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

August 2025

Our town is a very, very nice town

Property people

The London auction house failed to sell the small plots of land at Trendlewood. The first showhouse opened at Farleigh Fields, Backwell and Pure Gym is not coming to Nailsea. Read our Hensons sponsored property page for more HERE

What's On 2025

Schools out for summer and we have lots of activities on our Youth Peeps page HERE. There are festivals, markets, concerts and much more featured . We even have the dates of the Christmas pantos and New Year parties. Read all about it on our What's On page HERE

Gallery 2025

July 2025 was so busy we made two new pages in the galleries. One for the beer & cider festival at Nailsea & Backwell RFC ground and another for July to September. This photo is by Stuart Burgess who recorded three days of music and merriment at the fest

Kate travels Europe in power wheelchair

Nailsea woman Kate Strachecky is joining a Freedom One Life Race Across Europe for an epic journey from London to Turin using a powered wheelchair.

Kate, aged 44, who is married to Eric with two teenage daughters at Nailsea School, has Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) which is a problem with how the brain receives and sends information to the rest of the body.

She said: “I'm now medically retired but before becoming ill approximately four years ago I worked as an operations manager in education.

“My condition makes things that I used to enjoy such as medieval reenactment difficult so I spend a lot of time at home where I enjoy reading, pottering in my garden when I can and spending time with my family.”

This is the first of its kind challenge that will see four disabled people racing in Freedom One Life 5 Series powerchairs from London to Turin, via four different public transport routes this summer.

An overwhelming number of applicants wanted to sign-up for the four-day challenge which will see the chosen competitors travel across Europe by public transport, navigating cities, borders, and accessibility barriers, with the chance to win a €1,000 prize.

Kate added: “This is the first time the company has run this challenge and I believe they received more than 150 applications from all over Europe so I'm absolutely thrilled to have been selected.

“I originally applied because I'm fed up of letting my condition dictate my life.

“This sounded like an amazing challenge that would be done in a way that is safe and accessible for me: the company behind the competition is founded by a power chair user so they know how to ensure that accessibility needs are met and my mum Joyce who also lives in Nailsea will be coming along as a carer.

“This will take me way out of my comfort zone and will definitely push me but I'm hoping it will also show me and other people with FND what we can do with the right support.”

Race Across Europe was created to show what’s possible when disabled people have access to the right support and equipment, and to challenge the outdated narratives that often surround mobility and independence.

The winner will be given $1000 Euros (£865), and their one constant will be their Series 5 powerchairs – supplied by Race founders, powerchair manufacturer and retailer, Freedom One Life.

Whether they’re navigating train times, or taking in the amazing views along the way, the Race Around Europe isn’t just about who gets there first.

It’s about showing what’s possible when disabled people have the tools, trust, and tech to go wherever they want.

Along with Haydn, co-founder of Happy Smiles Training, which delivers disability awareness workshops and is racing alongside his close friend and business partner, Alex, is Oli, a competitive powerchair footballer for Newcastle United and England, and Katharina a fearless Berlin-based theology student, has enjoyed skydiving and dancing, and is always chasing her next adventure.

Alex Papanikolaou said: “I constantly hear how difficult and inaccessible travel is for disabled people, so I wanted to make a big, bold statement to really show what’s possible.

“With the right equipment, planning and support, we can lead the adventure!”

A video series documenting the race will be released to their YouTube channel later this year.

To learn more, go to www.freedomonelife.com

Getting from A to B from Nailsea

Nailsea resident David Howard presented the problems that disabled people face in accessing footpaths around Nailsea to the disability access café meeting at the end of July.

North Somerset Council executive member for highways and transport Hannah Young who is the Labour Party ward councillor for Clevedon sat in on the meeting.

David illustrated that staggered barriers, A-frames and bollards should meet the national standard of 1100mm (44in) gaps, which would allow the use of mobility scooters (and double buggies) at these obstructions.

David's suggestion is removal of all legacy barriers, especially those that are redundant in effectiveness.

Town council vice chairman James Tonkin and resident Roger Trubridge have initiated analysis through the Local Access Forum to map all the existing problems in Nailsea, once this is quantified is hoped that pressure can be applied to acquire funding to make improvements.

James said: "We want to reclaim the highways and byways of Nailsea making them accessible to all.

"Nailsea Town Council fund a Glendale operative for one day a week to clear overgrown footpaths.

"Residents can report incidents to 65 High Street of email assistant clerk Stephen Holley at assistantclerk@nailseatowncouncil.gov.uk."

Roger said: “If anyone is aware of barriers that do not meet the national standard, please report them to me by email rtrubridge47@gmail.com with a photograph if possible.”

STOP PRESS: After the access cafe district councillor Hannah Young, North Somerset MP Sadik Al-Hassan, Alison, a North Somerset Council highways officer and a member of the North Somerset Sustainable Travel team went on a brief tour of some of the pavement issues in the Trendlewood/Nailsea Park area. Alison said: "Several areas still require dropped kerbs and the condition of the surfaces leave much to be desired. Hannah is going to work with the teams on what can be actioned and what needs to be passed on to others, like utility companies. I was thrilled to see yesterday that some repairs have already been done and these have made a great difference."

NO GO: In this slideshow David's wife Grete, the globetrotting award-winning photographer, demonstrates the highways and byways it is impossible to navigate in Nailsea

Help map Nailsea's inaccessible routes

Did you know that although bubbly orange 'tactile' paving and dropped kerbs have been fitted at nearly all bus stops throughout North Somerset wheelchair users can still be 'trapped' as no further route is accessible.
Two examples are the Wraxall bus stop which leaves wheelchair users nowhere to go once off the bus and worse still the bus stop for the David Lloyd Centre at Long Ashton.
The latter example forces one Nailsea woman to travel along the busy bypass in her wheelchair in order to cross over the road to go swimming!
Hannah said: "We are tracking concerns and prioritising disabled access."
She said no bus route in North Somerset makes a profit and without the £3m annual council grant many services would be in jeopardy.
Since earlier this year North Somerset Council appointed a new highway operations and contract manager Darren Coffin-Smith who coincidentally lives in Nailsea and is already getting to grips with issues, Hannah added.

Town council vice chairman Graham Parsons who was also at the access café said: "The knock-on effect of car parking charges is more people will be using the bus. This calls for some joined-up thinking so it is accessible to all."

Stranded at drive-in whoops we mean bus stops

A controversial proposal to move the Millennium Clock to the village green has been thrown out by Nailsea Town Council. There is a dispute about an unpaid electricity bill going back a decade but councillors decided 'the clock will stay at its current location. Nailsea Town Council is liaising with North Somerset Council and National Grid to restore the power supply'. Read full story on our Political Peeps page HERE

Move to restore power to clock

Nailsea People went to London to interview Sadik Al-Hassan on his first year at Westminster. You can read that HERE or read the newsletter produced by Sadik HERE

First 365 days as our MP

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The well used shortcut from The Perrings to Backwell Lake has been blocked for the second time while an argument rages about whether it is a public right of way and/or bridlepath. Nailsea Town Council is collecting evidence so the path used by commuters, shoppers and school children can reopen. Full story HERE

Shortcut to lake blocked

Nailsea Town Council is working closely with Avon and Somerset Police to address recent incidents of anti-social behaviour in our community.

This refers to teenaged tikes on the supermarket roof and other incidents.

Thanks to the CCTV and ANPR cameras funded and installed by NTC, the police have been able to identify and take action against the main offenders.

If you witness any anti-social behaviour, please report it - your information makes a real difference and helps the police act quickly and effectively.

In an emergency, call 999
For non-emergencies, call 101 or report a crime online on the Avon and Somerset Police website
Report crime anonymously on the Crimestoppers website

CCTV caught teens vandalising

Church Lane Preschool has been given 'good' on all counts by Ofsted inspectors. It operates from Holy Trinity Church Hall and opens from Monday to Friday, during school term times only. There are four staff and they have room for 24 children. Parents are very positive about the pre-school. To read full report click HERE

Good preschool report

School cook Amber Francis and partner Ollie Taplin welcomed their new baby this summer but there was no gender or name reveal on social media. Baby arrived on Thursday, July 10. This was the baby who pre-delivery accompanied Amber throughout the filming of the Great British Menu which she went on to win. Not sure if her love of lentils and pizza as quoted in a magazine article was a mum-to-be craving? She got shortlisted for SquareMeal and Champagne AYALA female chef of the year 2025 although the title went to Adejoké Bakare and missed the Guild of Fine Food judging this year as she said: "I was days away from meeting the new addition to the family." While still pregnant Amber was invited to meet Stephen Morgan the Labour Party MP for Portsmouth South at another round table at Department of Education. She said: "It was a privilege to be in room with so many brilliant organisations, all bringing fresh perspectives and powerful ideas - from improving what's on the plate to shaping updated School Food Standards which works for every child." The head chef and food educator currently on maternity leave from Christ's College Finchley was a vocal part in the decision by the government that all 100,000 children from families which receive Universal Credit will now be eligible for free school meals. From the kitchens of The Ritz to school dining halls and national policy, Amber's voice has made an impact nationwide and we are so proud she grew up in Nailsea....

Gossip girls update

Nailsea People has been catching up on all the news (and gossip) about our three former Nailsea School students who have all become famous TV celebs.

...top fashion model and lover of fine food Mollie Pearce has a new boyfriend who came to Nailsea for the beer & cider fest, pictured by Stuart Burgess. Connor Ball, the bassist for the British band The Vamps is dating the reality TV star from The Traitors - whoop-de-do. They reportedly met on the set of Dancing On Ice earlier this year, where Mollie was a contestant and Connor was a guest. Mollie moved from her Nailsea family home to London this summer to flat share with rugby playing Jasmine Boatswain the friend she met two years ago when they both appeared on The Traitors. Mum, dad and boyfriend help her pack, unpack and assemble some tricky Ikea flat packs while posting progress on social media and sharing photos of her skating around the new place on roller blades! Mollie has been busy going to lots of festivals, showing off the latest fashions on photoshoots and on tv she has been raising awareness for disability charities including ERIC the national charity dedicated to improving children's bowel and bladder health with eight-year-old Katie. Mollie also went to the 40th anniversary gala performance of Just For One Day but sadly didn’t catch-up with Hope…

...Hope Kenna starring on stage in Just For On Day has an extended run until mid-January 2026 and it is playing to fabulous reviews. Sadly the two former Nailsea School contemporaries didn’t find time to chat about schooldays. Mum Jane Griffiths said: “I don’t think Hope and Mollie did bump into each other. The cast didn’t get to the party until very late, they had a post-show video call with Bono and drinks with some of the actual people that they were playing, including Claire, the British nurse working in Ethiopia, who was SO inspiring, Micheal Buerk and Brian May were also there. One incredible day! Obvious one proud parent, and take a look at Mrs T with Hope out of costume, she scrubs up well!" These photos are in the gala slideshow above. The original cast recording with Hope of the Live Aid Musical is out now, pictured in the black and white image. And Nailsea boy Ben Langley, who is billed as a comedian, actor, writer and producer, sent Nailsea People a photo of himself at the fundraising gala evening. He said: I was invited to the red carpet show which was fabulous, Hope was definitely one of the stars of the show." We are hoping that when the London run is over the musical will go on tour and come to the Bristol Hippodrome when even more local people can get to see the musical. Since 1984, the Band Aid Charitable Trust has raised and spent more than £145 million towards eradicating hunger and poverty in Ethiopia and beyond. The trust’s efforts has funded food, medicine, housing, hospitals, water, infrastructure, schools and more. With no staff, no offices and minimal overhead costs, the trust is able to give almost all of the money it raises directly to those in need. And the show with Hope has to date raised an incredible £1m for the trust. Our review is HERE

One month after originally planned Crown Glass Place followed North Somerset Council by introducing car parking fees on Friday, August 1. With baited breath we wait to see what happens next both at the supermarkets, Clevedon Road permit only car park on lease to Pelican the Wessex Water billing company and the blocked roads leading into the town where those who either 'can't pay' or 'won't pay' are leaving their vehicles. More updates will be published on our On The Road page HERE