The Parish Council is considering the production of a Settlement Character Assessment that could inform both a long term Neighbourhood Plan and in the short term a response to planning applications. Several people have asked what such an assessment might look like. Here is an example from Norton St Philip
The Axbridge Deanery stretches from Burnham on Sea to Easton. Representatives from each parish attend regular synod meetings, which are held in a different parish each time. They aim to support one another across the Deanery and to discuss new ideas.
Our new Bishop, Michael, is also looking at the Bath and Wells Diocese as a part of the national Church. Bishop Michael recently reminded us that the present church structure is very Victorian and not at all like the early Church. Our present day expectation is that we will have a leader, usually a vicar, who will be responsible for the functioning of each local church. The early Church set up by Jesus was very much more a group organised affair. Bishop Michael suggests that perhaps we should look towards that model for the future, in order to make best use of what we have.
The Axbridge Deanery is also considering what might be the best organisation for us to make use of the talents, skills and assets which are to be found in our parishes. This will require thought and prayer.
Members of the P.C.C.’s of the PEW parishes met recently to discus ideas to take to the next Axbridge Synod meeting .
If you have any thoughts, ideas or, suggested areas for development of under used resources in our parishes, please send them to the churchwardens, their contact details are on the back page of the Pew Magazine.
Litchfields, the agents for the Church Commissioners, recently briefed parish councillors about their revised plans for development at Roughmoor Lane. A note, describing what they told us about their plans, can be found here
There will be a chance to ask questions and begin thinking about a village response at a special meeting in the village hall on 1st March from 6.30 to 7.30. Details are here
There will be a longer opportunity to think about how to respond on 19th March at 4.00pm in the village hall. It is hoped that by then Litchfields will have provided more detailed written information that can be shared.
Please could the village Eyes and Ears share this information with their neighbours in their usual way. If you let me know how many paper copies you need to inform those not on-line I will arrange for them to be left for you to collect in the village shop.
A public meeting, to update the village on the latest news from the Church Commissioners agents, Litchfields, will be held in the village hall on Wednesday 1st March from 6.30 – 7.30.
Click here to see a copy of the poster
The February Parish Council newlsetter, including the latest information about housing developments at Roughmoor Lane, can be accessed here
The Parish Council has been told that the Church Commissioners have prepared new proposals for housing development on land off Roughmoor Lane and expect to present them to the council and the village in late February / early March. To read more about this please follow the link here
Users of the new section of the Strawberry Line path from Station Road to Erlon Lane will notice some construction work being undertaken there in the very near future. Contractors will be building a stone and stone dust, level path so that the views along the line can be enjoyed by cyclists, wheelchair users and those with prams and buggies as well as able bodied walkers. A full ecological survey has established where the contractors need to work carefully to protect areas of wildlife interest.
Access to the public footpath that goes from Station Road down past the sewage works will not be affected though users need to be aware that heavy machinery might be crossing. It would be good, however, to avoid walking along the embankment and beyond while the construction work is in progress.
The Parish Council has updated its website to help make information about the preparation of a Neighbourhood Plan more accessible to the village. On these pages you can find all the minutes and agendas of the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group and other working papers relevant to their work. There is also an archive of papers produced by previous working groups.
The Council has asked the same steering group to help co-ordinate a village response to any new proposals put forward by the church commissioners for development adjacent to Roughmoor Lane. There are sepate pages giving access to all the material produced in response to earlier proposals and to any new proposals which may be brought forward.
Litchfields, the agents for the Church Commissioners, have just written to the clerk to the parish council to say that they have still not managed to hold a meeting with the planning department at Mendip. They have therefore asked to defer any meeting with the parish council until the New Year. Further updates will be posted as soon as anything further is known.
Westbury Community Tree Nursery is holding an open day on Saturday 15th October from 11.00 to 3.00. All welcome. Do come and look at what the group has achieved in a few short months and learn about its plans for the future.
Refreshments are available. For further details see here
