GROVE GROWTH: Built more than 50 years ago it was once a state-of-the-art badminton centre but since then it has had lots of add-on extensions. It is time to re-build? 

She has presented several clear and well-thought-out ideas for investing the money.

What is certain is the hope of a consensus, while desired, is thought unlikely as there are many competing ideas.

Nailsea Town Council already owns the Tithe Barn and 65 High Street (with an outstanding loan) but has an interest in buildings like the Grove Sports & Social Club on its land and leased long term to Nailsea Playing Fields Association, a local sport and environment charity.

In a newspaper poll dated 1986 Nailsea people voted as their top priority for a hospital in the town!

They also put a new sports centre next and then a swimming pool.

But priorities change and in 2021 what would the people of Nailsea chose.

Adding to the property portfolio seems a sound investment and the obvious choice but with that comes maintenance and running costs.

Ms Miller had previous proposed making Grove Sports & Social Centre the sports hub for the town and taking over Scotch Horn Centre for arts and performance.

Back in February this year she said: “…perhaps Scotch Horn might be the perfect solution as part of a bigger strategy.

“If Scotch Horn became the site for Nailsea Community Arts Space we could make the Grove a dedicated, state-of-the-art, up-to-date sports complex, enclosing the current facilities at Scotch Horn.

“Both sites would benefit from investment and this could be a forward-thinking plan to protect and build upon the future of our leisure facilities.”

A swimming pool, museum linked to a heritage trail, cinema with comfortable seats, new home for the library and even new cemetery site are all options being voiced.

For now, at a full town council meeting on Wednesday, August 4, Ms Miller was content to propose a community arts programme based in the pottery room at Scotch Horn which is available to rent.

This very reminisce of the WEA classes once housed in the Further Education Block at the old Nailsea School.

The mobility mean streets of Nailsea

Nailsea People has long highlighted the problems faced by people with disabilities negotiating our highways and byways.

See our pavement parking page HERE.

Drivers parking on pavements and overgrown foliage can cause a nightmare for people in wheelchairs or on mobility scooters and parents pushing prams.

Crumbling paving stones and uneven surfaces can trip even the most able-bodies pedestrian.

And access to our railway station has become a decades long campaign.

Now a Nailsea councillor is asking for help to document what it is like for those encountering issues when trying to get around the town.

Dee Holbrook said: “Having been confined to a mobility scooter for six weeks, I have noticed that the streets of Nailsea are not very accessible, in some places downright dangerous for people in wheelchairs, prams, mobility scooters, or those with vision impairment, unsteady on their feet, and I’m sure for many others

“I am putting together a report, with pictures and statements from residents, on the areas that cause problems such as unsafe crossing points, pavements dangerously uneven, badly overgrown lanes, so if anyone wants to add to this a place or experience please let me know

“I will be presenting the report to the town council to be agreed that it will be sent to North Somerset Council for consideration as urgent repairs for our town.”

Please email your experiences to Mrs Houlbrook at dee.houlbrook@nailseatowncouncil.gov.uk.

And with some irony a blind Nailsea resident suffered a catastrophic fall this week due to cars parked on pavements and a collapsed paving slab.

Mark Regan was walking in Watery Lane with his five-year-old granddaughter when a concrete slab gave way, causing him and his guide dog, Merlin, to fall into an 18-inch gap in the road.

Merlin the guide dog was already walking out of his usual position, due to the number of cars parked along the pavement.

Mr Regan said: "I can only assume that people parking along there had