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

February 2017

Our town is a very nice town

HEALTHY PEEPS

This is the page which is good for your mind, body and soul. From walking to yoga, from self help groups to the latest news from Nailsea Leg Club click on image to go to this page

PREVIEWS and theatre reviews

From local productions to city shows these are the pages to read all about it. And stop press Hippodrome Christmas 2017 panto tickets are on sale NOW. Click on images to learn more

TESCO NAILSEA

Tesco Nailsea works for its community and supports lots of local projects including Nailsea Community Christmas Fair and the annual festive lunch - for more details about the High Street store click HERE

Big brother is watching you

If your dog poos in a public place, you set up a mobile hamburger bar without permission or ride your skateboard where you shouldn't watch out.

And woe betide you if you light a bonfire on the beach or put up a banner advertising a fete or fair.

Residents are being asked for their views on tough new orders aimed at tackling anti-social behaviour in North Somerset.

Last year police reported bad behaviour at the skate park in Nailsea and at the Grove sports field leading them to extend a 'requirement to disperse' order in the area.

It followed reports of large groups congregating with instances of drinking and bullying.

Now North Somerset Council is proposing to introduce Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) designed to prevent individuals or groups of individuals committing anti-social behaviour in public places.

The PSPOs will replace existing dog control orders, designated public protection orders that help the police tackle alcohol related anti-social behaviour and, where appropriate, local byelaws.

An eight-week public consultation period will run until the end of March.

North Somerset Council executive member responsible for parks and green spaces Peter Bryant said: "PSPOs will enable us to deal with a particular nuisance or problem that is detrimental to the local community by imposing conditions on the use of an area.

“We have liaised with the police and town and parish councils to identify areas that could benefit from a PSPO and now we want to hear what local residents think.

“Have we got it right? Are these the right orders in the right places? We want people to let us know.”

Residents can view all the proposed orders and have their say online by clicking HERE.

A copy of the consultation document can be requested by calling 01934 888 802 or emailing pspoconsult@n-somerset.gov.uk.

Any new orders that are agreed are due to come into force by the end of October and will be enforced by the council and the police.

The proposals include 10 orders applying to any land the public is entitled or permitted to have access to making it an offence to:

fail to remove dog faeces;
fail to produce a receptacle for picking up dog faeces;
fail to put a dog on a lead when required to do so;
deposit litter;
urinate or defecate in any place other than a public convenience;
fail to move on when requested to do so by an authorised officer;
undertake any form of commercial activity on public property without the written permission of the council;
post a notice or sign on public property without the written permission of the council;
fail to stop consuming intoxicating substances when asked to do so; and
fail to surrender intoxicating substances when asked to do so.

Four orders covering any park, common, land set aside for recreation and leisure, grassed communal area and beach to impose restrictions on:

riding a horse (unless on a public bridleway/highway) with the exception of beaches;
parking or driving vehicles (without permission);

skateboarding, riding scooters or roller blading causing damage, annoyance and/or nuisance; or
lighting fires (without permission).

And an order covering all enclosed children’s play areas to ensure:

no dogs; and
no smoking.

Three orders covering any council managed designated parking areas to impose restrictions on:

depositing or leaving any vehicle or trailer with the purpose of abandoning it there;
acting in a manner to cause nuisance and/or annoyance to any parking place user, resident or other person; and
distributing leaflets or other advertising material or promoting any cause, event or any other matter in any council managed designated parking areas.

A number of other orders, mainly replacing dog control orders, in the following towns and parishes:

Banwell, Blagdon, Bleadon, Clevedon, Congresbury, Dundry, Hutton, Kewstoke, Locking, Long Ashton, Nailsea, Pill and Easton-in-Gordano, Portbury, Portishead, St Georges, Tickenham, Weston-super-Mare, Winford and Felton, Winscombe and Sandford, Wrington, Yatton and Claverham.

'Twas the night before

Bump at end of bypass

Within minutes of the official opening a Nailsea couple were involved in the first crash on the ‘confusing’ roundabout of the new South Bristol Link Road.
The accident at the end of the A370 Long Ashton bypass happened just yards from an official opening ceremony by Government transport minister Andrew Jones.
The crash between a Land Rover and a tipper truck was just yards away at the new Lime Kiln roundabout with the A38.
The crash caused damage to side of the Land Rover, and sparked a dispute between drivers, with both exchanging details and claiming the other crossed into their lane.
Unluckily the whole event was captured on camera by the waiting journalists.
The car passenger who didn’t wish to be named said afterwards: “It was all very embarrassing as film footage appeared on the local television news and it was reported in the Bristol Post newspaper which was seen by most of our friends.
“It totally wasn’t our fault but hopefully our insurance company will sort it out.”
The vehicle had to have its complete side replaced.

Rate rise on North Somerset books

North Somerset Council executive is set to recommended an increase of 1.75 per cent in council tax and accept of the government three per cent adult social care levy when it meets on Tuesday, February 7.
It will also consider an updated version of the council’s medium term financial plan which includes sweeping measures to balance the books for the year ahead.
Since 2010 the council has already made £60m in budget savings but every year it faces another round of cuts in government funding which is expected to fall from nine per cent in 2018 to one per cent in 2020 of its total income.
This places an increasing reliance on council tax and business rates to fund local services.
North Somerset Council leader Nigel Ashton said: “The year ahead is likely to be the toughest yet.
“We have an excellent track record of delivering savings, but after six years of savage cuts, the choices we have to make to balance the books become harder and harder.
“The biggest challenge we face is continuing to meet the growing pressures to provide support for our most vulnerable residents, particularly elderly people.”
To save council cash he urged residents to play their part by recycling waste.
The Conservative councilors for the Gordano Valley added: “At the moment this area recycles about 60 per cent of the waste it produces, but we could do even better.
“It currently costs us £4.8m a year to dispose of waste to landfill, but we could reduce this figure by around £1m if everyone recycled as much as they possibly could, money that could be used to deliver services in North Somerset.”
The final decision on rate rises will be made by the full council on Tuesday, February 21.
To save postage residents are encouraged to register online for electronic council tax bills.
Registration is simple and can be done online by clicking HERE.
Those who sign up by Friday, February 24, will receive an emailed bill in March.

school

Togs

Schoolwear: uniforms, shoes, nametapes
Sportswear: PE kits and more
Footwear: football boots, Wellington boots, trainers, shoes, velcro daps
Dancewear: RAD approved ballet, tap, modern, jazz
Uniforms and accessories: Beavers, Rainbows, Cubs, Brownies, Guides and Scouts

Colliers Walk, Nailsea

Tel: 01275 857491

Twitter: #schooltogsnailsea

Commuter parking fees to increase

Last year North Somerset Council made a whopping £2.69 million from its 60 car parks across the district.

However, Nailsea escapes lightly with only the commuters car park at Nailsea & Backwell railway station charging drivers to leave their vehices.

But some fees are set to rise soon.

Nailsea and Backwell train passengers will see all-day fees rise from £1.50 to £2.40 – which is nearly £5 more per working week.

Weekend, seven-day and three, six and 12-month passes are all set to increase too.
The proposals are set out in the table right with an asterik * indicating no change.

The free car parks in the town centre will - for the time being - stay free.