UPDATE FOLLOWING BAT & BPC MEETINGS 13 AUG 18

• Residents voted to reject the current proposals and asked for more considered options and costs. Hopefully the new proposals will include the whole Bleadon road and junction network e.g.  Accomodatation Rd, Bridge Rd, Bleadon Mill, Devil's Bridge, Celtic Way, Shiplate Road, etc. as issues at one junction have a knock-on effect on all others.
• BPC's following extra-ordinary meeting agreed with resident outcome and decide not to commit any Bleadon Reserve fund at this time (Aug 18 Min 312.7 & 312.8) No indication of what this £46K Reserve was collected for, or what projects may be affected if it was used for the A370 project.
• The resident meeting was chaired by BAT.
• These proposals for a traffic island and speed reduction were put forward by District Cllr App-Rees in consultation with BPC & a group of residents - not by NSC although they have costed the project.
• It was stated by Cllr App-Rees that "NSC would not be funding any of these options as the officers were not in support of the scheme" (Aug 18 Min 312.7). Costs stated varied from £10K for speed reduction to £200K for traffic lights?
• BPC are investigating a loan option from the Public Works Loan Board (Aug 18 Min 312.7)
• There has been no information published by BPC on any potential S106 funding for Bleadon (May 18 Min 309.19).
• BPC's following extra-ordinary meeting acknowledged that attending residents had put forward some interesting alternative ideas -  to be typed up, shared and considered by councillors in a sub-commitee. to come back with costed options, fund raising ideas, etc. (Aug Min 312.7 - shared with residents?). Will all residents get asked by BPC to input their ideas, as discussed by councillors in May? 
• [Note: BPC A370 project decisions/actions May Min 309.19 including payment for leaflet (Aug Min 312.12 - £85), hall and newsletter article?]

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Bleadon Parish Council (BPC) has convened a resident consultation meeting for Monday 13 August 2018 at 7pm to discuss A370 road safety improvements. Some of you may have received a green leaflet inviting you to attend and discuss parishioners’ proposals. NB This green leaflet was not on BPC headed paper, nor was it posted with an agenda on the parish notice boards, nor was information posted on the BPC website or in their parish newsletter 

No one wants to see any more road accidents or deaths, as we have sadly experienced, but this project needs to have input from ALL residents in relation to all projects and aspirations in the parish. Things to consider for this project include:

1. Why do residents need to pay up to £32K for a NSC statutory duty?
2. What happened to any Section 106 and CIL funding from existing developments (Riverside Caravans, Old Boot Sale Site, Wake Park, Quarry)?
3. Would any proposed developments pay for this project if applications went ahead (e.g. Sanders Fields, Devil’s Bridge)?
4. Why the lack of prior access to project information, reports and resident inclusion?
5. Why the urgency of an immediate BPC full council decision following limited consultation?
6. Will the use of Bleadon’s Reserve funds affect other projects that this money was perhaps saved for?

7. Some accident statistics June 18 Min 310.9

   • 13 accidents with 27 injuries (1 fatal) at Accommodation Road and
   • 4 accidents with 8 injuries (1 fatal) at Bridge Road.
8. The new A370 project costs are as follows (Aug Agenda item 312.8):

• 40mph Speed Limit Only -                             £10,515.97
• Crossing Point by Bridge Rd Junction Only   £28,015.07
• Both -                                                              £31,582.16 [£7K discount??]

It is good to see that some items raised in the adopted 2009 Parish Plan process are being considered by new councillors but, as BOB has frequently said, surely this should involve a more open, transparent and inclusive approach involving ALL residents not just a select few that are informed or able to physically attend BPC meetings? 

For more information see May Min 309.19,  Jun Min 310.09,  July Min 311.18, see also 1972 LG Act and parish polls e.g. Yatton, and notes below.

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NOTES:

1. NSC Duty: The green leaflet and BPC website indicated that North Somerset Council (NSC) has drawn up a plan for improving road safety that may require residents to fund up to £32K. If NSC has a statutory duty for highways, and this is a NSC plan, why are residents being asked to fund this potential £32K project? Why no access to reports before now e.g. Feb 18 Min 305.12?

2. S106/CIL: There have been several major planning and development projects in Bleadon in the last few years but none of these has addressed the speed limit or crossing issues to date, why? What has happened to S106 and CIL funding in Bleadon, did BPC receive S106 information from NSC in May, if so why hasn't any information been published yet? (May 18 Min 309.19)

3. New Developments: It should be noted that if the Sanders Fields development is approved it may be conditioned to pay for road improvements through Section106/CIL thus negating NSC/BPC to pay at all. Precept reserves could then be kept for other parish projects. So could we wait for that decision?

4. Access to Information: Consequently residents will now only be given 2 hours access to this A370 project information, costs and safety statistics. Attending residents (not all parishioners) who have been informed will then be asked their views, suggestions and any other options BPC could consider. Why hasn’t this information been released to all residents prior to this BPC convened meeting? (May 18 Min 309.19.2) Surely ALL the parish households should be consulted, perhaps by a referendum of multi choice like a mini 2005-9 plan questionnaire? After all BPC has twice managed to get green leaflets out to some residents, they could also have included information and a return slip of ideas.

5. Urgent Meeting?: Immediately after this consultation meeting BPC is holding a full council extraordinary meeting, at 9pm, to decide whether to spend resident’s money on this project and if so how much. Residents may only speak at the full council meeting if prior notification has been given to the Clerk by noon on Friday, 10 August 2018, yet residents will not have access to the project information until 2 hours prior to the council meeting on 13^th August 2018? (Aug 18 Agenda). Why the urgency of the A370 project without inclusive consultation and full information? What is NSC’s deadline for BPC’s decision and why?

6. Affected Projects?: At the Aug 18  meeting BPC are "To Consider the use of Parish council reserves [both?] for A370 road safety improvements (Agenda Item 312.8).

• General Reserve  £25,000.00
• Special Reserve*  £21,000.00 *this is a restricted reserve specifically for improvements in the parish."

What is the difference between BPC's General Reserve and its Special Reserve, what are they reserved for? Especially in relation to the guidance?

The Good Councillor's Guide to Finance and Transparency on Reserves states, "A council should typically hold between 3 and 12 months expenditure as a general reserve. If the general reserve is too low then it may not be enough to cover unexpected expenditure or emergencies, whilst if the general reserve is too high then local electors have paid a tax which is not being used for the benefit of the local community.

Local councils have no legal powers to hold revenue reserves other than for reasonable working capital or for specifically earmarked purposes, therefore the year-end general reserve should not be significantly higher than the annual precept."

So what projects were the reserves being held for, and what will happen to those projects now? How will this affect the precept next year?

7. Accident Statistics: The original 2009 Parish Action Plan planned to resolve pedestrian safety, traffic management at junctions and reduce speeds throughout the village, involving Accommodation Road, Bridge Road and the A370 but many other areas were also identified. June 18 Min 310.9 Accident Statistics: "Clerk has received the accident statistics for the two junctions from 2008 to March 2018 showing:

• 13 accidents with 27 injuries (1 fatal) at Accommodation Road and
• 4 accidents with 8 injuries (1 fatal) at Bridge Road."

8. Project Costs/Payment: There is a lack of clarity with regards to Bleadon’s financial reserves, and the costs and funding approach to projects to date but BPC appear to be currently holding a total of £56,600 of resident money in reserve (July 18 Min 311.11 vs 311.9 vs May 18 309.19). Councillors  appear to be considering using either or both the General (£25K) and Special (£21K) allocations of the reserve for the A370 project (Aug 18 Agenda item 312.7) but it is not clear whether this is paying the full cost of the project or 50% as indicated in Feb 18 Min 305.12, nor is it clear what residents may have agreed to at the April APM (Resolution 1). The new A370 project costs are as follows (Aug Agenda item 312.8): 

• 40mph Speed Limit Only - £10,515.97
• Crossing Point Only -        £28,015.07
• Both -                                 £31,582.16 [£7K discount??]

NB There is  indicating that it is good practice to only hold 3–12 months of the £44K precept. BPC appear to have protected the current reserves by increasing this year's precept demand from residents by £13.44% (Nov 17 Min F&P Min 52.5). So what projects were the reserves being held for, and what will happen to those projects now? How will this affect the precept next year?

• Staff contingency       £ 3,500.00
• Staff gratuity/pension £ 1,000.00
• Election expenses      £ 3,100.00
• Special reserve*         £21,000.00 restricted specifically for improvements in the parish.
• General reserve         £25,000.00
• Church Grounds         £ 3,000.00  
• TOTAL                       £56,600.00

9. OTHER: A Parish Poll is a (seldom used) democratic tool which allows for a ballot of local government electors in the parish to be called on any question arising at a parish meeting. Although non-binding, meaning that the results of the poll do not have to be followed by BPC/NSC, the poll will provide an indication of support, which should guide the Council(s). See also 'Ask Your Council' website.

The government has released its revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF 24 July 2018) with mixed reaction as seen below:

• Local Government: "Whitehall has ‘not listened’ to the concerns of local authorities when it comes to national housing targets... introduces a Housing Delivery Test, which will come into force in November this year. This measures the number of homes delivered rather than just planned for … this test would punish councils when private developers fail to build." 

• Property: "'Fundamental to building the homes our country needs is ensuring that our planning system is fit for the future. This revised planning framework sets out our vision of a planning system that delivers the homes we need,' said Secretary of State for Housing" 

• Legal: "The old paragraph 14 presumption in favour of sustainable development is now replaced with a new and revised paragraph 11 presumption which includes reference to a new "housing delivery test. This will cause concern to local planning authorities that have underperformed on housing delivery as it places greater responsibility on them to deliver target housing numbers and includes sanctions for failing to meet housebuilding targets in local plans. This will effectively render its adopted local plan policies as out-of-date"
• Wildlife Trusts: "The good news is that Local Wildlife Sites have been reinstated in the document released today ... local councils will need to identify, map and safeguard components of the local ecological networks … The bad news is that the wording doesn’t go quite as far as we would like – we would have preferred an explicit recommendation against development of these sites." 

• Construction: "Builders' representatives said the new document was a missed opportunity but the quarrying sector welcomed it ... The Mineral Products Association (MPA) ... has welcomed the new document" 

• Environmental: "By requiring planning authorities to plan positively for shale extraction, the approach gives the go-ahead for fracking and will make it virtually impossible for councils to refuse schemes they and their communities do not want or consider right for their area". See also BOB's Fracking page.

UPDATE 26 JULY 2018: Friends of the Earth state, "The National Planning Policy Framework, which was released on the very last day of parliament (24 July), promotes fracking ... Friends of the Earth is concerned that ... By requiring planning authorities to plan positively for shale extraction, the approach gives the go-ahead for fracking and will make it virtually impossible for councils to refuse schemes they and their communities do not want or consider right for their area"

UPDATE 24 JULY 2018: Sum of Us create a petition stating, "Secretary Greg Clarke has just announced plans to fast track planning applications for fracking developments ... they'd not need planning permission at all. Local councils would also lose any right to have their say in the matter."

Reference: Revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) 24 July 2018 e.g. Section 17 Facilitating the sustainable use of minerals, page 58 (mineral extraction) and Section 14. Meeting the challenge of climate change, flooding and coastal change. Also, see BOB Revised Planning Policy blog.

NB: It is indicated that all Neighbourhood Development Plans will need to comply with the NPPF (directly or indirectly), see policy heirarchy diagram.

For more information on how this may affect Bleadon see BOB's Fracking page.

BPC are residents' Statutory Consultee and so are automatically informed of any consultations that may affect our community. Since April 2016, BPC decided to remove the Correspondence section from their published Agenda, so residents can no longer see who is requesting information and/or consultation from BPC on our/residents' behalf.

The following public consultations will be finishing soon: 

• Bristol Airport Expansion consultation Stage 2 deadline is 06 July 2018. BOB can find no reference to this consultation in BPC published information, so is unsure whether BPC was requested to comment on our behalf. Previous Stage 1 consultation ended Jan 2018

• Celtic Way Appeal has been lodge for the conversion of a stable to a dwelling. Deadline for additional comments is Friday 13 July 18. 

BPC's next public meeting is Monday Monday 9th July. NB. Members of the public may request to speak and ask questions in the Public Participation section of the meeting. Presubmission of your query to the BPC Clerk is advised.

The Applicant of the Celtic Way application for conversion of a stable to a dwelling is taking the NSC decision to refuse this application to appeal. Appeal Reference: APP/D0121/W/18/3200632 on the Planning Inspectorate website states the details including contact details of the Case Officer and phone number. Deadline for additional comments is Friday 13 July 18. 

As BOB understands the process all the original comments will be seen by the Planning Inspector. It is unfortunate (to say the least) that Bleadon Parish Council did not object (although NSC did), despite this site being outside the Settlement Boundary. Yet conversely BPC did object to the Rivermead application, also outside boundary, but NSC approved it! Both the NSC Local Plan and BPC adopted Parish Plan state that development in Bleadon should be constrained within the Settlement Boundary. The applicant has cited these anomalies in their Appeal Statement as reasons for overturning NSC decision. 

We do not know whether BPC is reconsidering their previous decision or whether they will now be urgently writing to the inspector, as it does not appear to be on their agenda for the BPC meeting on Monday 9th July. (NB. Members of the public may request to speak and ask questions in the public participation section of the meeting.)

STOP PRESS: 6 July 2018 - BPC have convened a planning meeting for 12th July 2018 (day before deadline for additional comment to Planning Inspector) where they will discuss this Agenda here

2 Aug 2018 - NSC Appeal Statement and Appelant Response as per 13 July deadline to Planning Inspectorate. NB:  In their meeting of 12 July (P69.6), BPC changed their mind and resolved to write to Inspector with objections, but this is not shown on NSC or PI websites.

Sadly there has been yet another serious road traffic accident on the A370 Bleadon. 

Although very little has been published on BPC's Bridge Road/A370 Project to date, in May BPC stated they will be sending out some information, requesting residents' suggestions and holding a meeting in August re: Road Safety Proposals:

FYI, BOB has summarised some background information from large scale developments in Bleadon since 2014 including some S106 information from:

• Wake Park S106, Jan 2018
• Riverside Caravan Park, Oct 2017
• Old Boot Sale Site Accommodation Road, May 2016 & 2017
• Quarry, Aug 2014

 Also some BPC minutes:

• May 2018 (Min 309.19) - re: Bridge Rd Junction " It would be possible to include it later on in this financial year if fully funded from non-NSC budgets.  Otherwise it will be put on the programming list for 2019/2020." Also comment on Traffic Lights, one-way system, S106
• Feb 2018 (Min 305.12) -  "The Chairman read a report from Councillor Dobson ... The early estimate of cost is over £21,000.  Mr Bailey explained that NSC funds are restricted and a contribution form Bleadon PC and Marshalls would help to raise the priority of the scheme  ...  An overall 50% contribution would give the scheme a good chance."
• Oct 2016 (Min 288.4) - re: A370, Traffic Lights Speed Limit, Bridge Rd Junction

It seems that although road improvements have been agreed with the Wake Park and Quarry developments these will not happen until they start to be built. Conversely, the £12 million Caravan Park development that has gone ahead has not been required to contribute to any road traffic improvements? Does this mean that Bleadon residents will be expected to pay the tens of thousands of pounds to create them instead? If so, will there be any ongoing repair and maintenance costs for Bleadon residents? When those developments do happen will their Section 106 obligation be spent elsewhere in North Somerset?

Whatever improvements NSC may or may not take we can only hope that drivers take much more care when driving, and police enforce traffic laws. 

BPC has published its minutes confirming that the council is now running at its full capacity of 9 councillors. Four councillors were co-opted at the 04 May18 (Min 308.5) and another two at the 14 May 18 meeting (Min 309.5). Five of the six new councillors are members of the Bleadon Acting Together group (formerly known as Bleadon Action Group). Bleadon’s six new councillors are:

• Cllr Jim Baines (Chair)
• Cllr Kirsten Hemingway
• Cllr Jo Richardson
• Cllr Andy Scarisbrick
• Cllr Anne Selway
• Cllr Gill Williams

Councillors’ individual and group responsibilities can be seen here as published by BPC.

With such an influx of new councillors BOB is looking forward to a more open, honest and transparent approach by BPC, with better access to timely and accurate information regarding the decisions and activities undertaken on behalf of residents by BPC. We will keep you posted ...

Next Parish Council Meeting

7.00pm Monday 14th May 2018, Coronation Hall.

This will be the Annual Meeting of the Parish Council.  The first items on the agenda are to elect the Chairman and the vice-Chairman.  You are reminded that there are 6 vacancies on the Council and applications are welcomed!!

Click here to view Agenda and Minute documents

NOTICE OF VACANCY - 5th April 2018

Due to the resignations of Richard Dobson and David Chinn there are two vacancies on the Parish Council. 

If by 25 April, 2018 (14 working days after the date of the notice) a request for an election to fill the vacancies is made in writing to the Returning Officer at Town Hall, Walliscote Grove Road, Weston-super-Mare, BS23 1UJ by TEN electors for the Parish then an election will be held to fill the vacancies, otherwise the vacancies will be filled by co-option.  If an election is called, it will take place not later than 29 June, 2018.  Click here for the formal notice which was posted on the noticeboards on 5th April 2018.  Click here for eligibility criteria.

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Information above as kindly provided by BPC website on 19 April 2018.

Co-option information from CPALC

It`s been done before and an Election was called NSC info here

A Planning Application for Big Storage Barn and new access road on Bleadon Hill near Purn Hill Nature reserve off Purn Lane / Purn Road. Notice on gate to field. Resident spoke to council but letters only received by residents 16th April. Deadline for comments is Thursday 3rd May. North Somerset Council Reference is: 18/P/2709/FUL  Looks an odd application due to Nature reserve / wood vicinity, blot on landscape (size) and access road (transport issues with farm vehicles)!

This would appear to be another top access road and additional barn to the same land as the 2015 'Blackstones' Agricultural Building Applications 15/P/1952/PDA and 15/P/1571/PDA that has access at bottom via Facum/Fakenham Lane (the old original Bridgwater Road, adjacent to A370 along from Coombe Farm, bottom of Purn Lane).

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.

Enlarged Image

Outline planning permission for the erection of up to 200 dwellings, a Health Centre, a Doctors Surgery, retail outlets and office/employment space with all matters reserved for subsequent approval. Land Off Bleadon Road Bleadon North Somerset.

Comments deadline is 03 May 2018. Here is the link to the application 17/P/5545/OUT 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. Please also remind your neighbours too.

The Bleadon Acting Together Group is also happy to help and hear from you if you would like some further information.UPDATE (15 may 2018): The group submit an objection to NSC re: 200 houses application via a proffesional consultant.

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Important Dates

​

NB: When did NSC officers, and or District Councillors, notify BPC about this application? This application was published on the NSC Planning Weekly & Monthly Lists, validated week beginning 19 Mar 18, accessible to Parish Councils? BPC met on 12 & 28 Mar 18, and APM on 10 Apr 18. There was no BPC Full Council meeting scheduled in April and there is none scheduled until 14 May 18 (as of 10 Apr 18).

A few notes:

• Just because health facilities/doctor's surgery is offered doesn't mean that it will be built and/or staffed. NSC do not manage this service (NHS England/Central Government do).
• Worst case scenario, 200 houses are built but no health/doctors services.

If you would like to effectively object to this application, information on how to do so can be found on BOB. Also a resident has asked BOB to post these objection notes.

What policies and plans can be used to protect Bleadon?

Bleadon Parish Plan

In the adopted 2009-29 Parish Plan, as seen in the 103 Improvements, residents of Bleadon made it quite clear that they wanted to retain the character of Bleadon "Ensure that new development remain the scale and style of our Somerset village . Ensure that all new development remains within the Village Settlement Boundary" Also, "Through the Planning process vigorously question all development outside the Village Settlement . Protect and enhance bio-diversity and the rural landscape through the District Council's Planning and Environmental policies"

Bleadon Neighbourhood Plan

In Dec 2012 BPC originally investigated a Neighbourhood Plan but ultimately decided against one (Min 249.5.5). In Aug 2017 BPC "Estimated two years to complete the full plan, however highlighted that if there is an emerging plan it is something that will be considered in local planning decisions." (Min 298.25). In Feb 2018 stated "The initial urgency [for a NDP] was due to grant funding ending in March 2018" ; acknowledged that the "opportunity to limit current over-development has [already] been lost" and then "Agreed that the Neighbourhood Plan Process be suspended." (Min 305.10). In Apr 18, at the Annual Parish Meeting, BPC were asked to update 'all' residents on their NDP Project to date. Hopefully BPC will release the project information, and state whether there is an 'emerging plan' from their project work since July 2017, that can help Bleadon with this application, ASAP.

NSC Local Plan

"The Core Strategy is the main planning document which guides development choices and decisions in North Somerset. The strategy was adopted on 10 April 2012. Following a high court challenge nine policies were remitted for re-examination". Hopefully BPC can update residents on this and how it can help Bleadon with this application ASAP., Policies that may help include:

• North Somerset Core Strategy E,g, CS14, CS17 & CS33

• North Somerset Sites & Policies Development Plan (SAP)
• SAP Part 1 Development Management Policies e,g, DM11(ANOB), DM44,45,46,51,53,54(CS33)
• SAP Part 2 Sites Allocations Plan examination: further residential sites timetable

NSC New Local Plan. "Work has now commenced on the new Local Plan which will provide detailed policies and additional housing, employment and other land allocations up to 2036. It will review and roll-forward policies and allocations in existing development plan documents and plan for the housing, jobs and infrastructure set out in the Joint Spatial Plan (JSP)" Hopefully BPC can give residents an update on these projects and how they can help Bleadon with this application ASAP.

NSC Sites & Policies Plan

In Jan 2018 District Councillor Porter stated "... With regard to NSC’s Sites and Policies Plan, he was hopeful that the Inspector would sign it off as acceptable in the not too distant future and this would put the planning authority in a much stronger position." (Min 304.4) Hopefully BPC can give residents an update on this and how it can help Bleadon with this application ASAP.

Settlement Boundary

In Aug 2017 BPC "To review and discuss the correspondence regarding North Somerset Local Plan 2018-2036 - Bleadon Settlement Profile." (Min 298.7) Hopefully BPC can give residents an update on this and how it can help Bleadon with this application ASAP.