Category Archives: News
Local News
Planning Application – Bristol Airport Expansion
The current planning application to expand Bristol Airport will be considered by North Somerset Council at a proposed public planning meeting, currently anticipated in early April.
Parishioners can find more information about the full implications by following the Stop Bristol Airport Expansion links below:
South Bristol Ring (Wrong) Road Campaign Meeting
South Bristol Wrong Road Meeting
British Legion, Whitchurch Village 26 February 2019
Sue Grimes notes (not verbatim minutes)
There is a consultation on the Joint Local Transport Plan 4. Should you wish to express your views the closing date is 20th March 2019
The meeting was attended by: Councillor Paul May, Whitchurch Village Parish Councillors, and Parish Councillors in affected areas, members of the South Bristol Wrong Road and many members of the public.
The new road is planned to begin at Hicks Gate roundabout, it will then head west towards Stockwood, but turn south to cross Stockwood Lane, then run between the eastern edge of Stockwood and the Stockwood Vale Golf Club. It would then pass the Horse World headquarters in Stockwood, cross Queen Charlton Lane and Woollard Lane before joining up with the A37 Wells Road just south of Whitchurch Village, (positioned between the children’s playground and cemetery near Sleep Lane). It will then continue round to connect with Whitchurch Lane in Hengrove.
It is possible to see an aerial route of the road on www.wrongroad.org.uk
Previous documents had indicated that the decision would be made by the inspector of the Joint Spatial Plan and the Joint Transport Plan. The document indicates that it will be now be made by BathNES, Bristol, N. Somerset and South Gloucester Authorities and the WECA Major. (More open to community influence).
Previous plans indicated that the road would not be built before the new houses in Whitchurch Village (2,500). Now even if planning for the houses is refused the road may still be built.
Insufficient government money. Shortfall will have to be made up by residents (Council Tax payers).
Metrobus link Whitchurch/Keynsham/Bristol not economically viable.
Road will go through green belt at top of valley requiring removal of large amounts of earth.
No indication looked at other options.
A37 (through Pensford) shortest route from South Coast to motorway system. Would link direct to new Ring Road.
The last origin & destination survey on A37 (showing traffic flows) was conducted in 2011. Since then, £10m investment in Poole has greatly enlarged the container/freight traffic originating from there.
Whitchurch Park and Ride and airport expansion will bring even more traffic to A37.
Forecast 25% extra traffic 2036.
Keen to get cycling/ pedestrians walking into Bristol. “Questionable” given the hilly terrain,
Government says area should build 104,000 houses to satisfy Bristol’s needs. Bristol said they do not have any suitable land. Hence location new houses on BathNES/Bristol border.
Concerns that developers will obtain land on appeal should BathNES not offer any development sites.
The consultation ends 20 March.
Specimen letter attached were handed out at the meeting, which you may which to complete or adapt:
http://www.wrongroad.org.uk/images/files/Letter_with_comments_for_submission_to_JLTP4_consultation.pdf
There is also another letter taken from the Facebook page, which mentioned Pensford, which you may like to adapt and send:
Postal address for letters;
JLTP4 Consultation (Joint Local Transport Plan 4)
West of England Combined Authority (WECA)
3 Rivergate
Bristol
BS1 6EW
E-mail address:
JLTO.consultation@westofengland-ca.gov.uk
For further info about the JLTP4 and online submissions:
https://travelwest.info/projects/joint-local-transport-plan
Bristol Airport – Drone Awareness
The following awareness campaign has been developed by Avon and Somerset police and the Civil Aviation Authority. This provides advice on what to do if you see a drone near an airport and instructions on how to report a drone in the vicinity of Bristol Airport.
‘No ring road for Whitchurch’ say residents as they battle Councils’ joint plans
Whitchurch and surrounds has become awash with ‘No Ring Road’ signs as the strength of opposition to joint plans by Bath & North East Somerset and Bristol Councils to build a new ‘highway’ and 2,500 houses on the village’s greenbelt.
The protests became palpable in January when Mayor of Bristol Marvin Rees visited the community to respond to residents’ questions regarding the plans.
Hundreds of disgruntled residents crammed into St Augustine’s Church Hall for a public meeting with the Mayor with the aim of telling him ‘No ring road’. Read more in Bristol Post here
Local Plan – Specimen Letters
As mentioned in the News Alert dated 13 November, Bath & North East Somerset Council is currently consulting the Local Plan for the district for the period 2016-2036.
The plan includes proposals to build 2500 houses south of Whitchurch Village on the green belt, run a new road from Hicks Gate to the A37 which will connect to Whitchurch Lane and options for a new park and ride.
Should you wish to object to these proposals specimen letters have been prepared which you may find helpful as a guide.
Please personalise and modify them with your own text.
This is the webpage for the Local Plan consultation: http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/services/planning-and-building-control/planning-policy/local-plan-2016-2036
Please note the closing date is 7 January 2019.
Affordable Housing Survey
The Parish Council is considering plans to support the development of affordable housing within the parish. Part of this process is to gauge the current need for affordable housing for local people to rent or buy.
The easiest way for us to work out how much affordable housing need there is in the parish, is for you to register interest on the Council’s Homesearch Register.
You can do this if you are looking to rent or buy an affordable home.
Please go to the Homesearch website to find out more and register for an affordable home.
Parish Walks
We have just added a new series of walks in and around Pensford to our Parish Walks page. These have been brought to you by the Pensford Local History Group (PLHG).
Great Flood of 1968 – Commemoration Events
Communities along the Chew Valley and Keynsham are busy planning events to remember the Great Flood of 1968. The West of England Rural Network website has published a full list of local commemorative events. You can view the events list here. Please put the dates in your diary and come along.
You can view our local photo album here and you can read some local memories here
30 Years of Conservation Status in Pensford
As we approach the 30th anniversary of Pensford Village being granted conservation status; Tony Heaford has kindly supplied this press cutting from Western Daily Press, which on Monday May 9th 1988 , announced Wansdyke Council’s momentous decision.
The article has been added to our Parish Scrapbook page for permanent reference. We appreciate receiving articles or photographs of historic interest and we are always happy to post such material to the Parish website to share with others.
