This year has seen the resignation of two councillors and a clerk, and saw North Somerset declare a councillor in breach of Bleadon Council’s Code of Conduct with regards to Openness and Leadership.

This month sees a new agenda and meeting style under the leadership of the new Chair and new, qualified and experienced Clerk.

It will be interesting to see how the Openness, Leadership and Transparency of councillors’ decision making and expenditure progresses over the coming months.

-----

BACKGROUND

In February this year North Somerset Council stated that a Bleadon Parish Councillor had acted in breach of its Code of Conduct, particularly with regards to Openness and Leadership. Despite this finding Bleadon Parish Council (BPC) is yet to openly acknowledge and/or discuss this outcome in a public meeting, over six months later?

Since this breach was recognised two councillors and a clerk have resigned. This week BPC published its September minutes, there was no discussion and/or explanation as to why the previous Chairman resigned (Sept Mins), no letter of resignation noted, nor any thanks for his service over the last 14 months?

Cllr Williams was elected as the new Chairman. She is also Chair of BPC’s Neighbourhood Development Plan and Play Park Projects, BPC representative on the Youth Club, member of the Parochial Church Council and its representative on the Halls Committee.

Her first proposal and expenditure as Chair of BPC was to allocate £1,200 to widen the entrance to the halls car park “by one dropped kerb” (Min 326.19) or to 'shunt' it to one side, stating 'I raised it because it was my car that was bumping over the edge'. NB Last year this proposal was rejected by councillors at both Full Council (Min 315.18) and the F&P sub-Committee (Min 54.6) stating “… the majority of drivers had no problem accessing the car park and responsibility for sensible driving lay with the driver”, so what has changed this time? Is this really a good use of public money?

BPC also has a new qualified and experienced Clerk (BVN 113) who has already started to improve public access to information with the introduction of an Agenda Pack. This automatically offers information to the public in a more transparent manner and is more in line with government and best practice guidelines (e.g. ICO Model Publication Scheme vs BPC's current version).

It will be interesting to see how the Openness, Leadership and Transparency of councillors’ decision making and expenditure progresses over the next few months.

FFEQS post that Sedgemoor District Council unanimously resolved to be a Frack Free Zone!

North Somerset Council declared a Climate Emergency in Feb 2019. Let's hope they will listen to parish, town and district communities that have declared 'frack-free if a 'fracking' application is submitted in the future.

For communities that have gone frack-free in our licenced area, and more information, see here.

----

Previous fracking related blog - Are Earthquakes part of Bleadons Future 

The planning appeal for the Bridge Road housing development restarts next Tuesday 15 October 19.

The developers have submitted a revised indicative site plan to the Planning Inspector with new green space, two ponds and less housing.

If you have any comments please send them to:

• the Planning Inspector quoting - APP/D0121/W/18/3211789
• North Somerset Council at dmappeals@n-somerset.gov.uk quoting - 17/P/5545/OUT
• and/or Bleadon Parish Council - parishclerk@bleadonparishcouncil.co.uk

NB Any comments posted on this blog may not be seen by the Inspector.For more Appeal information see previous blog.

UPDATE: 17 Sept 19 Some residents receive letters, "If you want to you can attend the Inquiry. You can also ask the Planning Inspector to allow you to give your views..."

--

The Planning Inspectorate has set the date to resume the Appeal for the 200 Houses development on Bridge Road. It will be for four days starting 15 October 2019 over two different venues:

• Tuesday 15 Oct 19 - Town Hall, Walliscote Road, WSM, BS23 1UJ
• Wed-Fri 16-18 Oct - Royal Hotel, 1 South Parade, WSM BS23 1JP

Previous information regarding this Appeal including:

• What happens and how to take part in an Appeal
• Planning application information
• Previous Appeal updates
• Planning Inspectorate information (CaseID 3211789 - see documents page)

UPDATE: "A dairy farmer said there was concern about fracking’s potential impact on food producers in the are... worried the tremors would cause damage to underground aquifers and local watercourses could become contaminated... The EU has said that if we have contamination in our area they could restrict food access up to a 30-mile radius. That is massive... Who is going to want to eat food that is coming from a polluted area?”

-------

Bleadon is in a 'fracking' licence area, just the same as the site in Blackpool, Lancashire where earthquakes are happening.

Bleadon landowners have already been approached with the intention to start exploratory drilling. Will regular earthquakes be part of Bleadon and surrounding communities future too?

Blackpool Earthquake Monday 26 August - Article by Metro:

"Drilling for shale gas is still at an exploratory phase. However, reserves of shale gas have been identified across large swathes of the UK ... More than 100 licences have been awarded by the government, allowing firms to pursue a range of oil and gas exploration activities in certain areas ..." including that of Bleadon and surrounding area.

 

"Hundreds of people are believed to have felt the quake that was big enough to wake people up ... it was just like someone dropping a whole supermarket and all the shoppers’ bags of groceries on Blackpool ... It was quite a large shudder. It felt like someone had driven into the house or dropped a wardrobe down the stairs!The walls of my house shook, there was a really deep, guttural roar. For a moment, I really thought my house was going to fall down"

Blackpool Earthquake Sunday 25 August - Article by Metro:

"Pausing work for 18 hours is the routine response for any tremor over 0.5. Environmental campaign group Friends of the Earth said in 60 days of fracking last year there were 57 tremors in Lancashire and that it cannot be carried out without triggering earthquakes. Jamie Peters, a campaigner for the organisation, said: ‘Even small vibrations at ground level can be the sign of far more damaging impacts deep underground.’"

 

"The UK’s fracking site in Blackpool has been hit by the largest ever tremor recorded at the facility – the third earthquake at the site in just four days ... to hit the shale gas exploration site ... ...The British Geological Survey said the tremor had a depth of 2km (1.2 miles) and was felt by residents in Great Plumpton, Blackpool and Lytham St Annes ..".

 

The Government has said the extraction of shale gas through fracking could support the UK’s transition to net zero greenhouse gas emissions."

Although North Somerset Council is responsible for permitting any development this ability for local decision making may change in the future. In the meantime Bleadon Parish Council has declared Bleadon Frack Free.

---

Link to previous blog How Fracking Surveys and Consultations Affect Bleadon

Link to mapping and information on BOB's Fracking page

Neighbouring Somerset Wildlife Trust has:

" ... a once in a lifetime chance to transform Westhay Moor National Nature Reserve by purchasing 11 acres of land next to the reserve, where peat extraction has just ended - and where we're currently losing precious water that keeps fragile habitats wet and secure for our wildlife.

 

Buy the land and we can raise the boundaries of the reserve, hold water on a wider scale and end the reliance on diesel pumps. BUT WE NEED YOUR HELP! We have £68,000 already but need to raise £60,000 by October to complete the purchase.

 

If you love Westhay, love wetlands, love wildlife .."

Please watch their video below and visit their website

Bleadon BOB has been informed that residents in the Bleadon Hill area have received the following letter from Corylus for a 40 houses development, diagonally opposite Hillicote. (The letter is re-typed for clarity at the end of this blog.)

Bleadon Parish Council has received correspondence from "Corylus (planning consultancy) – request to discuss planning application in Weston but adjacent to Bleadon". (July 19 Min 324.24.9) BPC has stated that it will discuss this pre-application at their 20 August BPC meeting in a closed session where members of the public will be asked to leave the room, not sure why?

"Min 325.29 - To Discuss a confidential pre-application notification. Corylus (planning consultancy) are preparing a pre-app in Weston but adjacent to Bleadon."

Be aware that any concerns informally raised by residents at this stage may be mitigated by the developers before they submit their actual application to North Somerset for formal public consultation. 

There was a previous application related to this site in 2014 for 79 houses which was subsequently turned down on Appeal.

5th August 2019

Dear Sir Madam,

Proposed Residential Development, Land at Bleadon Hill, Weston-super-Mare.

Corylus Planning and Environmental Limited have been instructed by Innova Consulting Services Limited to prepare and submit a planning application to North Somerset Council for a development of up to 40 houses at Bleadon Hill. We are writing to you as the application site adjoins the boundary of your property or is very close to it.

The application will be an outline planning application, which means that the layout and landscaping of the development, along wth the scale, desing and material of the proposed houses will be determined at a later stage should outline planning permission be granted. However, the access into the site will be considered as part of the outline planning application.

We have sought technical advice from transport, ecological and drainage consultant to inform the proposal. We have also studied the previous appeal decision and designed the development to overcome the concerns raised in relation to the landscape impact.

An indicative masterplan will accompany the planning application which will demonstrate to the Council that the site can adequately accommodate up 40 houses, along with internal roads, car parking and public open space. An extract of the masterplan is shown overleaf.

Two parameter plans will also accompany the planning application and they will fix the parameters for Green Infrastructure and building heights, providing a framework which will inform the subsequent detailed planning applications. The former parameter plan will ensure that the proposed public open space will be delivered. The latter parameter plan will fix maximum height limits for buildings across the site and will ensure that the developmetn will be predominately dormer (or "chalet") style bungalows.

There will also be affordable homes within the developement to meet a local need and the proportion will be agreed withthe Council during the consideration of the planning application.

--

Corylus Planning & Environmental Ltd. Registered in England ......

Link to the previous 79 Houses application and appeal involving this site.

Click here for Bleadon Fracking Area Maps

Below are various updates on Fracking:

UK National Survey of Public Attitudes Towards Shale Gas (July 2019) FFEQS ".. the most comprehensive and rigorous study to date on public attitudes to shale gas extraction in the UK was published. Opposition to fracking is stronger than ever."

 

Environment Agency public consultation - An indication of the types of licence that will be requested for a site like Bleadon if it were to go ahead can be seen by this (now closed) consultation. FFEQS response, concerns include ".. cold venting of methane, climate change targets and health risks due to benzene emissions" (05 Aug 19)

 

Boris Johnson on Fracking - "Glorious News, Stop pussy-footing around, Give Bristish peope their mineral rights, Leave no stone unturned" (23 July 19)

 

The Ecologist Article: Boris Johnson's cabinet. Re: local decision making - "Sajid Javid (Chancellor of the Exchequer) decided to use his power .. to overrule Lancashire County Council’s decision to block fracking"... Liz "Truss (International Trade Secretary) replaces Liam Fox (N Somerset MP) … A former Shell manager and vocal supporter of Heathrow expansion … also backs fracking." (05 Aug 19)

 

Guardian Article "How the world’s dirtiest industries have learned to pollute our politics" by George Monbiot. "The fossil-fuel lobby is threatened by public concern over the climate crisis. So it’s buying influence to get the results it wants" (07 Aug 19)

Previous blog Sedgemoor Frack Free Motion Amendment

BOB Fracking page

UPDATE 31 JULY 19 FFEQS - "... I have been advised that amendments to the motion were proposed by the Conservative representatives and that this now needs to go back to the 'Scrutiny Committee' who will report back to the Full Council in the Autumn ..."

General Info against fracking: Scotland, Ireland and Wales and the United Nations; Town and Parish councils including Bleadon; Local residents; NSC declare a climate emergency; earthquakes, potential water pollution.

General Info pro-fracking: English government re: National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) but a paragraph was removed following High Court ruling that it was 'unlawful'; planning 'permitted development'; New government leader up until his appointment - see quotes at end of this article.

------

As you may be aware properties and land in Bleadon and the surrounding areas, from Clevedon to Cossington and out to Exmoor National Park, are in 'fracking' licence zones.

On Wednesday 31 July 19, Sedgemoor District Council, whose licence is adjacent to Bleadon's, is being asked to declare its area 'frack-free'. Residents in the affected villages are being asked to email Conservative Sedgemoor councillors asking them to support the motion. See the Frack-free EQS post below that states:

You can find [a Conservative] councillor ... and their email contact detail here: 

Dear Cllr XXXX

I am a resident of XXXX and I am writing to you, as my District Councillor, to request that you support the motion being proposed at the Full Council Meeting on 31th July to Make Sedgemoor District a Frack Free Zone.

Yours sincerely,

(Your Name & Date)

If you have friends and family in Sedgemoor please forward this message onto them. If you want to protect your neighbouring community too you may also want to support the motion.

You can find related maps and further information on BOB's 'fracking' page.

---- Original Frack-free EQS Post

Frack Free EQS - Exmoor Quantocks Sedgemoor 23 July

Calling all Sedgemoor residents.

Do you believe in the value of local democracy and would like to make your voice heard on the issue of fracking in your community?

On Wednesday 31th July, Sedgemoor District Councillors will be voting on a motion to make Sedgemoor a Frack Free Zone.

Significant areas of Sedgemoor have been licensed by central government for onshore unconventional shale oil and shale gas development (PEDL 320, 321 and 344, OS Map grid squares ST24, ST25, ST34, ST35), which could include hydraulic fracturing or “fracking” for short. Main settlements affected: Combwich, Cannington, Nether Stowey, Fiddington, Wembdon, Chilton Trinity, Pawlett. Berrow, Brean, Burnham-on-Sea, Highbridge, Burtle, Edington, Puriton, Woolavington, Cossington, Chilton Polden, East Huntspill, West Huntspill, East Brent, Brent Knoll, Mark, Biddisham, Rooksbridge.

The success of this motion will depend wholly on gaining the support of a few Conservative Councillors. These Councillors do not need to tow their party line. They represent you. If you live in the Sedgemoor area please write to your District Councillors asking them to support the motion.

We don’t have much time. It will only take a couple of minutes to do this and it could make all the difference. Also, if you have friends or family that live in the Sedgemoor area please ask them to do the same.

You can find out who your councillor is and their email contact detail here: 

Dear Cllr XXXX

I am a resident of XXXX and I am writing to you, as my District Councillor, to request that you support the motion being proposed at the Full Council Meeting on 31th July to Make Sedgemoor District a Frack Free Zone.

Yours sincerely,

(Your Name & Date)

On 22 July 2019 North Somerset Council posted its Decision Notice to GRANT outline planning permission with S106 (M3) for 17/P/1138/O:

"Site: Land At The Junction Of Bleadon Hill And Bridgwater Road, Weston-SuperMare

 

Description: Outline application for the erection of up to 60 dwellings with associated public open space. All matters reserved for subsequent approval except highway and pedestrian access"

See original application information for 70 dwellings.