North Somerset Council announce Bristol Airport Ltd Appeal:

• An appeal to enable, amongst other things, "operating within a rolling annual cap of 4,000 night-flights between the hours of 11.30pm and 6am with no seasonal restrictions" (Notice)

How will this affect flights over Bleadon and any maintenance flights across Weston bay to Wales?

__

Previous BOB Blog info

NSC Reference: 18/P/5118/OUT

NSC Website: www.n-somerset.gov.uk/airportappeal

Appeal reference: APP/D0121/W/20/3259234

Appeal start date: 11 January 2021

All representations must be received by PINs by 22 February 2021

"An appeal has been made to the Planning Inspectorate (PINs) against our decision to refuse to grant planning permission.

The appeal will be determined on the basis of a public inquiry. The procedure to be followed is set out in the Town and Country Planning Appeals (Determination by Inspectors) (Inquiry Procedure) (England) Rules 2000, as amended.

The public inquiry will open on 20 July 2021 and is currently scheduled for 16 sitting days. We will write to you again nearer the time with further details of the arrangements once these are known.

For any group or organisation who wish to take an active part in the Inquiry, the opportunity is available to apply for what is known as Rule 6 status. Although unusual, there is also scope for interested individuals to take part on the same basis. Rule 6 status means that you would be able to present your evidence on a formal basis and cross examine the evidence of others. Guidance is available.

Arrangements for the Inquiry are currently being finalised by the Planning Inspectorate. These will include a pre-Inquiry conference call with the lead parties to deal with procedural and administrative matters, including how the evidence will be heard. As a Rule 6 party, it is anticipated that you would also be a part of that process. If, having read the above guidance, you wish to apply for Rule 6 status and have not already done so you should contact PINs immediately. If you are interested but are unable to access the guidance electronically, again, you should contact PINs who will try and assist.

You can find out more about the appeal and how to get involved at www.n-somerset.gov.uk/airportappeal. We will forward any comments you made on the planning application and subsequent addendum directly to PINs, as well as the appellant. These will be considered by the Planning Inspector when determining the appeal.

If you wish to make further comments, or modify/withdraw your previous representation, you can do so or email Leanne.palmer@planninginspectorate.gov.uk If you do not have access to the internet, you can send your comments to:-

Leanne Palmer

The Planning Inspectorate

Room 3/J, Temple Quay House

2 The Square

Bristol, BS1 6PN

All representations must be received by PINs by 22 February 2021. Any representations submitted after the deadline will not usually be considered and will be returned. The Planning Inspectorate does not acknowledge representations. All representations must quote the appeal reference.

Please note that any representations you submit to PINs will be copied to the appellant and this local planning authority and will be considered by the Inspector when determining the appeal.

You can get a copy of one of the Planning Inspectorate’s “Guide to taking part in planning appeals” booklets free of charge from GOV.UK or from us. The appeal documents are available for viewing on our website www.n-somerset.gov.uk via the planning application number 18/P/5118/OUT.

When made, the decision will be published online

Yours faithfully

Appeals Support Officer

North Somerset Council"

_____

Previous information on BOB:

• Doctors Express Concern over Airport Expansion

• Local Objections to Airport Expansion

• Caerdav, formerly Cardiff Aviation, and press info (PDF)

• BOB's Environmental page 

Government breaks promise to maintain ban on bee-harming pesticide (Jan 2021)

"Scientists have observed significant declines in some British bee species since 2007, coinciding with the introduction of thiamethoxam, which was previously widely used. Studies suggest that it weakens bees’ immune systems, harms the development of baby bees’ brains and can leave them unable to fly. Another study has found honey samples being contaminated by neonicotinoids ... (see below)

 

"Matt Shardlow, the chief executive of the invertebrate conservation group Buglife, said it was an “environmentally regressive” decision that would destroy wildflowers and add to an “onslaught” on insects. “In addition, no action is proposed to prevent the pollution of rivers with insecticides applied to sugar beet," 

 

"A pesticide believed to kill bees has been authorised for use in England despite an EU-wide ban on its use outdoors two years ago and an explicit government pledge to keep the restrictions ...

 

"Following lobbying from the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) and British Sugar, a product containing the neonicotinoid thiamethoxam was sanctioned for emergency use on sugar beet seeds this year because of the threat posed by a virus .."  (PDF)

Honey tests reveal global contamination by bee-harming pesticides (Oct 2017)

"Neonicotinoid insecticides are found in 75% of global honey samples and half contain a cocktail of chemicals ...

 

"... Mitchell said: “If you look at the minimum concentration for which a significant negative impact on bees has been found, then 48% of our samples exceed this level.” The researchers said these impacts include damage to learning, behaviour and colony success."

 

All but two of the samples had total contamination levels below the “maximum residue level” (MRL) allowed for human consumption under EU laws. But Mitchell said there was little published research on the effect of neonicotinoids on vertebrates, though there were some indications of harm. “You can wonder if the MRLs are really good enough – I think this is an open question, ”Mitchell said.

 

"Bees and other pollinators are vital to three-quarters of the world’s food crops but have been in serious decline in recent decades. The destruction of wild habitats, disease and widespread pesticide use are all important factors ...

 

"... research showing most farmers could slash their pesticide use without losses, a UN report that denounced the “myth” that pesticides are necessary to feed the world, and a UK chief government scientist stating that the assumption by regulators it is safe to use pesticides at industrial scales across landscapes is false ...

 

"Contamination rates were highest in North America with 86% of samples containing one or more neonicotinoid, followed by Asia (80%) and Europe (79%). It was lowest in South America at 57%. Almost half the samples contained a cocktail of the insecticides." (PDF)

 

"Jean-Marc Bonmatin ... said: The use of these pesticides runs contrary to environmentally sustainable agricultural practices. It provides no real benefit to farmers, decreases soil quality, hurts biodiversity and contaminates water, air and food. There is no longer any reason to continue down this path of destruction."

See also:

• Pesticides damage survival of bee colonies, landmark study shows (Jun 2017)
• Nerve Agents in Honey (2017).
• Country-specific effects of neonicotinoid pesticides on honey bees and wild bees (2017)
• A worldwide survey of neonicotinoids in honey (2017)

________

See previous:

• World Bee Day 20 May 20
• Bleadon Bees (July 2019)
• BOB Environment Page

Bleadon Parish Council has so far declined access to the public Zoom audio and/or video recordings since they started in June last year. Conversely, Brent Knoll publish their 'village hall' and Zoom recordings on Youtube, and use the document sharing facility. Will BPC do the same as councillors requested, discussed and seemingly agreed, last night?

It should be noted that although there are many references to associated reports on the Agenda, these also have not been released to the public, not even on screen at the Zoom meeting.. 

Things to note from January Agenda/Meeting (NB timings are approximate): 

• Agenda -  not published on the noticeboards?
• A370 NSC consultation has been had, another is due? - Terry Porter (6mins) Was the Nov 20 Zoom meeting called correctly? [NB: BOB has not received an acknowledgement or response from our Nov 20 email] (17mins)
• Councillors discussed who was invited to the November Zoom meeting, why was the Zoom link changed that excluded the majority of residents from the meeting? (19mins)
• Documentation - Cllrs discussed Jan 21 Agenda has incorrect 09 Nov minutes approval date (should be 16 Nov), the Dec minutes stated meeting started at 7:45pm [same as delayed Nov meeting the previous month?], also has incorrect time Cllrs rejoined the Dec meeting [at 08:15 not 7:39pm]? (21mins)
• It was stated that the formal council meeeting is not noted (time recorded) as started until after the public session has ended? (22mins)
• It was stated that a councillor needs to declare an interest on land adjacent to their property, even if they don't own it, is this correct? [Would residents need to declare an interest if their neighbours were building?] (26mins)
• Where is BPC's Newsletter delivered or not? (27mins)
• BPC acknowledge their planning response process needs attention
• [Why was the Caravan Park extension still not on the Agenda, despite affecting an SNCI and PROW?]
• [Continued reference to 'village' instead of an inclusive 'parish' approach]
• Audit has written a report and BPC have responded (report(s) not on BPC website?)
• Precept will remain at £50K, the budget is , as agreed in Dec the difference will come from the reserves (56mins)
• New Administration System software was agreed to be purchased. BPC will be 'guinea pigs. Total price, training and ongoing costs not indicated on agenda, it appears that BPC will pay half price for the first year, £600 and £1,200 second year onwards.Where did the Small Business Grant come from and what is it for?
• [Although over £500, there appears to have been only one quotation (Financial Regs 10.3)?]
• PROW report has been updated again (but no reports on BPC website?) (1hr 13min)
• Roads - pavement needs fixing, and entrance to Halls Car Park (1hr 21min)
• BPC Newsletter - Editor hoping to bring out in March (TOR not published on BPC website?)
• Youth Club Lease waiting for solicitors then signatures
• Zoom vs physical meetings Another councillor again asks for BPC meetings to be broadcast to residents (1hr 26mins)
• NDP - seems that a meeting was held recently, but no working group minutes for councillors or residents? (1hr 29 mins)
• Bleadon in Bloom - trees, rewilding, tubs, but recent reports and current budget of 10K aren't available on BPC website, which may explain resident concerns about costs and activities? However, a £3K 2021 budget and 'Portfolio for Bleadon Pennant Entry 2019' are on the website? (1hr 44mins)
• Church clock - regilding of the clock is in hand (1hr 46mins)
• (bus) Shelter at the top of Celtic Way, work to start re-erecting at the end of the month (1hr 47mins)
• Concern over Bridge Road/A370 crossing
• Chairman confirms that the A370/Coronation Road exit is illegal. Previous BPC public , all  meeting referenced, but no notes on BPC website?
• Meeting finished 8:55pm, next Zoom meeting 08 Feb 21 at 7pm.

From many years of attending BPC meetings, it is clear that there continues to be a lack of transparency regarding BPC meetings and decision making, in particular its closed Working Group meetings. This year BPC abandoned its Finance & Personnel, Planning, and Open Spaces Committees without explanation.

Where are the Terms of Reference, and discussion/decision notes, from the following Working Groups on BPC's website: November’s Budget working group, Bleadon Rights of Way, PROW, Churchyard, A370, Children’s Playground, NDP, Bleadon COVID19 group, Open Spaces, Diamond Jubilee, all of which may have finances associated? See BOB Budget Blog 

_

See Bleadon Developments January 2021

Settlement Boundary	2018 SHLAA	Parish Boundary

The first table below lists a few applications and developments currently influencing Bleadon Parish. The second table lists some policies and consultations influencing development in Bleadon.

Inside Settlement Boundary (Map)
	Bleadon Quarry	42 Dwelling - 189 Occupancy
	Wallflower House	3 Dwellings
	Rectory Garden	2 New Houses
Outside Settlement Boundary, Inside Parish (Map)
	Wayacre Drove (off Accommodation Rd)	50 Caravan Pitches
	Purn Way	14 Dwellings Appeal
	Purn Holiday Park	10 Lodges
	Coronation Road	5 New Dwellings 3 New Dwellings
	Adjacent to Mendip Racing	4 Holiday Lodges APPROVED (10DEC20)
	Accommodation Road	Wake Park Offices, Cafe, Storage APPROVED (27NOV20)
Outside Parish Boundary (Map)
	Bleadon Hill	36 Dwellings REFUSED (08JAN21)
	Devil's Bridge	60 Dwellings APPROVED (22JUL19)
Overhead and Underground
	Bleadon Fracking Licence	Roman Road SUSPENDED (02NOV19)
	Bristol Airport Expansion	North Somerset REFUSED (19MAR20)

Government, Regional, District and Parish consultations and policies will directly influence residential and commercial development in Bleadon. You may want to respond to the consultations to ensure that your view is considered in the future of our communities.

(The table below lists a few consultations and policies. The table above lists some applications in relation to Bleadon)

	Consultation
	Local Plan 2038 Consultation Part 2 Deadline 14 Dec 20 "A Local Plan sets out where developments can and cannot take place and ensures we get the right type of development in the right place with the right services and infrastructure ..."
	Including: Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) Indicating proposed sites in the Bleadon area See 2018 SHLAA Map
	Including: Settlement Boundary Review
	West of England Spatial Development Strategy Survey Deadline 14 Dec 20 "The plan will make sure the development of homes, spaces for employment and transport links happens in the right places ..."
	NSC Active Travel Strategy Consultation Deadline 17 Dec 20 "Our Draft Active Travel Strategy is a 10-year plan to 2030 that aims to harness the huge rise in walking and cycling seen during 2020.
	Bleadon Neighbourhood Development Plan In 2018 & 2019 Bleadon Parish Council informed their grant funders, Locality, that they had indentified 5 Sites. Their locations have not been publicly stated to residents? Locality stated, "... under the proposals [Govt White Paper below] the principle of development may be agreed at the local plan development stage ... [NDPs] may not be able to allocate sites for development (including housing), and ... may largely not be able to include development management policies..."
	Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government Aug 2020 Govt White Paper Planning for the Future and related Consultation
	See also, BOB diagram of Planning Policy Heirarchy and Consultations and Bleadon Parish Plan Adopted 2009 and What is a Statutory Consultee? and Road Safety

Addtional information at

• BeInvolved page
• Current Development information 

--

NOTES: Some NSC Jan 2017 Core Strategy Policies (link and Jan17 PDF)

CS14(Jan 17) - Distribution of new housing

   NSC are to build 20,986 dwellings by 2026. "Settlement boundaries define the area within which resdential development is accptable in principle ... Development outside the settlement boundaries will only be acceptable where a site is allocated in a Local Plan or ...CS33" i.e. in areas such as Bleadon.

CS33(Jan 17) - Infill villages, smaller settlements and countryside

   "Development outside the areas covered .... will be strictly controlled in order to protect the character of the rural area and prevent unsustainable development. Residential development at Infill villages. ... Affordable housing will be permitted within settlement boundaries or in the form of rural exceptions sites, adjacent to settlements."

CS17(Jan 17) - Rural exceptions schemes   "Housing schemes for 100% affordable housing to meet local needs within small rural communities will be supported where: a) the development meets an identified local need demonstrated by an up-to-date needs survey or other evidence; b) the development is supported or initiated by the parish council ...; (presumably acting on the views of residents?) ... Rural exceptions schemes will be acceptable adjacent to the settlement boundaries of  ... Infill Villages [e.g. Bleadon] and elsewhere adjacent to the main body of the settlement ..."

UPDATE 07 JAN 21 - The undocumented Bleadon In Bloom Working Group requested a budget of £3,284.50 as submitted to the undocumented Budget Working Group  This was agreed and put to full council and posted on the BPC website as £3,284.50, but the budget is also rumoured to be in the order of £10K after the full council meeting in Dec 20?

___

Bleadon Parish Council has just published its 2021-22 budget information as seen below, creating a budget of £68,637, as agreed at December's full council meeting (Min 338.7.4), including detail by cost centre. There appears to be confusion between the different sets of budget information. 

This budget was discussed by councillors in a closed, unminuted working group, with unknown membership (compare the range of financial information available in 2018-19 from BPC's Finance & Personnel Committee minutes, that was open to the public June, Nov, Jan).

Last year's precept/Bleadon residents tax, was £50K, but it is unclear at this point how next year's £69K budget will be financed from precept, reserves and/or other income (PDF). "Parish and town councils raise their money primarily from a levy called a precept. We [NSC] collect the precept on behalf of town and parish councils and pass it on to them." A list of other precepts within North Somerset can be seen on page 20 of the NSC Council Tax Guide 2020-21).

Previous year's budget information can be found on here.(note that BPC has not released budget information for years 2016-2019, nor do these seem to have been agreed in full council?), with previous precept information here. Summary payments for 2020 up until 30 Sept, and Reserves infromation, can be seen here.

NB: BPC has disbanded its standing committees without explanation, i.e. there are no meetings for the Finance & Personnel, Planning or Open Spaces, removing these councillor discussions and related information from residents.

BPC's next full council meeting is next Monday 11 Jan 2021 at 7pm via Zoom.

 (Above table from Draft Dec 20 Mins as published 06 Jan 2021 on BPC website)

A new application has been submitted "Land At Wayacre Drove Accommodation Road Bleadon",

"Change of use from a mixed agricultural and industrial to use as a caravan park for static and touring caravans."

The submitted Planning Statement indicates:

" It is proposed to develop 18 pitches for static caravans with the remainder of the site being utilised to provide space for 32 touring pitches"

The application was validated 11 Dec 20. The comments deadline is  26 January 2021. Here is the link to the application 20/P/2811/FUL on North Somerset Council Planning website. 

If you prefer to post your comments then the postal address is:

North Somerset Council

Development Management

Post Point 15

Town Hall

Weston-super-Mare

BS23 1UJ

If you do make comments on this BOB blog (below), please also make sure that they are made to, and appear on, the North Somerset website link as above. As otherwise they will be ignored by NSC.

Other considerations:

• This application is outside the Bleadon Settlement Boundary. 
• Road Safety issues at the Accommodation Road Junction and A370
• Current Riverside/Purn Caravan Park Expansion Accommodation Road - BPC no comment?
• Current 4 Lodges on Accommodation Road - BPC no objection
• Wake Park development Accommondation Road - BPC no comment?

Previous information 2017:

Another Caravan/Mobile Home Park planned for Bleadon? A request to NSC on 15 December 2017 for an opinion on whether an Environmental Impact Assessment is needed (this will increase application cost), can only mean that there is an intention for a future planning application on green agricultural field(s) near Summerways Bridge off Accomodation Road! The agent (Urban Design Practice) is already active in other Bleadon application areas and in comments to the planning inspector has been critical of NSC and our Infill Village status that restricts development. This proposal could bring up to another 50 spaces to our area (see letter and OS Map and NSC response)

________

See also:

• Other Bleadon developments
• BeInvolved

There are a number of significant factors affecting development in Bleadon, not just individual planning applications, including:

• North Somerset's Duty to Cooperate with neighbouring authorities. The map above shows, "... the strategic area defined for the purposes of the duty to co-operate... In particular, joint working should help to determine where additional infrastructure is necessary, and whether development needs that cannot be met wholly within a particular plan area could be met elsewhere. .."
• Ongoing BPC Neighbourhood Development Plans, 5 undeclared sites in Bleadon as identified by BPC NDP Working Group
• Current North Somerset Council Local Plan 2038 Consultation, two of the four questions indicate up to 500 houses in the Bleadon area, Q3 & Q6, whereas Q4 and Q5 do not appear to do so.
• Current West of England Combined Authority (WECA) Survey planning to build 88,000-125,000 in the region
• Government Aug Consultation, planning to build 300,000 new homes annually and one million homes over this Parliament
• Current Active Travel Plan Consultation (related to where houses and businesses are built)
• Current development applications influencing Bleadon

As far as BOB is aware Bleadon Parish Council (BPC) is a Statutory Consultee on issues such as those indicated above. How has BPC communicated these far-reaching consultations to residents? What has been our elected and co-opted representatives' official responses to these important consultations?

• Residents pay BPC for a newsletter, funded via Bleadon taxes/precept and supported by advertising, with some residents in the parish receiving a copy last week.
• Why are these consultations not in the magazine so that residents affected can interact and influence
• What are the unpublished 'Terms of Reference' for the new paid Editor position (annual 'salary' undeclared but in the order of £400 per edition)?
• BPC started its NDP project in June 2017. It has not convened a parish wide NDP meeting for Bleadon, and has yet to answer queries raised?
• BPC has not published any NDP Working Group minutes since before the last planning appeal in Oct last year (See Mins table)?
• WECA and NSC Local Plan deadlines are next Monday 14 Dec, Active Travel deadline is 17 Dec, BOB can't find any specific Agenda item or documented minute, they are not an agenda item on next Monday's 16 December Agenda, only Local Plan noted in the Correspondence Listing carried forward from last month?
• Govt White Paper- BPC, "Resolved not to take any action on the basis that what was being asked for was too complicated and had very little bearing on the Parish Council." Sept 20 (Min 335.7.8) 
• NB "... under the proposals the principle of development may be agreed at the local plan development stage" (see below)

Will Bleadon remain a rural community? How will it accommodate local housing need and growth? What is Bleadon Parish Council's plan for the future of our community?

If you want your voice heard, respond to the NSC and WECA consultations and surveys as soon as possible, as consultation deadlines are next week. (see additional info and links below)

________

OVERVIEW SUMMARIES

How does all this fit together, see BOB's unqualified understanding and diagram of the situation here

Neighbourhood Development Plans

Bleadon Parish Council's, BPC NDP started in June/July 2017

• Ongoing BPC Neighbourhood Development Plans, 5 undeclared sites in Bleadon as identified by BPC NDP Working Group (last updated draft minutes Aug 2019)
• Although figures aren't transparent or easily referenced, BPC has spent in the order of £8,500 to date on its NDP
• Residents are still waiting for a parish meeting to be called to discuss Bleadon Parish Council's NDP
• A meeting was minuted to be arranged October last year (Min 327.9.iii) "The Clerk to liaise with [NDP paid Planning Consultant] and the Hall Booking Clerk to find a suitable date at the end of November and publicise this date in the noticeboards the council's website and Neighbourhood Plan website, as well as in the Bleadon Village News".
• However, this was stated as cancelled in the Council's Newsletter without Full Council discussion or explanation? See NDP blog for more info.
• Last minuted update was Feb 20 (Min 331.6)

"The Neighbourhood Planning Hive Report: Experiences of Participants report states,

• "The HIVE event involved a selected group of 35 active neighbourhood planners working on a series of key areas of concern in Neighbourhood Planning. The work was overseen and facilitated by Prof Gavin Parker with Kat Salter and Mark Dobson plus three student volunteers."

NALC 'Where Next for Neighbourhood Plans?', states:

• "The output was described as a “damning report on neighbourhood planning that calls for an overhaul of the system” by Mitchell Labiak,and ...
• Participants "... complained about too much change and lack of consistency in the planning process, widely varying modus operandi by neighbourhood planning groups, inconsistent support from principal authorities, lack of clarity concerning conflicts of interest between Parish Council and nonelected NPG members and the divisive effect on many communities of identifying sites for housing
• "... there is the requirement that a [NSC] must be able to demonstrate a five year supply of housing land (or, since December 2016, a three-year supply if there is an adopted neighbourhood plan which identifies specific sites for development). If it cannot, policies for the supply of housing in the development plan (including any neighbourhood plans) are considered out of date ... Making the legitimacy of neighbourhood plans contingent on the performance of housebuilders across a wider area seems to be somewhat at odds with the principles of localism.
• "... research has shown most neighbourhood plans taking two to three years to produce, with five not being unusual, as against the 12-18 months originally envisaged. This means a plan can be in preparation, with a huge amount of community time, effort and resource poured into it, before it is given any weight in decision-taking. Meanwhile, speculative development can come forward in order to ‘beat the clock
• "... neighbourhood plans are at risk of being considered out of date (and therefore triggering the ‘presumption in favour’) when strategic local plans are reviewed [e.g. NSC Local Plan 2038 consultation below], or if local plans that they rely on are considered to be out of date [e.g. during previous planning appeals].
• "... the cases we have researched have shown evidence of considerable inconsistency ...
• "... there are a range of measures in the revised NPPF published in July 2018 that will cause the situation to deteriorate further by introducing more specific stipulations on neighbourhood plan groups and yet more circumstances in which neighbourhood plans can be afforded less weight or overturned."
• "It is unclear as to where NPs will stand in relation to spatial planning frameworks emerging from the Combined Authorities [e.g. WECA below] "

Parish Plans

BPC has an adopted Parish Plan, built upon the views of residents, i.e. 60% of the people in the parish responded.

Local Government Association

• "Are existing parish plans and village design statements still valid? Yes. Parish Plans, Community Plans or Market Town Action Plans remain one of the tools communities can use to use to deliver on their ambitions." (LGA)

NPPF:

• "Neighbourhood planning is not a legal requirement but a right which communities in England can choose to use.
• "Communities may decide that they could achieve the outcomes they want to see through other planning routes, such as incorporating their proposals for the neighbourhood into the local plan, or through other planning mechanisms such as Local Development Orders and supplementary planning documents or through pre-application consultation on development proposals.
• "Communities and local planning authorities should discuss the different choices communities have to achieving their ambitions for their neighbourhood." (NPPF)

North Somerset Council

• Parish Plans were previously considered/referred to by NSC as a Supplementary Planning Document

North Somerset Local Plan - Current Consultation 02 SEPT - 14 DEC 2020

Current North Somerset Council Local Plan 2038 Consultation, two of the fourquestions indicate up to 500 housesin the Bleadon area

NSC has a Duty to Cooperate with neighbouring authorities, i.e. help neighbouring Local Authorities fulfil their housing, employment and infrastructure needs (See previous MP responses below)

• "24. Local planning authorities and county councils (in two-tier areas) are under a duty to cooperate with each other, and with other prescribed bodies, on strategic matters that cross administrative boundaries."
• "26. ... In particular, joint working should help to determine where additional infrastructure is necessary, and whether development needs that cannot be met wholly within a particular plan area could be met elsewhere. "
• "Strategic geography 12. The geography of the wider region within which North Somerset sits is shown on the ... map [see above] This shows WECA authorities to the north and Somerset authorities to the south. This is the strategic area defined for the purposes of the duty to co-operate. "
• How is the provision of additional requirements, such as doctors, dentists, opticians, etc., identified and supplied?
• How will the Duty to Cooperate continue to affect Government Lockdown policy: "... we have been placed in Tier 3 because we are regarded as "a natural travel to work area" along with Bristol and South Gloucestershire" (Penrose MP & Fox MP)
• The current NSC Local Plan consultation proposes 4 mapped questions, Q3 & Q6 indicate up to 500 houses in the Bleadon area, Q4 and Q5 do not appear to do so.
• NSC propose a 'build out' not 'build up' approach (favoured by Penrose MP), that may impact rural villages
• What are NSC's settlement hierarchy options?
• Settlement Boundary Review?
• Is there an ability to create a Strategic Gap between Bleadon and WSM?
• “The Local Plan will be prepared with community and stakeholder engagement in accordance with the Council’s Statement of Community Involvement (2019) [including Statutory Consultees i.e. Bleadon Parish Council]. " NSC pre-Local Plan Consultation

 Why hasn't BPC publicly discussed this important consultation as it's been noted several times in their Agenda and Minutes? 

• Sept 20 (Min 335.10) "Correspondence (1) NS Consultations – Local Plan" and 
• Oct 20 (Min 336.10) "Correspondence ... (2) NS Consultations " and 
• Nov 20 337.10 "Correspondence... (13) NS Local Plan – “Choices for the Future” and 
• Dec 20 (Min 33.6.(2)) carried forward from last month?

North Somerset Active Travel Strategy - Current Consultation 05 NOV 20 - 17 DEC 2020 

• "Through delivering high quality walking and cycling networks and increasing publicity and awareness of these, the strategy aims to increase walking and cycling trips by 300 per cent by 2030 ...
• ... "Safety and perceptions of safety are addressed through improved infrastructure and supressed demand for active travel is released through reallocated road space to improved walking and cycling facilities. " (PDF)
• Oct 20 Min 36.10 "Correspondence ... (2) NS Consultations "?

WECA Current Spatial Development Strategy Survey 02 SEPT- 14 DEC 2020

• Current West of England Combined Authority (WECA) Survey planning to build 88,000-125,000 in the region
• "Over the next 20 years the area covered by the Spatial Development Strategy [SDS] could need around 88,500 or as many as 125,000 homes (depending on the Government's method of calculating housing need, linked to the national housing target) ...
• "The SDS will cover Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol and South Gloucestershire and will be developed by those councils and the West of England Combined Authority. North Somerset will develop their Local Plan in cooperation with the WECA authorities but will not be included in the SDS ..." (PDF)
• This survey covers planned development for homes, employment, infrastructure capacity - travel options (e.g. roads, rail, utilities)
• Doesn't cover Bristol Airport as in North Somerset Authority Area
• The previous JSP comments will not be carried forward and so will need to be resubmitted if required
• It has been stated that NSC's New Local Plan 2038 (see above) should be in alignment with this regional SDS plan as NSC has a Duty to Cooperate:

Government White Paper Consultation - 05 AUG 20 - 29 OCT 2020 (PDF)

Government Aug Consultation, planning to build 300,000 new homes annually and one million homes over this Parliament

Locality, a funder of BPC's NDP, response to the Government White Paper, stated:

• "Implications on public participation in decision making: Under the current planning system the public largely have two core opportunities to shape planning:
• 1. at the local/neighbourhood plan development stage, and
• 2. at the planning application stage when applications for development on specific sites are put forward.
• Under the proposed reforms the second opportunity will largely be removed, with public participation taking place mainly at the plan development stage. This is because under the proposals the principle of development may be agreed at the local plan development stage." (Blog)
• Sept 20 (Min 335.7.8) BPC, "Resolved not to take any action on the basis that what was being asked for was too complicated and had very little bearing on the Parish Council." 

Liam Fox MP and John Penrose MP previous responses:

On 2 Nov 16 The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) posted "More than a million homes possible on suitable brownfield land"

 

On 15 Dec 14 local MP Liam Fox spoke out in parliament (skip to 21:58 mins) on behalf of North Somerset and the high extra housing development imposed by central government coming from the Bristol University court challenge wanting to build on Green Belt land. NSC was subsequently asked to increase indentified sites from 14,000 to 21,000 houses. Liam Fox MP said, ".. it must be made clear that greenfield development should come only as a last resort after all brownfield sites are exhausted (See letter from DCLG relating to the Dec 2017 Brownfield Register). Finally, the infrastructure that is needed to support new development, including schools, GP surgeries and, where appropriate, roads must be provided by the developers; the cost must not fall disproportionately on local council tax payers. (See related Blog on Weston General Hospital A&E night-time closures starting 4 Jul 17). In North Somerset we are facing an expensive fiasco that is undemocratic and producing unsustainable outcomes. We have been very patient, and our very competent council has been extremely co-operative. Now we need answers." 

 

Liam Fox MP also said, "We seem to be in a ridiculous position. The plan [NS Core Strategy] was put forward in 2011, agreed by the inspector and adopted in 2012, yet here we are at the end of 2014. If I am not mistaken, at the end of 2015, we will begin the planning period in which we will look at housing allocation through to 2036. It would be the height of absurdity if we were one of only four councils in the sub-region to be asked not only to look at our 2026 housing allocation, but to start the process all over again at the end of next year and look at the 2036 allocation. Surely this is a complete waste of public resources, as well as being utterly contrary to what my hon. Friend the Minister says is the Government’s aim, which is to encourage greater localism." (current allocation of 20,985 is only up until 2026 so NSC will be looking for more sites). The Minister of State, DCLG representative Brandon Lewis replied "My right hon. Friend is absolutely right that we want to encourage localism. That is why we want the decisions to be made locally ... I am happy to discuss this issue with my right hon. and hon. Friends in greater detail at an appropriate point and to write to them to outline the detail behind their queries" (Link to Hansard Transcript and further information.)

  

On 23 Jan 17 we asked North Somerset's local MP John Penrose MP his views, in which he referred to working with others to protect its villages and countryside; and the importance of "A democratically-agreed Local Plan". Note: In 2009 BPC publicly declared that it had submitted Bleadon's adopted Parish Plan to NSC for inclusion/reference in any NSC plans or policies; and to ensure that Bleadon residents' views were known and acted upon (it appears NSC did not receive the plan in 2009 and it is now 'lost'?). Following BOB's query regarding the status of the NLUD ("a countrywide source of information on brownfield land") John Penrose passed on a response to us from DCLG, stating "With effect from 16 Apr 17, each local authority is required by law to create an easy-to-access Brownfield Register and publish it on its website by 31 Dec (17). However, only sites suitable for new homes are to be included." Also, "With effect from 15 Apr (17) the Town and Country Planning (Permission in Principle) Order 2017 enables local authorities to grant Permission in principle to housing-led development on suitable land entered on a brownfield Register".

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See also:

• Local Plan 2038 Consultation Part 2
• Local Plan Consultation Part
• New pre-Local Plan Consultation
• North Somerset Local Plan 2036 - Issues and Options Consultation (Sept 2018) 
• BeInvolved
• Some consultations

Settlement Boundary	2018 SHLAA	Parish Boundary

The first table below lists a few applications and developments currently influencing Bleadon Parish. The second table lists some policies and consultations influencing development in Bleadon.

Inside Settlement Boundary (Map)
	Bleadon Quarry	42 Dwelling - 189 Occupancy
	Wallflower House	3 Dwellings
	Rectory Garden	2 New Houses
Outside Settlement Boundary, Inside Parish (Map)
	Wayacre Drove (off Accommodation Rd)	50 Caravan Pitches
	Purn Way	14 Dwellings Appeal
	Purn Holiday Park	10 Lodges
	Coronation Road	5 New Dwellings 3 New Dwellings
	Adjacent to Mendip Racing	4 Holiday Lodges
	Accommodation Road	Wake Park Offices, Cafe, Storage
Outside Parish Boundary (Map)
	Bleadon Hill	36 Dwellings
	Devil's Bridge	60 Dwellings
Overhead and Underground
	Bleadon Fracking Licence	Roman Road
	Bristol Airport Expansion	North Somerset

Government, Regional, District and Parish consultations and policies will directly influence residential and commercial development in Bleadon. You may want to respond to the consultations to ensure that your view is considered in the future of our communities.

(The table below lists a few consultations and policies. The table above lists some applications in relation to Bleadon)

	Consultation
	Local Plan 2038 Consultation Part 2 Deadline 14 Dec 20 "A Local Plan sets out where developments can and cannot take place and ensures we get the right type of development in the right place with the right services and infrastructure ..."
	Including: Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) Indicating proposed sites in the Bleadon area See 2018 SHLAA Map
	Including: Settlement Boundary Review
	West of England Spatial Development Strategy Survey Deadline 14 Dec 20 "The plan will make sure the development of homes, spaces for employment and transport links happens in the right places ..."
	NSC Active Travel Strategy Consultation Deadline 17 Dec 20 "Our Draft Active Travel Strategy is a 10-year plan to 2030 that aims to harness the huge rise in walking and cycling seen during 2020.
	Bleadon Neighbourhood Development Plan In 2018 & 2019 Bleadon Parish Council informed their grant funders, Locality, that they had indentified 5 Sites. Their locations have not been publicly stated to residents? Locality stated, "... under the proposals [Govt White Paper below] the principle of development may be agreed at the local plan development stage ... [NDPs] may not be able to allocate sites for development (including housing), and ... may largely not be able to include development management policies..."
	Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government Aug 2020 Govt White Paper Planning for the Future and related Consultation
	See also, BOB diagram of Planning Policy Heirarchy and Consultations and Bleadon Parish Plan Adopted 2009 and What is a Statutory Consultee? and Road Safety

Addtional information at

• BeInvolved page
• Current Development information 

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NOTES: Some NSC Jan 2017 Core Strategy Policies (link and Jan17 PDF)

CS14(Jan 17) - Distribution of new housing

   NSC are to build 20,986 dwellings by 2026. "Settlement boundaries define the area within which resdential development is accptable in principle ... Development outside the settlement boundaries will only be acceptable where a site is allocated in a Local Plan or ...CS33" i.e. in areas such as Bleadon.

CS33(Jan 17) - Infill villages, smaller settlements and countryside

   "Development outside the areas covered .... will be strictly controlled in order to protect the character of the rural area and prevent unsustainable development. Residential development at Infill villages. ... Affordable housing will be permitted within settlement boundaries or in the form of rural exceptions sites, adjacent to settlements."

CS17(Jan 17) - Rural exceptions schemes   "Housing schemes for 100% affordable housing to meet local needs within small rural communities will be supported where: a) the development meets an identified local need demonstrated by an up-to-date needs survey or other evidence; b) the development is supported or initiated by the parish council ...; (presumably acting on the views of residents?) ... Rural exceptions schemes will be acceptable adjacent to the settlement boundaries of  ... Infill Villages [e.g. Bleadon] and elsewhere adjacent to the main body of the settlement ..."

5 New Dwellings Artist impression Proposed Site Plan	3 New Dwellings Artist impression Proposed Site Plan

Two new applications have been submitted for Coronation Road, Bleadon

3 new dwellings - 20/P/2725/FUL - Deadline 30 December 2020

• "Development of 3no. dwellings and 3no. detached garages. Land Adj Junction Of Bridge Road To Coronation Road Bridge Road Bleadon"

 5 new dwellings - 20/P/2726/FUL  - Deadline 30 December 2020

• "Erection of 5no. dwellings. Land North To A370 And South Of Bleadon Road Bleadon"

Previous information can be found here.

If you prefer to post your comments then the postal address is:

North Somerset Council

Development Management

Post Point 15

Town Hall

Weston-super-Mare

BS23 1UJ

If you do make comments on this BOB blog (below), please also make sure that they are made to, and appear on, the North Somerset website link as above. As otherwise they will be ignored by NSC.

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See:

• Bleadon Developments Dec 2020
• BeInvolved

Click to enlarge image

UPDATE 17 DEC 20: North Somerset now Tier 2 - See 19 DEC 20 Tier Map and COVID19 mapping (e.g 12DEC20).

Govt Review of local restriction tiers (PDF) and Full list of local restriction tiers by area (PDF). See also Govt Winter Plan (Nov 20 & 02 Dec 20) and Summary (PDF & Download) 

UPDATE 16 DEC 20: Express article and Tier Mapping. See BOB Issues page for any MP facebook updates.

UPDATE 11 DEC 20:

"The Supreme Court decision to refuse to hear an appeal relating to a Judicial Review into lockdown, means that unelected Judges have set a precedent which now makes it impossible to challenge the Government’s use of the Public Health Act 1984 to trample over Civil Liberties and to emasculate Parliament in the process." (PDF)

UPDATE: 04 DEC 20 Reponse to Tier 3 Queries p1 & p2, from Penrose MP

UPDATE: 01 DEC 20 Tweet by Penrose MP and Matt Hancock Health Secetary response.

UPDATE: 26 NOV 20 PCR-based COVID testing has failed and is not a proper basis to lockdown the nation, let alone decide on tiers for restrictions Briefing paper for MPs – 26 th November 2020

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On 27 November Local MPs Liam Fox MP (North Somerset) & John Penrose MP (Weston-super-Mare) issued a Joint Statement on social media (MP Facebook links), regarding North Somerset's Tier 3 Lockdown designation, stating:

• "... we cannot agree with the way it has been applied to North Somerset"
• "Our infection rate has fallen ... well below the Bristol Rate"
• "... we have been placed in Tier 3 because we are regarded as "a natural travel to work area" along with Bristol and South Gloucestershire"
• "This isn't right or fair. We hope that, at the review point in 14 days times, this methodology can be changed ...". Why wait 14 days?

How many more local small businesses will go out of operation during this time, especially as the next review date is stated to be 16 December, after the majority of Christmas shopping expenditure may have been completed? How many more families will be broken due to these COVID19 policy restrictions? It is worth noting:

• COVID19 Regulations Memorandum Para 12.1 "An Impact Assessment has not been prepared for .." the COVID19 Restrictions, including economic, health, education, etc.
• John Penrose MP confirmed, "Governments normally only produce an impact assessment if the measure in question is expected to be in force for more than a year", i.e. March next year?! (See letter Q2 and Blog)
• The Memorandum continues, "... however, Office of National Statistics data indicates that these closures will affect 13.1% of the UK’s business units." Is this the current figure?
• With Para 13.1 stating, "The legislation applies to activities that are undertaken by small businesses" What does this mean? What about large businesses?
• See The Legal Challenge to the UK Govt Lockdown

How will the current North Somerset Local Plan and West of England Spatial Development Strategy consultations, that encourage joint working with Bristol, Bath & NE Somerset, and South Gloucestershire, affect future Lockdown policy designations? (Blog)

The former Supreme Court judge Lord Jonathan Sumption states, "Fear has been 'skilfully and deliberately' used by government to ensure compliance" (03NOV20 - 7mins)

• Lord Sumption, " ...has criticised the government's approach to the coronavirus pandemic, saying it has employed fear as a means to justify its actions ... he warned that Downing Street could hold on to its emergency powers after there is no need for them: "The problem is that fear is the main pillar of every authoritarian government. Fear has been skilfully and I fear deliberately employed throughout this crisis."
• NOTE1: "As of 19 March 2020, COVID-19 [was] no longer considered to be a high consequence infectious disease (HCID) in the UK" (Public Health England June Report) . Also see John Penrose MP letter confirming this in August 2020. (Blog)
• NOTE2: The COVID19 Regulations confirm that, "... the Secretary of State is of the opinion that, by reason of urgency, it is necessary to make this instrument without a draft having been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament." (BOB)

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See also:

• Govt Marshals and Related Public Health Officer Guidance
• The Legal Challenge to the UK Govt Lockdown (Update 23NOV20)
• Penrose MP confirmation that COVID19 is not a High Consequence Infectious Disease
• COVID-19 — Everything And Nothing
• COVID19
• COVID1984

• BeInvolved