Bath and the M4 to the East and South East will therefore undoubtedly seek a rat-run via rural B roads to avoid the busy main A roads.
A considerable volume of airport traffic already takes a short cut through the B3130 turning off the A37 at Belluton. This is a substandard, narrow road and is unsuitable for any increase in traffic.The “Belluton Narrows” are difficult to navigate at the best of times and even existing levels of traffic can experience blockages here. The B3130 starts in Belluton, to the north of Pensford and runs from the A37 through to a point near Stanton Drew, (site of the second largest stone circle in England after Avebury), then through the villages of Chew Magna and Winford to the A38 just north of the airport. The road through Chew Magna, in particular, is continually clogged during periods of heavy traffic. Any increase in airport related traffic along the B3130 would present a health and safety risk to the numerous cyclists that use this road. Traffic travelling to and from the airport can be “impatient” and fast moving and often exceeds the speed limit. Cars often pass each other dangerously on this stretch of road.
We would expect the A37 to Wells and B3013, which pass through our parish, to suffer from increased through traffic arising from any airport expansion. The substandard A37 at Pensford Hill is already very busy with heavy traffic and it is regularly blocked due to being too narrow for heavy vehicles traveling in opposite directions to pass each other side by side. This section would potentially experience an increase in airport related through traffic arising from an increase in out of area airport related vehicles arriving from the east and the south.
Noise:
Publow with Pensford Parish objects to the proposed increase in flight movements to 15 mppa and we believe that the number of flights should remain at their current level.
The Airport is situated in a rural area, the increase in total aircraft movements from 85,990 to 100,000, is a 16.3% increase which will take away any tranquillity left after the expansion to 12 mppa and will have an adverse impact on residents’ health and well-being.
Our parish is likely to experience increased noise arising from any further airport expansion. Pensford village in particular already suffers from aircraft noise. It should be noted that it is already possible to hear the reverse thrust from planes in parts of Pensford after they land at the airport on a summer’s day when the wind blows in our direction. This can only get worse if the plans for more and larger planes go ahead.
The existing aircraft flight path and turning zone runs directly above Pensford village (see image below). Noise is particularly experienced during easterly wind conditions when planes take off into the wind and head out to the east. This results in a high concentration of planes climbing and turning for lengthy periods directly above our parish, which is particularly disturbing in the early hours of the morning. Any expansion is likely to further increase the noise and disturbance experienced by our residents. It is accepted that this could be alleviated by making changes to the flight path, but our requests to do so have been refused in the past.
Night flights:
Publow with Pensford Parish oppose any change to the night movement limit and we believe that the limit should remain at its current level.
A 25% increase in night flights of 1,000 within an annual limit of 5,000 would be detrimental to our residents. The Master Plan states that the vast majority would arrive between 23.30 and 02.00 hrs. This would mean a flight approximately every five minutes.This is unacceptable. The limit of 4,000 flights per year should remain.
There should be no arrival or departure movements within the hours of 02.00 – 06.00 hrs.
There is no mention of increased noise levels from the Dreamliner, A321X LR and Airbus A350 from the extra fuel capacity required for long haul. These aircraft are large and have a higher maximum take-off weight. These flights should not arrive or depart within the night time movement limit.
The Parish Councils Airport Association (PCAA) has responded to the request for comments concerning the Scoping Opinion that determines the scope of an Environmental Impact Assessment for a future application for a proposed expansion of Bristol Airport to accommodate 15 million passengers per annum and associated works.
The response can be viewed using the link below, together with those of all the Parish Councils who responded to the consultation:
(Objects) Comment submitted date: Tue 17 Dec 2024 Publow with Pensford Parish Council response to application 24/P/2508/EA2
The following is Publow with Pensford Parish Council’s response to the request for comments concerning the Scoping Opinion that determines the scope of an Environmental Impact Assessment for a future application for a proposed expansion of the airport to accommodate 15 million passengers per annum and associated works
Scoping Report: Settlements:
The report states:
12.8.40. Residents living in close proximity to the Proposed Development include those located in/on Lulsgate Bottom, Oatfield, Downside, Cook’s Bridle Path and Winters Lane. It is these individuals that will be most likely affected by changes in noise, air quality, visual impacts, and traffic flows and diversions. 12.8.41. Settlements located to the west of the Proposed Development are also likely to experience noise impacts should there be a change in road traffic generation and aircraft movements. These include: – Redhill (1.2km south of the Application Site); – Wrington (2.4km south-west of the Application Site); – Yatton (~5km west), – Claverham (4.2km west of the Application Site); – Congresbury (5.1km south-west of the Application Site); – Brockley (2.1km north-west of the Application Site); – Backwell (2.4km north-west of the Application Site); – Nailsea (4.2km north-west of the Application Site); and – Clevedon (8.8km west of the Application Site) Publow with Pensford Parish has not been mentioned as a settlement close to the Airport. Although not within North Somerset, and located to the east of the airport this parish should be considered.
Publow with Pensford Parish is located within Bath and North East Somerset council area to the east of the airport. This parish is likely to experience increased noise and traffic impact from any airport expansion. Pensford village in particular already suffers from both aircraft noise and airport related road traffic movements.
The aircraft flight path and turning zone runs directly above Pensford village. Noise is particularly experienced during easterly wind conditions when planes take off to the east and climb/turn above our parish. A considerable volume of airport traffic takes a short cut through the B3130 turning off the A37 at Belluton. This is a substandard, narrow road and unsuitable for any increase in traffic. The B3130 starts in Belluton, to the north of Pensford and runs from the A37 through to a point near Stanton Drew, (site of the second largest stone circle in England after Avebury), then through the villages of Chew Magna and Winford to the A38 just north of the airport. The “Belluton Narrows” are difficult to navigate at the best of times and even existing levels of traffic can experience blockages here. Any increase in traffic along the B3130 would present a health and safety risk to the numerous cyclists that use this road. Traffic travelling to the airport can be “impatient” and fast moving and often exceeds the speed limit. Cars often pass each other dangerously on this stretch of road. Paragraph 2.4.4: This paragraph lists the major trunk roads in the vicinity but there is no mention of the A37. The substandard A37 at Pensford Hill is already very busy with heavy traffic and is regularly blocked due to being too narrow for heavy vehicles to pass each other. This section would potentially experience an increase in airport related through traffic arising from an increase in airport related vehicles arriving from the east and the south. Paragraph 6.2.7: This paragraph states that a large proportion of airport-related traffic passes through the City of Bristol, North Somerset and parts of Somerset Council, using the A38. This omits to state that a large proportion of through traffic also passes though the Bath and North East Somerset villages of Pensford on the A37 and through the other Chew Valley villages on the B3130. While this is not the “official” through route, this is no deterrent to out of area traffic. Paragraph 9.2.17. The description of the road network completely disregards the existence of A37 and B3013 which are likely to be directly affected by increased through traffic arising from any airport expansion.
Bath & North East Somerset Council has announced the launch of the Somer Valley Links (SVL) public consultation, which aims to gather valuable feedback from the community on proposed improvements to transport links across B&NES. The consultation runs from Tuesday 4th February until Sunday 16th March.
The (SVL) project aims to improve travel between Midsomer Norton, Radstock and Bath via the A367, Bristol via the A37, and the A362 link road between them, through better bus infrastructure and enabling more walking, wheeling and cycling. Previously led by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority (WECA), and funded by the Department for Transport (DfT), it sits within the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) programme.
The proposals include eight new mobility hubs, significant bus infrastructure improvements with 22 bus stop upgrades, nearly a kilometre of new bus lanes, and substantial changes to the walking, wheeling and cycling network.
Consultation events:
Temple Cloud Village Hall, Temple Cloud – 24th February (3pm to 7pm)
Hive, Peasedown St John – 26th February (3pm to 7pm)
Pensford Memorial Hall, Pensford – 27th February (2pm to 6pm)
St Luke’s Church, Wellsway, Bath – 5th March (3pm to 7pm)
We have received two new photographs of Pensford Floods courtesy of Valerie Hensey of Wells. Valerie lived in Bristol at the time of the floods. She had just met a new boyfriend and their first date was in a little red mini car to view the extent of the damage.
We are always pleased to receive historic material for posting on our website. If you wish to contribute please send any items of interest to webmaster@publow-with-pensford-pc.gov.uk.
