THE online community newspaper for Nailsea people, their family and their friends

January 2026

Our town is a very, very nice town

Property people

Wonder what North Somerset Council’s revised draft Regulation 19 Local Plan will say that is new but expect the ink is dry on the number of new houses which will be built in Nailsea and Backwell. Scaffolding still in High Street as Broad St hair saloon is adding some apartments and a planning application for nextdoor charity shop is hoping to go likewise. Read more on our Hensons sponsored property page HERE

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What's On 2026

No market this month but we have children go free to Noah's Ark in January (conditions apply), M.O.M play space is offering some £1 sessions and Nailsea Dynamics is inviting people to come and sing with them Wednesday evenings at Methodist church…and best of all later this month Nailsea Musicals panto opens. Read more on our What's On page HERE

Gallery 2026

Did you know we have nearly 50 gallery pages each containing lots and lots of slideshows giving a pictorial record of events in Nailsea and nearby many taken by supporters of this website and we say a big thank you to all...

PETITION ONE

CALL FOR DOUBLE YELLOW LINES

update 311 signed

Nailsea resident Ian Ridge began this petition to enforce double yellow lines on Mizzymead Road. He said: "For those of us living along this road it has become a dangerous and congested nightmare, especially during school hours. I've witnessed first hand the hazards caused by the lack of proper parking regulations. Cars line both sides of Mizzymead Road, creating a chaotic and perilous situation that endangers children exiting the school and causes significant traffic issues." Go to https://www.change.org/p/enforce-double-yellow-lines-on-mizzymead-road-in-nailsea

PETITION TWO

FREE PARKING FOR AN HOUR

update 313 signed

Nailsea resident Sienna Braithwaite is also concerned about parking along Mizzymead Road but feels if Crown Glass Shopping Centre introduced one hour free parking this would help solve the problem. She said: "I live near Mizzymead and my road is getting dangerous to drive down and to cross the road due to people trying to avoid parking charges. Some people are only going to collect a prescription, for example and I don’t think you should pay for that." To sign her petition go to https://www.change.org/p/allow-first-30-minutes-of-crown-glass-car-parking-to-be-free?source_location=search

FREE PARKING, LIMITED HOURS

Free parking in Clevedon Road car park is from Friday after 6pm, and Sunday. Permit holders only outside these hours. North Somerset district councillor Mike Bird who represents the Yeo ward said: "The sign is very confusing. Basically Monday to Saturday the car park is now free 6pm to 8am, but then it’s free all day Sunday. The rest of the time it’s Pelican Permits only!" Employees of the Wessex Water billing company have to pay to park - some say £85 per month

BRISTOL AIRPORT PARKING FEES

Changes to the tariffs for the Drop Off & Pick Up and Short Stay car parks at Bristol Airport were being introduced on Monday, January 5. The cost of using the Drop Off & Pick Up car park, which is the quickest option for terminal access will increase from £7 to £8.50 for a 10-minute stay.

While the short stay car park, located within a short walking distance of the terminal, will increase from £7 to £8.50, for 15 minutes and £9 to £10.50 for 15-30 mins. Read more on our Bristol Airport page under the TRAVEL dropdown menu HERE

North Somerset Council has bagged a refund by a company that supplied thousands of faulty red household recycling carriers.

Residents in the North Somerset Council area were issued with red bags for their plastic and metal waste in March, following a successful trial in November 2024 that aimed to boost recycling.

But there were complaints from residents as many of the bags were found to have faded in the sun and were "falling apart at the seams".

Councillor Annemieke Waite said the unnamed company had admitted responsibility for the issues.

She added that the authority had reached a ‘very good agreement’ with the supplier and the cost of the faulty bags would be refunded.

The council trialled the bags with 6,000 households last year. Although it received a positive outcome, some residents said the bags were too large.

Ahead of the council-wide rollout in March, a batch of smaller bags were ordered from the same supplier and it appeared to be these that deteriorated quickly, said Waite.

Red bags were distributed to residents for plastic and metal waste

She added: "We know that the people who actually had the original bags are still very pleased with them and those bags have never deteriorated, have never faded.

"So, we absolutely know this is something that was completely beyond our control and it was just down to the quality of the bags that were delivered in the second batch."

Residents can order replacement bags on the council website, but are warned that the new bags could come from the same faulty batch.

The chief executive of a large multi-academy trust who lives in Nailsea, has been knighted.

Steve Taylor, chief executive officer of Cabot Learning Federation, which has 35 schools in the South West, has been knighted for services to education.

The professor of social mobility he is among many leaders associated with schools who have been recognised in the New Year Honours.

Sir Steve Taylor who is married with two children is also chair of the Queen Street Group, a network of major academy trusts.

He has taught at many North Somerset secondary schools including Backwell and Gordano as well as been part of the Lime Hills Academy a specialist school for students with an EHCP where SEMH is the

New Year resolution for faulty red bags

New Nailsea petition to bring back free parking

The owner of a Nailsea hair salon has taken up the cudgels to fight for free parking in the town centre.

Carly Davis-Rollo is the boss of Joi in Colliers Walk and her petition calls for Crown Glass Shopping Centre property management company Praxis to reverse its decision to introduce parking fees following the lead of North Somerset Council last summer.

Praxis said at the time it ’reluctantly’ introduced charges following North Somerset Council's move to implement parking charges across its public car parks including the one at Station Road and to lease Clevedon Road to Pelican the billing arm of Wessex Water for exclusive use by its workforce.

Cash-strapped North Somerset Council justified the move as it has an enormous and growing social care cost not funded by the government.

Nailsea Town Council investigated taking over the car park and keeping it free but were thwarted by the upfront and maintenance fees demanded.

Carly said: “Nailsea’s town centre is the heartbeat of our community.

“It is more than a place to shop—it is where people meet, connect, and support one another, and where independent businesses help give the town its character and identity.

“The recent introduction of parking charges threatens to undermine all of this and risks causing long-term damage to the social and economic life of Nailsea.

“As a local business owner in Nailsea, I am fortunate that changes in footfall does not directly affect my own business.

“However, it is deeply disheartening to witness the wider community beginning to struggle as a result of these parking charges.

“A thriving town centre does not depend on individual businesses surviving in isolation; it depends on people feeling welcomed, connected, and able to visit easily and without anxiety.

“Adding to this concern is the parking payment system itself.

“The machines are not user-friendly, with unclear instructions and frequent issues reported by residents.

“Even when people make genuine attempts to pay, many are still receiving fines.

“This has caused unnecessary stress, frustration, and a growing fear of visiting the town centre at all. Parking should facilitate access, not punish those who are trying to support their local town.

“This policy appears to have been introduced without sufficient consultation or a full assessment of its wider social and economic impact.

“The result is a system that feels unwelcoming, confusing, and damaging to the very community it should serve.

“By reversing these charges, we would be investing in Nailsea’s future—protecting local businesses, supporting residents, and preserving the sense of community that defines our town.

“Please join us in calling for change.

“Sign and share this petition to help ensure Nailsea’s town centre remains accessible, welcoming, and alive for generations to come.”

Go to Petition · Reverse parking charges in Nailsea town centre - Nailsea, United Kingdom · Change.org to add your voice to the hundreds who have already signed.

Knighthood for Nailsea teacher

primary need which has a base at Pound Lane, Nailsea. Dr Taylor said: "Since learning of this award, I have thought about all those colleagues in the Cabot Learning Federation and in the wider sector, whose work and successes have inspired me over the years to strive to do my best for the children we serve, anything I would count as an achievement has come about as the result of working in collaboration with great people I have had the privilege of knowing, in the CLF and beyond.

"That includes a number of leaders in the Queen Street Group whose work in education has been recognised over the years, and I feel fortunate to have them as colleagues.

"I am extremely grateful for this honour and look forward to sharing the news with colleagues and sharing the experience with my family, whose support I never take for granted."

Rubbish start to new year

Kevin Hirst shared these photos on social media of fly-tipping at Backwell Lake.

He said: “They were stupid enough to leave boxes with their address, feeling angry.”

It appears the person implicated could have paid someone to remove the rubbish for them as they advertised on a community Facebook page with photo for someone to collect.

Backwell resident Lorraine Hopkinson-Parker said: “ I'm so angry about this.

“Avian Flu has killed quite a number of swans at the lake and Wessex Water and Curious Critters are working with DEFRA to try and manage the situation and now this!

“A sign saying ‘no fly-tipping’ has been dumped in the lake and next to this rubbish.

“This is the last thing they needed to deal with on top of everything else.”

We have not used other photos showing the address but it is believed the person involved has advertised for waste disposal and offering to pay cash – see screengrab from November opposite.

Some say the new rules at North Somerset Council recycling centres are encouraging the dumping of more rubbish in our countryside.

However, others commented on the Nailsea People Facebook page that ‘the person named on parcel is responsible regardless of whether they paid someone or not. It’s up to them to check if they’re using someone licenced/reputable’.

Clevedon Emporium boss Alan Goodard who used to run Home Additions in Nailsea said: “If you have a house clearance or have waste removed from your property it is very important to ask for a copy of their waste licence and where it will be taken, otherwise you can be held responsible.

“Also ask for a receipt for money paid. If these are refused, don't use them.”

North Somerset residents have already raised concerns about the new booking system plans at recycling centres.

From Monday, February 2, those who wish to use the recycling centre in Weston-super-Mare will have to book beforehand.

And from Monday, March 2, these changes will include the sites in Portishead and Backwell.

North Somerset Council has said they have introduced the booking system to ‘reduce queues, make visits easier and ensure sites are working as efficiently as possible’.

North Somerset Council said slots are 15 minutes long and can be booked up to 10 minutes before you reach the site.

The council explained that staff may refuse entry if you have missed your slot - but they will try to accommodate where possible.

They also said bookings can be made on behalf of someone else, and there will also be a phone booking system available.

For more on the recycling centre changes, visit https://n-somerset.gov.uk/my-services/bins-recycling/recycling-centres/book-visit-recycling-centre.

Nailsea & Backwell Rotary regularly join local litter picks organised by Nailsea Climate Emergency Group but we don’t have the date for the next rubbish clearance.

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FULL MOON: Photo taken on Saturday, January 3, by Phil Williams. More important moon dates for this year are published here https://www.timeanddate.com/news/astronomy/moon-guide-2026