WATCHOUSE HILL Owing to incorrect rumour mongering some people seem to think that there is a plan either to ban dogs or to stop people walking on the hill altogether. This is nonsense.
The Parish Council has merely begun discussions with North Somerset about the future of the Hill. One strong possibility is the protection of the orchard by having sheep grazing in that one area. This would obviously require dog proof stiles and fencing. In addition it would be necessary to ensure that everything possible is done to stop dog fouling of the proposed new football pitches. As far as the hill itself is concerned, although the Parish Council is aware that a number of people would like to have it “dog free” that is not the intention. Any future decisions about how to maintain the Hill and whether to fence off any section for grazing, etc. will not be made without full consultation with the community.
UNWANTED TREE FELLING The Parish Council is as distressed as many others are about the felling of the two trees at the bottom of New Road. Yes, the dead one needed to go, but, having persuaded North Somerset Council that the other one was perfectly OK, the next thing we knew they were cutting it down! We are now asking them to finish the job properly and, separately, we are proposing to North Somerset that we take over that small piece of land, which could be made into a pleasant little corner.
STATION ROAD BRIDGE We have received notification from North Somerset Council of measures they are going to take on Station Road bridge; these have to be undertaken because they concern the bridge’s structure and its safety. Effectively, the carriageway will be reduced from 6.5 metres to 5.5 metres, the purpose being to keep heavy weights away from the extreme edges where the bridge is at its weakest. It will, unfortunately, mean the loss of 3 on street parking places. The work is likely to take place early in December.
Hardwick Road Playing Field The Parish Council is proud of the play facilities it has provided for young children at Hardwick Road. Councillors were therefore very disappointed when white paint was poured all over some of the equipment and safety surface at the beginning of September. At the time of writing it is doubtful whether it will be possible to remove it satisfactorily. As hand and footprints were also made the police have been involved. The culprits must have had white paint on their clothes of which their parents might have been aware. It is hoped that by the time the Pill Paper appears the matter might have been resolved. It is sad that anyone should have found it amusing to spoil in this way some equipment much enjoyed by the smallest children in the village.
PEDESTRIAN CROSSING As you are probably aware, a petition has been organised in the village to try to get a pedestrian crossing installed on Heywood Road. This matter was raised at the July Parish Council meeting and it was agreed to ask a representative of North Somerset Council to come and discuss this and the layout of the bus bays at a future meeting. It was pointed out at the meeting that those wanting a new crossing would have to balance the advantages of this against the consequent loss of parking spaces
Annual Parish Meeting This will take place on Monday, 26th April at 8 p.m in the Community Centre. This is an opportunity to find out what the Parish Council has been doing over the past year and to raise issues for their attention.
Monthly meetings Don’t forget that all monthly meetings of the Parish Council are open to the public and there is a public participation session at the beginning of each meeting. Please note that for the next six months trial period meetings will be held upstairs at the Community Centre instead of the main hall. This does not apply to the Annual Meeting referred to above.
Precept The Parish precept for 2004/5 has been set at £74000 – slightly up on last year’s figure. This forms a very small part of the Council Tax. Councillors believe that parishioners want improvements such as better street lighting, play areas, road safety improvements. These can only be achieved if there are resources.
Water Lane Footpath We should soon see a long awaited improvement to the footpath from Water Lane to Westward Drive. Work will be done to stop soil being washed onto the path and lights will be installed. North Somerset will do the work, substantially assisted by Parish Council money. (It would look even better without the large amount of litter dropped on it).
Crime Update Councillors were pleased to hear of improved Parish crime figures, and the great reduction in the problems caused by some young people around the Precinct as a result of the work of our new Community Support Officers. Our new Community Beat Officer – PC Jaz Bartlett – started work at the end of January. Contact him through the Resource Centre or at Portishead Police Station.
Avon River Trail We have received a letter from ‘The Avon River Trail’ asking for stories from the days when the Avon was an important commercial river. The intention is to install interpretation boards and produce a guide book, along the Avon from Pill to Bath. Stories can be sent by post to Ruth Coleman and Peter Milner c/o 11 Somerset Terrace, Windmill Hill, Bristol BS3 4LL or by email to [email protected]
PRECEPT - The most important item at the January meeting was setting the Council precept for 2004/5. After much discussion, the precept was set at £74 000 - slightly up on last year's figure. Councillors believe that Parish folk want improvements such as better street lighting; play areas; road safety improvements – which can only be achieved if there are resources.
WATER LANE FOOTPATH - We should soon see a long awaited improvement to the footpath joining Water Lane to Westward Drive: work will be done to stop soil being washed onto the path and lights will be installed. North Somerset will do the work, substantially assisted by Parish Council money.
CRIME UPDATE - Councillors were pleased to hear of improved Parish crime figures, and the great reduction in the problems caused by some young people around the Precinct as a result of the work of our new police Community Support Officers. Also, our new Community Beat Officer - PC Jaz Bartlett - started work at the end of January. Contact him through the Resource Centre or at Portishead Police Station
PARISH PLAN - The Council agreed to go ahead with the preparation of a Parish Plan (see separate item) and heard that the Civic Service will be held on Sunday March 14 at 11.00 a.m. in Pill Church.
AVON RIVER TRAIL - Finally, we have received a letter from 'The River Avon Trail' asking for stories from the days when the Avon was an important commercial river: the intention is to install interpretation boards, and produce a guide book, along the Avon from Pill to Bath. Stories can be sent by post to Ruth Coleman & Peter Milner, c/o 11 Somerset Terrace, Windmill Hill, Bristol BS3 4LL or by email to [email protected]
PARISH CLERK - The Council has now confirmed the new Clerk as a permanent appointment. A reminder of his contact details – Peter Strother Smith, “Spindles”, Tickenham Hill, Tickenham, Clevedon BS21 6SP (Tel. 01275 859516). He is also available on Tuesday afternoons at Pill Resource Centre from 2.30 p.m. until 4.30 p.m. There is also a post box at the Resource Centre where messages and letters can be left for him to collect.
PAVEMENTS AND FOOTPATHS - The Parish Council has been asked to consider lobbying for a pavement in Lodway from the Memorial Club car park to Costcutters i.e. alongside the Old Brewery, and also to have a handrail on the high pavement from The Poplars down to Debeccas Lane. Before considering these matters further the Council is anxious to hear from anyone who has strong feelings about this – for or against. If you wish to make any comments please contact the Parish Clerk in writing.
STREET LIGHTING - The Parish Council’s policy is to improve street lighting by eliminating “black spots”. Please get in touch with the Clerk if you feel there is such a location, which might require a light.
VANDALISM, NUISANCE AND POLICE MATTERS - The Council is aware that, like all villages, Pill and Easton have their share of vandalism and public nuisance, and that it all too easy to blame lack of police presence when these are not dealt with. However, although we are without a dedicated beat officer at the moment (one is due to be appointed), we are fortunate in having a “police surgery” at Pill Resource Centre on Tuesdays (times variable between 11a.m. and 1 p.m.) These are attended either by the new Community Support Officers or by a nearby beat officer providing cover. Already they have been able to sort out some problems. If you wish to make contact but are unable to come during that time, messages can be left at the Resource Centre. Otherwise of course the police can be contacted in the normal way.
SHIPWAY FARM - Bristol Port Company have lost their appeal at a public inquiry against refusal to give planning permission for car storage at Shipway Farm in Portbury. Since your Parish Council joined forces with Portbury Parish Council to support North Somerset’s refusal, they are naturally relieved at the result.
PARISH PLAN - If anyone who was unable to attend the successful meeting on 22nd October would like to join the steering group for formulating a plan for the future of the Parish, please could they contact Cllr. Gerry Hunt (372940)
OVERGROWN VEGETATION - The Council would like to remind residents that they are responsible for cutting back any vegetation that overhangs or intrudes onto the pavement, the road or any footpath alongside their property.
DISPOSAL OF RUBBISH - Please note that items of rubbish unsuitable or too large for roadside collection can be taken to the North Somerset tip in Valley Road, North Weston (nr. Portishead), which is open seven days a week.
SPEEDWATCH - To date the Council has received insufficient volunteers for this scheme, designed to cut down on speeding in the village (particularly along Priory Road and Lodway). If anyone else would be interested please contact the Parish Clerk. A video giving more information is also available.
CRIME FIGURES - The April to September crime figures were reported to the October Council meeting. Overall these showed a 36% reduction in Pill and a 37% reduction in Easton compared to the same period in 2002. These compared to a reduction of 19.4% for the whole of North Somerset. However there was an increase in three areas – 5 house burglaries in Easton (up from 2), 9 car thefts in Pill (up from 2) and 6 car thefts in Easton (up from 3). Of the 14 house burglaries recorded in Pill and Easton 11 occurred in September 2003 and an outsider from the parish has been arrested for the majority of these.
TWINNING - Readers may remember that about eighteen months ago the question of possibly twinning with a similar community in Europe was discussed, but then abandoned in the absence of any definite ideas. Suddenly out of the blue we have been contacted by the authorities from St Adresse, a small town just north of Le Havre, saying they would be very interested in a link with Pill and Easton. The literature they have sent suggests it has a similar number of organisations, clubs etc. to ourselves (although better facilities!) and is also home to several pilots who work from Le Havre. One Parish Councillor hopes ((at his own expense!) to visit St Adresse as part of an overnight trip to France in the near future and make contact with the correspondent. It may be that a few other people might like to consider doing the same, either as individuals or as a representative of a group, club etc. This could then lead to an informal link if not a full twinning arrangement in the future. If anyone would like to borrow the information that has been sent from St Adresse, please contact the Clerk, Peter Strother Smith on 859516 or Cllr. Gerry Hunt on 372940.
PEDESTRIAN CROSSING AT HARDWICK ROAD/LODWAY
Skateboard Park - at Ham Green. At its last meeting the Parish Council voted to support the planning application that has been made for the development of the skateboard park, and has recommended its approval by North Somerset planners.
Footpaths - If anyone has any comments/complaints etc concerning any of the footpaths in the parish, please get in touch with Parish Councillor Derek Waters (Tel 374848).
Recycling - Kerbside recycling is now to be made available for anyone within Pill and Easton for paper, glass, cans, textiles and shoes. If you would like more information or a recycling box, please ring 01934 634886.
SEPT 2003
VACANCIES There are two vacancies for the Parish Council. Anyone interested in being co-opted should contact the Clerk, Peter Strother Smith, in writing - either via the Resource Centre or at "Spindles", Tickenham Hill, Tickenham BS21 6SP
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SPEEDWATCH This is a scheme, successfully on trial in some villages, which involves a team of volunteers monitoring and reporting speeding motorists. The Parish Council is considering whether to take part. Anyone interested in finding out more, or possibly offering themselves as a volunteer, should contact the Parish Clerk, Peter Strother Smith, either via the Resource Centre or by phoning 01275 859516. Depending on the response, the Council will arrange a meeting when the scheme can be explained in full
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ROAD SAFETY (1) The Parish Council and North Somerset have accepted that the hatching" at the junction of St George's Hill and the A369 has not been as successful as had been hoped. A third of the hatching is therefore being removed.
ROAD SAFETY (2) A 20 mph limit is being introduced in Rectory Road, together with three "speed humps". Residents have been consulted over this.
KERBSIDE RECYCLING This has now been reintroduced in Pill and Easton for people who have not previously had the opportunity. For details contact North Somerset Waste Management (01275 888888).
CHANGE OF LAND USE The Parish Council is aware that some residents have extended their gardens into land at the rear of their property (some officially and some unofficially!). It should be pointed out that a planning application for change of use must be made if the land was previously agricultural use, and that the presumption will be against that permission being given.
THE PRECINCT Councillors are continuing to receive complaints from traders, residents and shoppers about the playing of football and skateboarding in the precinct. The co-operation of parents would be appreciated in stopping this.
DOG MESS (again!) This time the footpath between Hardwick Road and Oak Grove is under complaint. Please take it home or dispose of it in the bins provided!