Pill & Easton-in-Gordano Parish CouncilThere are a large number of interconnected groups in the village working to improve our local environment for wildlife and to help the battle against the climate crisis. This diagram is intended to show all these groups and how they link together. In some cases there are the names of the people co-ordinating the group’s activities.
WERN are able to offer those in our community aged 70+, free membership (normally £20pa) to their oil buying scheme.
Please find a flyer below that explains how the scheme works and how you can join.
North Somerset Council is looking for views on how to improve the area’s Public Rights of Way network in a consultation that opened at noon today (Monday 22 August).
Public Rights of Way (PRoW) provide people with permission to access land, allowing them to pass along routes whenever they choose. All PRoW can be walked on, while some are also open to horseriders, cyclists or motorcyclists.
The current draft ten-year plan proposes five key objectives, to be delivered by 31 actions. People are invited to have their say on:
The responses received from the consultation will help finalise an improvement plan to be considered by the Executive in December 2022.
Councillor Mike Solomon, North Somerset Council’s executive member for neighbourhoods and community services, said: “We want our Public Rights of Way network to be connected, accessible and well-maintained. It’s crucial that we plan to meet not only current but future needs of users. Public Rights of Way have so many benefits – they encourage engagement with the natural environment and promote health through exercise and leisure – and all while helping to reduce carbon emissions.
“I encourage people to get involved and tell us what they would like to see. Their views will really make a difference and help us to shape the way we deliver the service.”
To find out more and take part in the consultation by 2pm on Friday 7 October, visit: www.n-somerset.gov.uk/RightsofWay2022.
To find out more about the PRoW network across North Somerset, visit: www.n-somerset.gov.uk/publicrightsofway.
During the seven-week consultation period, several engagement sessions are being held to get the views of town and parish councils. The council is also seeking feedback from organisations including The Ramblers’ Association, Bridleways and Access North Somerset, Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Sustrans.
A message from the Chairman of Pill & Easton-in-Gordano Parish Council.
Buckingham Palace has announced the sad passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday 8th September 2022. Her majesty passed away peacefully this afternoon at Balmoral Castle. On behalf of Pill & Easton-in- Gordano Parish Council, I extend our deepest condolences to the Royal Family at this difficult time.
Parishioners can visit the official Royal website to leave messages of condolence electronically.
A physical book of condolence will shortly be made available at the Parish Council office at The Resource Centre.
Opening times for the Resource Centre are as follows:
Monday 9.30am to 3.30pm
Tuesday 9.30am to 3.30pm
Wednesday 9.30am to 3.30pm
Thursday 11.15am to 3.30pm
Friday 9.30am to 11.15am
Saturday 10.00am to 12noon
For the latest details from Buckingham Palace, please visit https://www.royal.uk/
In October 2021 Pill & Easton-in-Gordano Parish council volunteers made a grant application for ‘the Welcome Back Fund’ from the Government and the European Union regional development fund to assist in improving the precinct. The fund was set up by the government to ‘Welcome our communities back’ to our highstreets after the pandemic. To encourage more people to use local businesses, enhance the local surroundings, create a better sense of wellbeing, safety, boost the local economy and reduce social isolation.
Numerous items were applied for via North Somerset council’s economic development team. The application was successful. Lucy Byrne was appointed by the Parish council to source items and work with all stakeholders and community groups to deliver the project by the end of March 2022.
With some irony, the Pandemic wasn’t ‘playing ball’ and there were some delays in delivering and installing a few items. But fun was had by all who attended the welcome back ‘Picnic in the Park’ at the end of March 2022 to celebrate all that had been achieved. The Village Map was installed just days before the event and the sun was shining. Sadly Lucy contracted Covid the day before and couldn’t attend, however the day was captured beautifully by Will Martcome of Pecky Necky films
You can watch the short film here: https://youtu.be/1xppjRBvo3I
Many elements have been installed by Alliance homes maintenance team and we owe enormous thanks to Jon Nettleton for his efforts above and beyond.
The project has been an overwhelming success thanks to many fantastic people and organisations. We are enormously grateful to all who’ve volunteered a lot of time to enable the timely delivery of all the various elements. Aileen Edwards for the application help, Julie Smart & the Resource Centre for admin support, North Somerset Council – Josyanne & Gerrard for excellent and encouraging support, Alliance Homes – Michael Williams for leading a supportive working relationship & Jon Nettleton from the maintenance team for his herculean efforts installing items, Shruti for her fantastic murals which show so many positive images of our community, the local school children who planted up planters and designed and painted the bollards, the Cubs and Brownies who planted up the planters, the Youth club who planted up the bike lock planter by the Library, the Library staff for their support, the Co-op for permission to use their walls, Oven Gleamers for the use of their window for displays, the Christmas lights team & local volunteers for putting together the picnic bench and loaning equipment, Justin Saunders and the ‘Wall map design team’ and Jez from ‘that copy shop’ for getting the map installed at short notice, James Addis and The Salvation Army for accepting large deliveries, Marcus Sherborne and The Firestation for use of their yard for deliveries and supporting the celebratory event, Jo Burt and all those from the children’s and youth Partnership and other volunteers who’ve helped with the celebratory event ‘Picnic in the Park’ and all the precinct improvement group volunteers who are continuing to work on projects to further enhance the precinct and surrounding areas.
There are now 2 large Gazebos, a heavy duty trolley, 4 bistro sets and 2 chalk sandwich boards all available to hire for FREE! from the Resource Centre for use at community events and markets by local groups and businesses. It is our hope that these resources and all the installations, benches and planters will help enhance community interactions, encouraging more community events helping to build a thriving community.
The Parish council’s Precinct improvement group is continuing to work on further enhancements for the precinct and surrounding areas. To join the group or share ideas you can email Lucy Byrne at: peigprecinct@gmail.com
What’s been installed and Purchased:
4 x Planters with water reservoirs on the precinct. Installed by Alliance Homes and planted by the Cubs, the Brownies, Children from Crockerne (below) and Children from St Katherine’s school
The children sowed sunflower seeds, which have grown and are now giving nectar for bees and are a symbol of solidarity with Ukraine.
A picnic Bench for the Green, installed by Christmas Lights Volunteers and help from Iain, Bob, Mason and Josh
Two Murals designed by Shruti from Mantra Murals to reflect our community and local surroundings
The bollard painting by local school children
The bike lock planter, planted with herbs and flowers by Youth club children, installed by Alliance homes, situated at the Library. There are watering cans in the Library for local residents to use to keep it watered.
Hire of a Portaloo for events
2 x Chalkboards for Community use
2 x large green and white striped Gazebos Free for community use
A heavy duty Trolley for transporting items
4 x colourful Bistro sets Free to use for community events
11 x recycled plastic planters to replace all the old concrete Pill in bloom planters. Installed by Jon Nettleton from Alliance Homes
A disabled access picnic bench located on the Village green installed by Alliance homes
(*awaiting picture in situ)
3 benches from recycled plastic – 2 on the precinct and 1 looking over the creek installed by Alliance homes who also removed the old damaged ones.
A play boat from recycled plastic on the green outside The Duke of Cornwall
A new Wall Map of the village with local points of interest marked located at the precinct, printed and installed by That copy shop, Clevedon.
Please find below a job advert for part-time heatview surveyors to conduct thermal imaging surveys of the interior of homes.
Some weeks ago North Somerset Council requested applications from Parish Councils for funding for play equipment.
A small group of our parish councillors looked into the matter and after obtaining input from interested members of the community, they identified suitable equipment, obtained quotes, confirmed matched funding, etc., then submitted a bid to NSC via an on-line application form prior to the deadline of 5.00pm on Thu 30 Jun 22.
When NSC declared the results Pill and Easton in Gordano were not included on the list of successful bidders. On querying this we were advised that NSC had not received our application.
Naturally we are disappointed by this and we are looking into the matter to see if the glitch was at our end, if only to ensure that any errors are not repeated in the future.
Although the NSC funding now appears to be in doubt we are still aware of the need to do something about the existing state of the play equipment and will look to what we can do about this.
We will issue a further statement once we are in full possession of the facts but as this may take a little time your patience will be appreciated.
For all those members of our community who are adversely affected by this please accept my apologies.
Trevor Wraith
Chair
Have Your Say
Public Consultation Event
12.00 – 20.00 Thursday 21 July
Pill Community Centre
Come along to the Community Centre this Thursday to find out the detailed proposals for the 20mph zone. You’ll be able to talk to NSC traffic officers and make comments on the scheme.
The Parish Council has been pressing for a scheme like this for a long time, and we know that many villagers can’t wait for it to happen: if you are in that large group, please get along to support the scheme – it does just about everything the Council has hoped for.
After the event on Thursday, you can also have your say at www.n-somerset.gov.uk/Pill&Easton-in-Gordano20mph
The Parish Council have received a lovely letter of thanks from Crockerne Primary School for allowing the Chestnut Field to be used for their Circus event, which raised an incredible £3300 for the kids at Crockerne.
Here’s the thank you letter:
For information, please find below the NSC Statement of Persons Nominated for the upcoming election on 14th July.
