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Bus improvements from 2 April for Backwell pupils

Sun, 26 Feb 2023 18:27:56 GMT

First Bus promise new service to 'match Backwell School start and finish times'

Last summer when the X2 service was cancelled those of us with children at Backwell School were shocked. With the remaining bus times unsuitable for school travel many of us have had to make alternative arrangements.

Last summer I was given notice of the intention to cancel the X2 service and although I pressured First Bus, via North Somerset Council, to make timetable changes to the X7 to allow children to get to and from school at a reasonable time, this was unsuccessful. With the cancellation of the service many local residents and parents signed a petition to get the timetable changed to help our children get to and from school at a reasonable time. Over the past few months I have continued to ask First Bus to reinstate the services we rely upon.

I am pleased to report that this week First Bus annouced that from 2 April they will be introducing a new X8 service which, they say, will align with the school day. More specifically they said:

"Service X8 Nailsea - Bristol - this new service will be introduced to provide a Monday-Saturday hourly service from Bristol to Nailsea Link Road via Long Ashton, Backwell, and Nailsea and Backwell Station, with journeys timed to match Backwell School start and finish times. The new timetable and route map will be available to view soon".

( Click here for full statement )

The existing X7 service will cease to travel via Backwell, instead going through Wraxall on its way to Clevedon.

Improved Park & Ride and evening services too!

For those of you that signed the petition you will recall that we didn't just ask for better buses for school children, we also wanted to reinstate better evening services through Long Ashton.

Responding to the pressure I and others have been putting on First Bus they specifically mentioned Long Ashton on their statement of timetable changes, noting:

"All Long Ashton services – the combination of Services X7, X8 and X9 will provide an improved, every 15-minute Monday-Saturday daytime service for Long Ashton, with buses every 30 minutes in the evenings"

This is great news and I am really pleased. In addition First Bus are proposing to increase the frequency of services from the park and ride into Bristol from every 20 minutes to every 15 minutes.

Thank you everyone, and thank you First Bus

A big thank you to everyone who signed the petition and contacted me about this issue. Being able to demonstrate that people are upset about a loss of a bus service is important in justifying its return. Although we have yet to see the new timetable we must also thank First Bus to listening to our concerns.

If you want to keep up to date on local issues in and around Long Ashton, Failand, Wraxall, and Leigh Woods then please sign up to my newsletter. If comes out roughly every other month and is a summary of all the articles I post on this website and social media.

You now need a valid ID to vote

Mon, 23 Jan 2023 17:30:29 GMT

New rules mean you'll need a valid ID to vote

From 4th May this year voters will need to show a valid photo ID to vote. Initially these new rules will only apply in local elections but from October 2023 they will also apply to UK General elections.

This year on 4th May we have local elections here in North Somerset, so it's important that you check to see whether you have a valid form of photo ID. Accepted forms of photo ID will include a UK passport or driving license. You don't need photo ID to vote by post.

There are lots of other forms of photo ID that are valid. These include a blue badge and some bus passes. However, it's important that you check to make sure that the ID you intend to use qualifies. A full list of accepted ID can be found on the Electoral Commission website .

Please check that the name on your ID corresponds with that on your polling card (when it arrives). Different names will likely mean you will be turned away from the polling station. However, the Electoral Commission has stated that it doesn't matter if your photo ID is out of date, as long as it looks like you.

What to do if you don't have ID

It is estimated that a small number of us, a few thousand across North Somerset, will not have any valid ID. If you don't have an accepted form of photo ID you can apply for a free voter ID document, known as a Voter Authority Certificate, on gov.uk . Alternatively, if you don't have online access then please call the electoral registration team at North Somerset Council on 1934 634 909 and they will arrange for a paper application form to be sent to you.

The deadline to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate for this years local elections on is 5pm on Tuesday 25th April 2023. Please remember that you need to be registered to vote before you apply for a Voter Authority Certificate.

How do I register to vote?

The deadline to register to vote in the local elections on 4th May 2023 is 11:59pm on Monday 17th April.

If you haven't registered, then you can find out more on either the electoral commissions website , on gov.uk , or if you don't have online access by calling North Somerset Council on 01934 634 909.

Disclaimer: This is a general article designed to highlight the new rules around voter ID. Although every effort has been made to ensure accuracy it ultimately remains an individual's responsibility to check whether or not they are registered to vote and hold a valid ID. Thank you.

Police enforce 'No left turn'

Sun, 22 Jan 2023 15:53:24 GMT

Police enforce 'no left turn' into Leigh Woods

I received a number of complaints over the autumn of drivers using North Road to jump the morning queue to cross the suspension bridge. I contacted the Police to pass on your concerns and can now report that enforcement action has been undertaken.

We all know that between 7:30am and 9am each morning turning into North Road from the A369 is prohibited. Since the introduction of the clean air zone in Bristol there has been in increase in traffic crossing the bridge as some drivers seek to avoid the daily charge. The residents parking scheme has significantly reduced the amount of commuter parking in North Road, making it quicker and more tempting to use as a 'rat run'. It's not really surprising that more and more drivers are succumbing to temptation.

I contacted our local Police Sergeant who, after an early morning inspection, agreed with me that action needed to be taken. Before the Police could do anything vegetation needed to be cut back to make the sign clearly visible. This was duly done by North Somerset Council allowing and the Police have been enforcing the prohibition over the past couple of weeks.

I am told that dozens of 'traffic offence reports' have been issued. I hope that this will discourage those drivers who persistently use North Road as a rat run to jump the morning bridge queue. The Police Sergeant has said that they will continue with intermittent enforcement.

Bus Service update

ashley.cartman@gmail.com (Ashley Cartman) — Sun, 20 Nov 2022 16:37:21 GMT

First Bus cancel 1,450 Bristol bus services a week

Following on from the cancellation of our X2 service and continued restrictions to late night services First Bus last week added insult to injury by cancelling 1,450 Bristol Bus Services a week until at least April. Although North Somerset services are not impacted (yet), the same cannot be said for connecting services in Bristol. A full list of the cancellations can be found here.

We're all too familiar with ghost buses. Turning up to the bus stop only to find the bus never arrives. First Bus have even acknowledged that the electronic display boards at bus stops as well as on the 'live bus tracker' app don't actually reflect actual buses on the road. As the Bristol Post has reported , the information in the App 'is simply what is supposed to be happening according to the timetable, and not an actual representation of whether the bus is on the road and approaching within a few minutes'.

'Can't get drivers' excuse not good enough

First Bus say that they can't recruit enough bus drivers. This may well be true, but the real question is why they can't they recruit enough drivers and what are they doing about it.

A quick look on Indeed, the recruitment website , to see reviews by current and former employees makes the cause very clear. They simply don't pay enough. Pay and conditions are perceived to be poor with an average rating of 3.1 out of 5 (working as an Amazon Warehouse Operative has a higher score).

First Group, the business that owns First Bus, made profits of £226m in the year to the end of March 2022. This was an increase over the previous year.

First Group could have decided to pay drivers more, to persuade some out of retirement, to convince others among us to have a career change. It was easier for them to cancel services and increase profits. Frankly it's not good enough.

Motion of 'no confidence in First Bus' at North Somerset Council

What makes the situation worse is that First Bus seem unwilling to engage meaningfully with local communities. We all know and understand that there is a driver shortage. Even if First Bus were paying more there would be an issue. In such a situation we want to engage, discuss, and work together. To date this has been seriously lacking.

At a meeting of North Somerset Council earlier this month I was pleased to support a motion by Caritas Charles, a North Somerset Councillor representing Portishead, declaring no confidence in First Bus.

Although the motion was defeated, you can watch my short (under 90 seconds) speech opposite.

We were also pleased to get some coverage on the BBC website where I was quoted as saying residents are "sick and tired" of the situation - which we are.

Please sign my bus petition.....

As one of the North Somerset Councillors for Long Ashton, Leigh Woods, Failand, and Wraxall I am collecting signatures for a local petition. You can join hundreds who have already signed, please click here to add your name.

I plan to present the petition to the next meeting of North Somerset Council in January 2023. I hope that as a consequence a representative of First Bus will come to meet us to discuss our concerns.

Portishead Golf course saved and designated as a village green

ashley.cartman@gmail.com (Ashley Cartman) — Mon, 14 Nov 2022 17:49:23 GMT

Former Golf course officially turned into 'village green'

TEXT from North Somerset Council press release:

North Somerset Council has secured the future of Portishead’s former approach golf course as a protected public open space for the longterm benefit of residents and visitors.

Having worked with residents and Portishead Town Council, the council voluntarily offered the land up as a ‘town and village green’. The legal process has now completed which means the land cannot be built on and will be retained forever as community open space.

The council is keen to hear residents’ views on how to make best use of the space, within the confines of its new protected status. More information about how people can have their say will be published in the next few months.

Councillor Ash Cartman, North Somerset Council’s executive member with responsibility for asset management, said: “Open, green spaces are an important part of a healthy community and I was keen to see this land protected for the longterm benefit of all. We’ve worked in a close and transparent way with residents and Portishead Town Council to help them positively shape their community. Reclaiming and saving this space is a real success story and I’m proud of what we’ve achieved together.”

Councillor John Cato, North Somerset Council ward member for Portishead West, added: “This is a great outcome for Portishead and for the environment. The site is blossoming as a rewilded area and is benefitting from all the additional trees that the council has planted there recently. This is an excellent demonstration of the council’s commitment to creating a greener environment and future for our town.”

Councillor Paul Gardner, Vice-Chair Portishead Town Council, stated: “Consultations such as the Portishead Neighbourhood Plan, which will be put to referendum in 2023, have highlighted the importance that Portishead residents place on retaining our green and community open spaces. Protecting this much-loved area for the future is really pleasing and shows what can be achieved by residents, North Somerset Council and Portishead Town Council working together for the common good.”

The land benefits from two Public Rights of Way which connect Nore Road with the coastal footpath. More information about Public Rights of Way in North Somerset can be found on the council’s website: www.n-somerset.gov.uk/publicrightsofway

New site for Nailsea library

ashley.cartman@gmail.com (Ashley Cartman) — Sun, 06 Nov 2022 16:05:36 GMT

Future of Nailsea Library secured as new location announced

North Somerset Council has signed a lease on a new site for Nailsea Library. By next summer the library will relocate from its current site to 6-8 Colliers Walk, the former location of HSBC bank.

Libraries have been under threat as more people move online to access information and even books. However, the councils strategy is to have modern accessible libraries providing a lot more than lending books. This would include free access to computers, hosting community support and advice sessions, and well activities for families and people of all ages. You'll still be able to borrow books of course, with access to over 2.5 million titles through the LibrariesWest consortium.

The existing 50-year-old building in Somerset Square (above) is in poor condition and needs a lot of work. Rather than spend money on this a new site was deemed more appropriate. No decision has been made about what to do with the old site.

Why leave voters aren't always responsible for Brexit

ashley.cartman@gmail.com (Ashley Cartman) — Sat, 05 Nov 2022 12:46:18 GMT

Leave voters are changing their minds on Brexit

I generally try and avoid talking about Brexit. Division and opinions run deep and even within my own family it has resulted in fraught and difficult conversations. Conversations where older and younger generations fight pitched battles hurling accusations. So, I have found it best to hold my opinion, only sharing when asked.

But things are starting to move. Faced with growing evidence that Brexit was oversold people's opinions are starting to shift. In 2016 52% of us thought it was right to leave the EU but now opinion polls show that with hindsight only 35% of people think it was the right decision. This is a huge change with 30% of Leave voters changing their minds. Broadly, for every two people who still think we were right to leave, 3 take the opposite view and think we made a mistake (the balance are undecided).

Why are opinions shifting?

It''s hard to know why people are changing their minds. For the 3 years after the Brexit vote opinions hardened and everyone dug in. But it's now 6 years later and people are fed up with waiting for what they were promised. When I talked to voters during the campaign in 2016 people usually fell into one of three categories, categories that defined and influenced how they would vote. Immigration, economics, and sovereignty.

My belief is that on each of these fronts Brexit has failed to deliver for Leave voters. Immigration has not changed, our economy is actually getting worse rather than better, and there is no sense that free of the EU we are better able to chart our own course in the world. The Labour party has responded to this with the line 'Make Brexit Work' but I believe this mistakes where public opinion is heading. More and more people are concluding it's just not possible to make Brexit work.

There will always be a core that stick to their original view, who deny the iceberg as the Titanic sinks. But faced with overwhelming evidence public opinion is changing, a clear majority of voters now accept that Brexit was a mistake.

It's not our fault we were lied to

I believe that standards in public life matter. That what politicians say and do matters. That we, the public, should be able able to rely on what they tell us. They will spin their view of course, down play the negatives, and emphasise the positives, but we know this. However, as voters we have always relied on our politicians to 'honour the truth' in their remarks, that their comments must always contain a kernel of truth, even if they are economical with it. That what they say is not simply wrong, a lie.

What was different about the Brexit debate was the degree to which campaigners were willing to depart from the truth. From lies about Turkeys imminent ascension to the EU to the £350m a week we could give to the NHS, the campaign deliberately employed misunderstanding, ,misinformation, and misdirection to mislead the public.

This was a new style of politics. A Trumpian approach that promoted a populist right wing narrative over traditional values of discovering truth through open and frank debate, a debate which voters could listen to and use to inform their vote. An approach that prioritised winning over truth. It was the first major post truth campaign in British politics, an approach that reaped rewards for its proponents as it triumphed over an ill-prepared and ill-equipped opposition.

Brexit campaigners did use lies to promote their cause. That's not to say the Remain camp didn't either, it's just that the Leave campaign did it first and much more extensively. This style of politics needs to stop, hopefully with the ejection of Boris Johnson from office (a notorious lier), we can have a reset.

Admitting you were wrong is hard....

As someone who campaigned against our departure from the EU it would easy to adopt a 'I told you so' approach to those who voted Leave. However, over the past few years I've come to realise that if you want people to change their minds then you need to make it easy for them. This also reflects my view that we all sometimes makes mistakes, and that when we do, that last thing we need is someone smugly pointing it out to us.

Fundamentally though, I have come to understand why so many did vote Leave. There are of course a core of people who still maintain it was right, but there are an increasing number who are coming to regret their decision and accept that they were lied to. It is incumbent on all 'remainers' to welcome their conversion, not to be smug or to castigate, and accept that its not their fault they were lied to.

Move to block development in the green belt

ashley.cartman@gmail.com (Ashley Cartman) — Tue, 11 Oct 2022 10:24:32 GMT

Council policy to build in the green belt blocked

Proposals to build thousands of houses next to Long Ashton on and around Woodspring Golf course (see map opposite) came a step closer to being blocked last month.

At a meeting of the Executive Committee of North Somerset Council on 7th September I supported a motion instructing council staff to prepare a Local Housing Plan that excludes development on the green belt, in areas of outstanding natural beauty, or on land susceptible to flooding.

The new approach would also mean the council falls short of the housing target imposed by central government, instead just planning for local housing need.

'Independent' Councillors seek to frustrate the new approach

The approach is seen as controversial by the Independent Councillor group who are now seeking to overturn or block this democratic decision. They wrongly fear that the new approach will see development shifted to areas they represent.

As I said in my speech (see opposite), the feedback we have received from residents all over North Somerset is clear. They want new homes to meet local need that are of high quality, affordable, and supported by good infrastructure. But they do not want them to be built at the expense of our local environment.

This was the message that I received loud and clear at a public meeting I hosted earlier this year in Long Ashton Community centre. I am supportive of new housing, but the proposals by Taylor Wimpey for the Woodspring site are inappropriate and do not reflect what we as a community need.

Now let's be political about it.....your vote matters....

Given the continued opposition from a number of other North Somerset Councillors the long term future of the green belt is far from secure. They see greenbelt development as an easy route to avoid development in their own 'back yards', they are wrong.

I always try and avoid being too 'political' in my posts as I feel it is not what people want to hear. However, in this case there are very clear dividing lines and I want to be clear with residents (and the people I represent) where I and others stand. I, and my Liberal Democrat colleagues, will continue to fight for high quality new housing and the protection the greenbelt. Independent Councillors are of a different view.

There are elections next May and I will be standing for re-election. When I stood in 2019 I promised people I would do whatever I could to protect the greenbelt for future generations, I will make that promise again. I may not be successful but I will try my hardest. If you value our local environment then please support me and encourage friends and family across North Somerset to vote Liberal Democrat. Thank you.

New route to Wraxall school opens after 25 year wait

ashley.cartman@gmail.com (Ashley Cartman) — Tue, 04 Oct 2022 16:26:27 GMT

Children able to walk to school safely

It's taken 25 years, but now children in Wraxall have a safe walking route to school.

The road between The Grove in Wraxall and the local primary school is treacherous to walk. Walkers and school children will now be able to walk between the school and the Grove thanks to permission from local landowners, funding from North Somerset Council, and the hard work of local Parish Councillors.

The Chair of Wraxall and Failand Parish Council hosted the opening ceremony on 1st October where the daughter of one of the local landowners, herself a pupil at Wraxall Primary School, cut the ribbon and officially opened the path.

I was pleased to play a small part in this, securing the necessary funding and co-operation from North Somerset Council.

Bristol's Clean Air Zone faces further delays

ashley.cartman@gmail.com (Ashley Cartman) — Thu, 09 Jun 2022 15:21:59 GMT

Bus lane regulations delay Clean Air Zone, says Mayor

Bristol's Clean Air Zone was originally meant to come into force last October. It was then delayed until summer 2022 .

Bristol post yesterday reported that Mayor Marvin Rees had announced a further delay, saying that t he scheme is now likely to be delayed beyond September blaming a national change in bus lane regulations by the government.

Where does the zone begin and what are the boundaries?

As can be seen from the map below, the CAZ will start by Ashton Park school and includes the Cumberland Basin and the Bristol end of the Portway. This means, for example, that traffic heading to the airport will be forced to divert via M5 J19 through Failand rather than using the existing Portway route in order to avoid the clean air charge. Not only would this be a longer journey, hence increasing total carbon emissions, it could mean that Bristol has just exported air pollution to us.

Will I have to pay?

Bristol City Council says that "around 71 per cent of vehicles in Bristol are already compliant so won't have to pay to enter the zone" . Essentially, older and more polluting cars are being targeted. The daily charge for private petrol/diesel cars will be £9 a day.

You can check whether or not you will be charged on the Governments website by clicking here.

Official opening of Ashton Court cycle route

ashley.cartman@gmail.com (Ashley Cartman) — Mon, 06 Jun 2022 12:50:42 GMT

Cycle route officially opens after two year delay due to covid restrictions

This route has been part of a bigger step to improve cycling facilities in North Somerset and Bristol. North Somerset Council and Sustrans have since contributed to the project with the construction of a signal controlled toucan crossin g across the B3128 on Ashton Road last year. This has been brilliant in providing a safe crossing for all path users over the busy B3128.

Improving Clevedon's Marine Lake and seafront for the summer

ashley.cartman@gmail.com (Ashley Cartman) — Tue, 31 May 2022 12:06:27 GMT

New changing room and toilets for Marine Lake

I am pleased to say that, following my announcement of the Great Lakes Project last year , in which Clevedon recieved an £150,000 grant from North Somerset Council, initial works have now been completed (more to follow!).

On Friday the 27th May, an accessible changing room and toilets were opened by the lake. MARLENS, the charity that runs Clevedon Marine Lake, funded this with financial support from North Somerset Council. This is part of a wider set of works to make the Marine Lake accessible to a wider range of people, as reported by the BBC earlier this month . The lake will become fully wheelchair accessible by the summer.

Other Support for Clevedon Seafront

Action on local fly tipping

Thu, 26 May 2022 14:59:51 GMT

Pill man prosecuted for fly tipping

A man from Pill has been fined over £1600 following a prosecution brought by North Somerset Council for fly tipping. The fly tipped waste included a bath tub which was filled with both garden waste and plaster board.

Anthony Newbury, from Marine Parade, Pill, entered a guilty plea at North Somerset Magistrates Court on 6 May. The offence took place on Royal Portbury Dock on several occasions last summer. CCTV images in the area enabled officers to trace the registration of the vehicle used back to Mr Newbury, the registered keeper of the vehicle at the time the offences took place.

Newbury was ordered to pay a total of £1,623.40: a fine of £346 for each of the two offences, a victim surcharge of £69, and North Somerset Council’s full costs of £862.40.

What action is the council taking?

Local Buses: Problems today improvements tomorrow......

ashley.cartman@gmail.com (Ashley Cartman) — Mon, 23 May 2022 08:09:52 GMT

Service cancellations today but £50m investment secured

The headline sums it up. Recently we have seen service cancellations as First Bus struggle with ongoing driver shortage s but long term we should see improvements as North Somerset Council has been successful in winning over £50m in funding from Government to improve infrastructure and support local bus services.

Most worrying of all is the cancellation of all late night services to and from Bristol after 10pm , there have also been changes to early morning services. Click here for First Bus's announcement of service changes across North Somerset. I am campaigning to get our local bus service reinstated.

Which local services have been affected?

The map below shows the local services that operate, below the map I detail the changes for each village:

Can we get the services restored and improved?

I am keen to see these services reinstated as soon as possible. Sadly, the Council has no control over local buses. First Bus is a private company, and they only have to ‘consult’ with the council about changes to services.

Nonetheless, North Somerset Council have been in contact with First Bus and they have confirmed that they want to reinstate services as soon as possible. My worry is that the national shortage of HGV drivers means that this is unlikely to be any time soon. I am pleased that the council has indicated to First Bus that they would consider providing financial support for some of our local routes if the reason for cancellation was the route was no longer profitable (passenger numbers are down on pre-covid levels and this a problem for bus operators).

One practical change I am campaigning for is the diversion of the X1 through Long Ashton after 9pm each night. The X1 links Bristol to Weston-super-Mare and currently travels down the bypass. However, after 9pm I have asked that it be diverted through Long Ashton.

£50m+ of investment coming.....

On a more positive note North Somerset has been incredibly successful in winning over £50m in funding from central government for bus service improvements.

This is part of a £3 billion national fund announced last March by the Prime Minster. Although the fund was subsequently cut back to £1.4 billion by the Chancellor Rishi Sunack , North Somerset has been successful in winning over 5% of total funding for England. Given that we represent just under 0.4% of the English population this an amazing achievement. A number of areas were awarded funding, if you want to read more this is a really good BBC article .

The funding comprises £48m for infrastructure improvements to promote 'bus priority' (yes, things like bus lanes) as well as a share of a £58m fund to support services across the region. We expect our share of this £58m to be about £10m.

Full plans have to be submitted to the Department of Transport by the end of June.

Vote for me next May!

ashley.cartman@gmail.com (Ashley Cartman) — Sun, 22 May 2022 17:56:57 GMT

Local elections in North Somerset next May......

At the beginning of May local elections were held across the UK. However, our local elections here in North Somerset will be held next year, May 2023.

I was elected for the first time in 2019 and it has been both an honour and a privilege to represent you. I have also enjoyed it tremendously and have decided that I will be standing again next year.

I represent the Long Ashton Ward which also includes Failand, Wraxall, and Leigh Woods. It’s a large area so you have two councillors representing you. This means at next Mays local election you get two votes . Stuart McQuillan is your other councillor and represents the Green Party, I am a Liberal Democrat.

Here in our area, you have traditionally been represented by Conservative Councillors. Indeed, 2019 was the first time ever that no Conservative Councillor was sent from the area to represent you at North Somerset Council.

I will be campaigning hard over the coming 12 months to be re-elected. To be successful I will need help. So, if you think you could display a poster, host a stake board, or even deliver leaflets please get in touch, there is lots to do. I look forward to hearing from you.

Council reduces carbon emissions by 3,500 tonnes in one evening

ashley.cartman@gmail.com (Ashley Cartman) — Wed, 11 May 2022 09:55:04 GMT

Action on climate change - council switches to green energy

At a meeting of North Somerset Council last night I proposed a motion to switch all Council energy contracts to green tariffs , saving over 3,500 tonnes of carbon a year.

In 2019 Councillors voted unanimously to declare a climate emergency here in North Somerset. The councils energy contracts have been fixed for a number of years but from September this year are up for renewal. I was pleased that the motion was passed and North Somerset Council will now transition to green tariffs. This move is expected to reduce the councils carbon emissions by 3,500 tonnes per annum.

The other major concern raised by Councillors and residents was the need to avoid buying gas from Russia . Although most of the councils energy use is electric a small proportion of consumption does relates to gas. We have already made contact with likely energy suppliers but it seems they are having difficulty guaranteeing zero percent Russian gas. I will continue to monitor the situation. The view from residents is clear: no taxpayer money to be spent on Russian gas.

We need to talk about Boris

ashley.cartman@gmail.com (Ashley Cartman) — Tue, 19 Apr 2022 23:15:33 GMT

We need to talk about Boris - why he's a symptom and not a cause of our problems.

I have just returned from a short holiday. The great benefit of a holiday is the time to relax and recharge. Time away from emails, texts, WhatsApp, Messenger, Facebook, and the many other ways I keep in touch with both political developments as well as residents. The other benefit is the perspective a rest can bring. By pulling back you can sometimes see patterns and themes less obvious when embroiled in the turmoil of day-to-day life.

Out of the country and with intermittent internet access I still managed to see the news last week that that our Prime Minister was issued with a Fixed Penalty notice for attending a party in Downing Street during lockdown. News that Boris Johnson had become, in the words of The Sunday Times, “the first British Prime Minister to be penalised in office for breaking the law” . But faced with long bus and train journeys I had time to reflect, not just on the predicament of our Prime Minister but also on the state of our democracy. My conclusion; Boris isn’t the cause of the current crisis, he’s a symptom of a much deeper problem.

A tenuous relationship with the truth.....

Although I always try to be as non-political as possible, always seeking to identify where I agree with others from different political parties and perspectives, I have always been very clear on my view of Boris Johnson . Put simply he is not fit to be our Prime Minister. There are many good Conservative MP’s who would do a good job of being a Conservative Prime Minister, sadly for us all Boris Johnson is not one of them. Developments last week showed clearly that he lied. He is a liar. This is not surprising to those of us who have followed his career for many years. Not only was he was sacked from one of his first jobs at The Times for making up quotes, but he was also sacked by former leader of the Conservative Party Michael Howard for lying. He has form. A polite way of putting it would be to say that he has a tenuous relationship with the truth. There is a growing realisation amongst the public of this reality.

A man with the wrong talents?

He undoubtedly has some strengths; he is charismatic and engaging, able to communicate with broad swathes of the electorate, and is also a political chameleon, seemingly able to change views and positions with impunity. I can attest to these strengths having attended a small event above a bar in Soho in about 1996/7 where he was the speaker. I remember he turned up late, made an incoherent but funny speech, and then left. The fact I remember him all these years later is testament to his charisma. These traits have enabled him to build a seemingly impossible electoral coalition between former lifelong Labour voters in the north and Conservative voters in the Home Counties. A coalition that looks like it is about to crumble.

The real question.......

The real question though is not whether Boris Johnson is fit to be Prime Minister, it’s not even whether he should resign, the real question is how he became Prime Minister in the first place. This point speaks to a much wider point about our democracy. Is the rise of Boris to Johnson to Prime Minister an indication that our democracy failing? My contention is that it is. Just because someone is good enough to get elected doesn’t mean they’re good enough to govern. We need politicians who can do both.

This is not a party-political point either, the points I seek to make apply equally to the other Westminster Political parties, whether Conservative, Labour, or Liberal Democrat. We need depth of talent in all political parties. My view is that our political system not only fails to provide us with a diverse bunch of talented MP’s but it also fails to ensure that the very best of those MP’s rise to the top to become effective Government Minsters. In the summer of 2020, The Economist magazine made a similar point about talent within the House of Commons, referring to Ministers and former Minsters, including our own MP Dr Fox, under the headline the ‘Dance of the Lemons’. There is a growing awareness that this is a problem.

Why it matters

All of this matters. If we are to succeed and prosper as country, to address the serious challenges we face as a nation, then the best of us need to feel able to enter and prosper in politics. The combination of former journalists, ex special advisors, and political opportunists that seem to comprise so much of the two front benches in the House of Commons does not inspire me with confidence. There are exceptions of course, and I increasingly find that the MP’s whose opinions I respect most often have significant experience outside of politics. They are not career politicians.

Over the past few years our democracy has undoubtedly been under pressure. Brexit was an enormous shock to the system. From the parliamentary shenanigans of John Bercow to the pro-rogueing of Parliament by Boris Johnson, our democratic institutions are creaking. So far, they have withstood the pressure. But we should not be complacent, there are serious grounds for concern.

Whatever happens to Boris Johnson over the coming days and weeks we should remember that he is a symptom of a much deeper problem. He is not the problem itself. If we fail to recognise this and address the root causes of the problem, we will never get the politicians the country needs. As Winston Churchill wrote “those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it”, I live in hope that we have that enough of us see the need for change before it’s too late.

2,500 new houses? Questions for North Somerset Council

ashley.cartman@gmail.com (Ashley Cartman) — Mon, 28 Mar 2022 16:46:07 GMT

Questions for North Somerset Council

This Thursday 31st March I will be co-hosting a public meeting about the proposals for a new 'strategic development location' near Long Ashton. You can read more about these proposals in an article I published a few weeks ago . The event will be held in the community centre, doors open 7pm for a 7:30pm start. We have no idea how many people will attend so please arrive early to avoid disappointment .

Representatives of North Somerset Council will be available to answer your questions and to explain the reasoning for such a large site being proposed. I have been asked by North Somerset staff to collate as many questions as possible in advance. By submitting your question in advance it is not only more likely to be answered, but it will give time for a fuller and more detailed response to be prepared. This may be important where your concern is very local or technical in nature.

Below is the list of questions I have already submitted to North Somerset Council. It is a blend between specific questions I have been asked to raise and general queries I have had over the past couple of months. I have grouped them under three headings; 'Maintaining the identity of Long Ashton', 'Environment and Green Belt', and 'Infrastructure'.

If there is a question you would like to ask and it is not covered in the ones below please let me know. Alternatively just turn up at the meeting, there will be time to take questions from the floor.

QUESTIONS: Maintaining the identity of Long Ashton

How have you arrived at the decision to propose such a large site near Long Ashton?
Certain sites proposed by developers have not been included in the proposals, in particular land owned by the University to the south of the railway line. What chance do the owners of these excluded sites have of overturning the councils’ recommendations? When we will we know that development on these sites has been prevented?
If the development is approved there is a significant risk that Yanley Lane becomes a ‘rat run’ between Long Ashton and the new development. If residents agree, can Yanley Lane be made a no through road with access to the Yanley hamlet from Long Ashton?

QUESTIONS: Environment and Green Belt

The Woodspring / Yanley Lane site is in the green belt. The green belt is meant to be the last resort for development and is much valued by the local communities in Bristol and North Somerset. Can North Somerset Council guarantee that this land will only be released for development once all other options have been built on , including brownfield sites and suitable sites outside the green belt?'
We would like to see a strategic gap between the new development and Bristol. Presently the proposals include developing land on the Bristol side of the A4174. Can this be excluded from the final plan? Or can an alternative strategic gap be reserved? If not, why not?
We are concerned that the proposals build on some land with a high environmental value . Please can you explain how any environmental assessment will be considered when deciding whether to allow this as a development site? If the site does get approved, please can you explain how developers can be made to minimise the environmental impact of the new development?
Residents of Long Ashton and Bristol value the greenbelt. Access to green open space is a key component of a good quality of life. This development will put further pressure on already overused spaces such as Ashton Court, Leigh Woods, Ashton Hill Woods etc. How will North Somerset Council ensure there are enough well looked after green spaces for people?
The Environment Agencies Flood map for the Barrow reservoirs show that in the event of a dam breach a significant proportion of the development site would be at risk. Given the proximity of the dam any substantial breach would involve a significant risk to life. How does NSC justify the selection of this site given the risks and in the absence of any proposals to strengthen the dam?
How sustainable will the new homes be ? We would like to highly energy efficient homes built next to sustainable and high-quality public transport.

QUESTIONS: Infrastructure

How do we ensure that this new development has all the infrastructure it needs to be a stand-alone and sustainable community?
Will the infrastructure needed for this new development be built before the houses? If not, why not?
If the infrastructure for this new community is to be built after people start moving in then where would early residents be expected to go for key services such as schools, doctors, shops etc? We presume this would be to Bristol, is this correct? If not, how does the council expect to manage this demand to ensure that services in Long Ashton are not inundated?
How will the transport infrastructure around the development be improved?
How do we ensure a suitable level of affordable housing in the development? How do we make developers stick to their promise?
When would building start and how long would it take to complete the new development?

£150 'council tax rebate' for residents

ashley.cartman@gmail.com (Ashley Cartman) — Tue, 22 Feb 2022 11:48:28 GMT

£150 rebate for all households in council tax bands A-D

Earlier this month the government announced that all households in council tax bands A to D will receive a £150 ‘council tax rebate’ to help with rising energy costs. In response to this I have prepared answers to some FAQ’s.

Is it really a council tax rebate? No, it's actually an 'energy rebate scheme'.

Not really. It has been confirmed that the payments to households will sit outside of the Council Tax system, but that local councils are being asked to administer them based on our local data and using our teams. This is testament to the ability of Local Government to distribute funding quickly and efficiently throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The legislation has now been released and refers to the “Energy Rebate Scheme”.

Will the £150 just be deducted from my council tax bill? No, it will be paid to you separately.

When council tax bills are sent out in March they will not show a reduced amount for affected properties. However, we will ensure that bills reference the £150 rebate to avoid misunderstanding with residents. Residents should continue to pay their council tax as normal.

When will I receive my £150? Hopefully late spring or early summer.

The Chancellor referred to ‘from April’ in the governments press re lease but as we are still awaiting information and guidance the exact timing remains uncertain. North Somerset Council will seek to make the payment as soon as they can.

Will I receive the rebate automatically or will I have to apply? Likely to depend on whether or not you pay your council tax by direct debit.

The government is now urging households to set up direct de bits with their local council to receive the rebate. People who pay their council tax by direct debit will see £150 go directly into their bank accounts. Click here for a link to North Somerset Councils webpage on how to register to pay your council tax by direct debit.

With respect to those who don't pay by direct debit, or don't register to do so, the council will look to implement an appropriate alternative system that is efficient, easy to use, and has appropriate safeguards against fraudulent activity.

What about people in E-H banded properties and those in need who don’t pay council tax? Extra help is available

In addition to the £150 payment for bands A-D, there will be a discretionary fund available. The scope and guidance for the discretionary scheme is unconfirmed but it is expected that North Somerset Council will need to design elements of the scheme to target help where it is most needed and where relevant, for band E-H households.

If you would like to keep up to date on local issues in and around Long Ashton, Failand, Wraxall, and Leigh Woods then please sign up to my newsletter. It comes out (roughly) monthly and is a summary of all the articles I post on this website and social media.

North Sea oil rig to be installed in Westons Tropicana

ashley.cartman@gmail.com (Ashley Cartman) — Sun, 20 Feb 2022 16:55:15 GMT

Decommissioned offshore oil platform repurposed as art installation

This summer Weston-super-Mare will host SEE MONSTER , a free public art installation that will see an oil rig installed in Westons former 1930's lido, the Tropicana. This week an artist associated with the project published this image of what it could look like:

SEE MONSTER is part of UNBOXED, a national collection of events aimed at celebrating creativity across the UK. It is funded largely from national Government (I believe it was an initiative of Theresa May) and North Somerset Council successfully bid to host one of the 10 national exhibition sites.

In 2015 the Tropicana successfully hosted Banksys Dismaland exhibition . It is hoped that this exhibition will be just as successful with 200,000 people expected to visit. North Somerset Council is investing to make this event a success for everyone, extra money has been found to upgrade the seafront lights and to refurbish out historic seafront shelters.

You can find out more by visiting the SEE MONSTER website .

Council budget approved with £40m investment

ashley.cartman@gmail.com (Ashley Cartman) — Sun, 20 Feb 2022 16:18:03 GMT

A budget to protect our core services and invest for the future

Last week I presented, and gained approval for, the Councils annual budget. With an overall theme of protection and investment, the priorities of the budget are to;

back our children and young people
deliver better basic services
invest in our communities
tackle the climate emergency

An additional £40 million of investment was announced which is in addition to the £300 million already committed for long term investment in local projects.

The previous administration of North Somerset Council introduced cuts to basic services over many years. I was pleased to announce that yet again we have protected all front line services.

My budget summary in 1 minute 30 seconds.....

I recorded this short video to give a flavour of what we've done....

If you want to keep up to date on local issues in and around Long Ashton, Failand, Wraxall, and Leigh Woods then please sign up to my newsletter. It comes out (roughly) monthly and is a summary of all the articles I post on this website and social media.

Saying NO to 3 weekly bin collections

ashley.cartman@gmail.com (Ashley Cartman) — Sat, 19 Feb 2022 14:59:34 GMT

Why I voted against 3 weekly black bin collections

At a meeting of North Somerset Councils Executive Committee on 2nd February I voted to block plans to trial 3 weekly black bin collections. This was a difficult decision as I believe we all need to do more to reduce our waste and recycle more. However, I do not feel the time is right to make these changes. Further consultation and engagement with residents is needed for such an important change.

Waste collections were only brought back in house last year after Biffa, the previous provider, exited the contract early. With North Somerset Council now directly running all waste collections we have an opportunity to make significant improvements. We are already one of the top performing councils in the UK for recycling and do not take any of your black bin waste to landfill (it is taken to Avonmouth and burnt to generate electricity).

What do you think? Should we have 3 weekly collections?

Those in favour of reduced collections say it can simultaneously increase recycling rates and save money. As reported by the North Somerset Times other local authorities in Somerset have moved to 3 weekly collections and it has saved them £1.7m. However, many residents are concerned about smells, hygiene, and rats resulting from less frequent collections.

The collection of waste is a key service provided by North Somerset Council. Although 1,500 people responded to a consultation I believe most people are completely unaware that North Somerset Council is considering this move. That's why I want to know what you think . I am not opposed to the idea, I just want to make sure that residents are generally supportive of any change.

Green bin charges frozen for next year

This week North Somerset Councils budget was approved. This included a measure to freeze green bin charges. Council staff had proposed that the charge be increased in line with inflation.

Last year, residents experienced a number of missed collections as a result of a national shortage of HGV drivers. In response to driver shortage we made the decision to prioritise black bin collections over green bins. Although, as previously reported , North Somerset coped a lot better than other councils (Bristol cancelled collections for 10 weeks), I did not feel residents would think it fair that the annual charge increase.

That's why I supported a change to the councils annual budget to freeze the green bin charge . In addition, in recognition of missed collections, the council will shortly be contacting residents to propose a rebate./refund.

Next years council tax bill....

ashley.cartman@gmail.com (Ashley Cartman) — Sat, 19 Feb 2022 13:38:58 GMT

Councillors vote to support real terms cut in council tax

On 15th February I voted with my fellow North Somerset Councillors to approve a 2.99% increase in council tax . With inflation currently at 5.4% this represents a real terms fall in what you have to pay . Although this is a small increase, putting up any tax is always a difficult decision, particularly at the moment with concerns over a 'cost of living crisis'. This increase will ensure we can protect frontline services and invest for our future.

The average Council tax bill in North Somerset for a band D property will rise from £1900.21 to £1,959.05. Of this North Somerset Council receives £1,550.03 with the balance being paid to Avon and Somerset Police (£251.20), Avon Fire Authority (£77.95), and Parish Councils (on average £79.87).

The majority of people pay their Council Tax by direct debit in 10 equal monthly instalments. If you are one of these people then the monthly bill for a band D property will rise by £5.82 for Long Ashton Parish or £5.77 for residents of Wraxall and Failand .

Council tax remains lowest in the region

The rise in percentage terms is the same as all other councils around us (Bath and North East Somerset, Somerset, Bristol, South Gloucs) which means ours remains the lowest in the region and is hundreds of pounds a year lower than Bristol.

It is well known that your council tax bill is even lower if you are the only adult in your property as you receive a 25% discount. However, there are a number of other ways of getting a discount. There is more information on the councils website .

If you have little or no income and are of working age then the Council Tax Support Scheme could mean you are entitled to as much as a 72.5% reduction to your bill. The scheme provides 100% protection for pensioners. There is more information on the councils website .

Exactly how much will my bill be?

Ignoring any discounts you may be due, everyone's Council Tax bill will vary depending on the 'banding' of their home and the Parish they live in. I have produced two tables below covering the two Parishes I represent.

I have also detailed the amount that is collected on behalf of the local Fire Authority as well as Avon and Somerset Police. These amounts are not set by North Somerset Council.

Council Tax 2022-23: Long Ashton and Leigh Woods Parish

Council Tax 2022-23: Wraxall and Failand Parish

What about my green bin charge?

I have received a lot of correspondence from people unhappy about missed green bin collections. Although here in North Somerset our cancellations were less than elsewhere in the region, this is of little consequence for a service people feel they have paid for and not received.

Recognising this there will be no increase in the green bin charge next year . Additionally all residents will be compensated for last years missed collections. Details are still being finalised and will be published soon.

Where does all the money go?

Next year North Somerset Council will spend £179 million. Council tax amounts to £124 million with business rates contributing £28 million, the balance is received from central government. This is a lot of money.

What most people are surprised about is that over half of the £179 million the council spends goes on services for vulnerable adults and children. The total budget for these services is £102 million. The council also maintains our minor roads, collects your waste, looks after parks, provides planning services etcetera.

Read North Somerset Times article on annual budget and council tax rise: click here

Bristol Airport wins appeal for 2 million more passengers a year

ashley.cartman@gmail.com (Ashley Cartman) — Thu, 03 Feb 2022 11:33:18 GMT

Council decision denying planning permission overturned on appeal

The decision of North Somerset Council to block Bristol Airports expansion plans have been overturned on appeal. In March of 2020 the planning committee of North Somerset Council voted to refuse the airports plans to expand its permitted passenger throughput from 10 million to 12 million passengers a year, and to change the its night flying arrangements. Bristol Airport appealed the decision and a public enquiry was held over the summer and autumn of 2021.

Why allowing the airport to expand is a bad idea....

This is not about being pro or anti air travel. It is about what size of airport is reasonable for us as a region, what our local infrastructure can cope with, and what is appropriate in the face of climate change. Pre COVID the airport was handling 8 million passengers a year and already had approval to expand to 10 million.

This is more than adequate given our local roads and the appalling public transport links to the airport.
It is also sufficient to serve local residents, nearby regional airports such as Cardiff and Exeter have existing capacity to serve their regions so it was maddening to see that this expansion would involve Bristol Airport seeking more travellers from further afield to use its facilities.
Finally, in the face of the environmental challenges we face it would seem sensible to limit where possible the expansion of the airline industry, a major contributor to climate change, until they have dramatically reduced the carbon impact of their activities.

It was because of these reasons that as your local Councillor I spoke against the expansion when the application was thrown out at a meeting of North Somerset's planning committee in March 2020. It is extremely disappointing to see that this decision has been overturned on appeal.

North Somerset Councils response

North Somerset Council Leader Cllr Don Davies has expressed his “extreme disappointment” at the inspectors’ decision.

Cllr Davies said: " The refusal was based on sound planning grounds and the firm belief that the detrimental effect of the expansion of the airport on this area and the wider impact on the environment outweighed the narrower benefits of airport expansion which sit almost entirely in the commercial interests of the owners, a foreign pension fund "

“ This simply flies in the face of local democracy and disregards the views of the local communities who fought equally hard to resist the expansion. It completely undermines our vision for a greener North Somerset, our determination to tackle the climate emergency and the target we have set for the area to be carbon neutral by 2030."

"The airport's important role in the region’s economy would have continued without expanding beyond its current 10 million passengers a year limit."

You can read the North Somerset Councils statement in full by clicking here .

Leigh Woods Residents Parking - Jan update

ashley.cartman@gmail.com (Ashley Cartman) — Mon, 31 Jan 2022 12:48:23 GMT

Scheme implementation imminent

After years of waiting significant work is currently underway to implement a residents parking scheme in Leigh Woods. Residents have seen significant work over the past few weeks to paint lines, erect parking signs, and install pay and display machines.

It was hoped that the scheme would go live at the beginning of February. However, a couple of issues with the IT system that administers residents permits has resulted in a short delay. The latest view is that the scheme will become operational toward the end of February or very early March. I am presently having weekly meetings with Council staff to resolve issues and monitor progress.

This means there will be a few weeks when the physical scheme is in place but the council will not be charging or enforcing. In this interim period people will still be able to park anywhere (except on double yellow lines of course) without the need to pay. This includes parking in residents spaces and for an unlimited time in other short/long stay spaces. Once the scheme is operational enforcement activity will commence.

How to I get my permit(s)?

All residents will be written to in advance of the scheme going live with details of how to apply for a permit. The application will likely be on a dedicated page of the councils website. A minimum of two weeks notice will be given to all residents.

For residents without access to the internet alternative provision will be made.

Improvements to parking signs and pay and display machines

The installation of signs as well as pay and display machines has understandably caused some concern.

Signs need to simultaneously be visible and discreet. This is a difficult balance to achieve and I am presently working with council staff to ensure that this is the case. Over the next few days I will be conducting a site visit to discuss specific concerns with a view to making changes.

The pay and display machines being installed are re-used, having been removed from other locations in NSC. Ideally these would have been reconditioned prior to installation but a delay in new parts arriving means that they have been installed prior to remedial work. I have been assured by council staff that after re-commissioning they will look a lot better. I remain concerned that some of the machines are blue, rather than black which is more befitting of an area with conservation status. Apparently the different colour is to help signify areas for short stay parking. I am continuing to talk to council staff about this and remain concerned.

No new housing development in Wraxall

ashley.cartman@gmail.com (Ashley Cartman) — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 18:06:03 GMT

No new houses for Wraxall, thousands for Nailsea and Long Ashton

Residents of Wraxall have been rightly worried about the potential for significant development on their doorstep. As previously reported , North Somerset Council is being forced by central government to accommodate over 20,000 new dwellings, that's a 20% increase, equivalent to building two new Clevedons.

In a leaflet I distributed last summer I set out the two main sites in Wraxall where developers and landowners had proposed development. These are marked as A and B on the map below.

Although both sites are within the green belt I was particularly concerned about site B as it includes a Site of Nature Conservation as well as a Scheduled monument.

A report published by North Somerset Council today sets out its preferred options for where the 20,000 new homes are to be located. The Wraxall sites above have not been included. Sites proposed in and around Failand have also been excluded.

Nailsea and Backwell developments

Although Wraxall seems to have avoided any meaningful development surrounding areas have not been so fortunate. A new strategic site near Long Ashton is proposed for 2,500 new homes in the existing green belt.

In addition there are a number of new sites proposed in Nailsea and Backwell:

600 dwellings south of Nailsea / Youngwood Lane. This new site is adjacent to, and east of, an existing site that was granted planning permission for 450 homes on appeal. It involves development of part of current strategic gap between Nailsea and Backwell, though the Council propose to extend the current green belt to give the remaining strategic gap better protection.
Grove Farm, Backwell, 600 homes. West of Backwell and not presently in the green belt.
East Backwell green belt, 500 homes plus employment land. The report notes that this development, should it go ahead, will 'enable a road link in the form of a bridge over the railway linking to Station Road, improving access for buses and reducing congestion at Backwell crossroads. A road link to the west of Backwell is also being investigated'.

So, even though there is no development in the immediate vicinity the 'preferred options' document identifies sites for another 1,700 dwellings in Nailsea and Backwell alone. This is a significant addition to the local community and although potential improvements to the road network between Nailsea and Backwell are welcome it is disappointing no mention is made of the resulting pressure on the road through Wraxall.

Development could still happen in Wraxall

If you are a resident of Wraxall now is not the time to be jubilant. Quite apart from the potential impact on services and traffic of the sites proposed above, it's important to remember that this is just the current stage of an ongoing process. In particular there are two things to remember:

North Somerset has been told by government it needs to accommodate 20,085 dwellings, the report published identifies sites for 18,046 homes. The difference of 2,039 will need to be allocated, that allocation could be in Wraxall.
There will be a consultation during March and April after which amendments will undoubtedly be made to the report. It is easy to imagine that other communities in North Somerset, unhappy with a provisional allocation of housing, will be lobbying to have development reallocated to other areas.

Nonetheless the exclusion of the sites above from the 'proposed options' is positive news, let's just not get carried away.

2,500 new houses set for site near Long Ashton

ashley.cartman@gmail.com (Ashley Cartman) — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 12:50:44 GMT

Council proposes Yanley Lane / Woodspring Golf Course as 'strategic growth location'

North Somerset Council has now published its preferred options for accommodating the 20,085 dwellings it is being forced by central government to accommodate over the next 15 years. Although Failand has avoided inclusion a significant development of 2,500 homes is proposed next to Long Ashton on and around Woodspring Golf Course. Significant development is also proposed for Nailsea and Backwell.

The map of Long Ashton below, taken from North Somerset Council documents, shows the potential location of the Woodspring Golf Course development.

Council forced to allow development in the Green Belt

As the report makes clear 'one of the principal issues facing North Somerset is the scale of the housing challenge'. The report goes on to say that government requires us to accommodate 20,085 new dwellings over the next 15 years, this represents a 20% increase and is about the size to two Clevedons.

Providing for this number of houses is particularly difficult here in North Somerset as we have a number of significant land constraints; namely green belt, low lying land subject to flooding, and an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It is because of this that North Somerset Council is being forced to allocate Green Belt land for development.

What does this mean for Long Ashton?

Although I completely accept the need for more housing I was always hopeful that development in the Green Belt could be avoided. I have been working with North Somerset Council staff over the past 2 years to ensure that the Local Plan, when issued, does not adversely affect us all here in Long Ashton.

In my presentation to Long Ashton Parish council in April 2021 I set out my approach:

These principles have remained central to the way I have approached the issue and, although I am disappointed that such a large development is likely to happen, I am nonetheless partly reassured to see the above map and following statement in the report:

"A mixed-use strategic site at Yanley Lane (Woodspring Golf Course) to accommodate 2,500 dwellings, 10.2 ha employment, a local centre and other facilities. This will be a distinct community located on the north of the A38 and south of the railway development to a high level of sustainability with an emphasis on walking and cycling to local facilities and benefitting from high quality public transport into Bristol"

Going forward it is absolutely key that we ensure a strategic gap between Long Ashton and any new development. My view remains that in order to protect the character and setting of Long Ashton we must limit any growth of the village.

I am also concerned about the size of any nearby development. Any development larger than Long Ashton is presently would, I believe, be wrong. Developers will undoubtedly want to see even more houses, even as many as 5,000. We need to continue to resist this. We must not become a suburb of Bristol.

Public consultation on proposals

Public consultation on the 'preferred options' will take place over a 6 week period in March and April. This consultation is our opportunity to discuss the proposals with North Somerset Council and to influence the final Local Plan.

I am currently liaising with Council staff about a date for a public meeting during this consultation period. Given the impact on us locally it is imperative that we all have a chance to voice our concerns. I will announce this date as soon as possible, please sign up for my newsletter below if you wish to be informed.

In the meantime if you have any specific concerns or queries please let me know.

Failand avoids housing development.....for now

ashley.cartman@gmail.com (Ashley Cartman) — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 10:55:11 GMT

North Somerset Council preferred options for housing excludes sites in Failand.

Today North Somerset Council published its preferred options for accommodating the 20,085 homes it is being told by central government its needs to provide over the next 15 years. Although a significant site is proposed near Long Ashton nothing has been allocated to Failand.

As reported early last year residents of Failand received literature from Harrow Estates promoting the development of around 40 hectares of land to accommodate approximately 500 houses. Harrow estates were hoping that the sites illustrated below would be included the Local Plan being developed by North Somerset Council.

North Somerset Council has been developing a Local Plan and the report issued today is the latest stage in the process. The council has already consulted on the framework for developing the Local Plan and issued a 'call for sites' to local developers and landowners.

Unfortunately the Local Plan is likely to see significant development on the green belt. As the document says: "The scale of the housing requirement and the lack of sustainable locations outside the Green Belt which conform to the spatial strategy, the Preferred Options suggests the need to allocate Green Belt land ". Although this has sadly seen the allocation of a new strategic growth site near Long Ashton (by Yanley Lane and Woodspring Golf Course) there are no allocations proposed for Failand.

Development in Failand 'not appropriate'

The report discusses the approach taken to assessing the Green Belt and proposes four locations for development. In this discussion is it noted that 'villages in the Green Belt such as Pill/Easton-in-Gordano or Failand are not appropriate locations for development'.

However, it is important to note two things. Firstly, the report only proposes sites for 18,046 dwellings. This is 2,039 short of the allocation given to us by central government. Additional allocations will need to be made to make up this shortfall, an allocation that could include Failand. Secondly, these allocations are not final and there will be a a 6 week public consultation in March and April. it is quite possible that changes to allocations will be made as a consequence of this consultation.

Although many Failand residents will be pleased that local development has been excluded from the preferred options issued today, there is clearly a long way to go before we can be certain the green belt around Failand has been saved for future generations.

Leigh Woods parking scheme receives final approval

ashley.cartman@gmail.com (Ashley Cartman) — Mon, 06 Dec 2021 13:11:43 GMT

Final hurdle crossed, scheme implementation imminent

North Somerset Council has now published its final decision to proceed with the implementation of a residents parking scheme in Leigh Woods. Work is expected to commence early in the new year with the scheme expected to 'go-live' either at the end of January or early February. You can view the report, including a map of the final scheme layout, by clicking here .

Residents will be written to in January and will be given at least two week to apply for permits.

Can I see a map with the final scheme details?

Yes! The report now published on North Somerset Councils website contains a map of Leigh Woods and I have included a copy of this map below. I appreciate it is difficult to read so would recommend you access the full report on the councils website if you wish to look at it in more detail (the map is on the final page of the report, page 26).

The long and winding road

My involvement started from the the very moment I was elected as one of your local North Somerset Councillors in May 2019 and I am pleased that over 2 years later we have eventually reached this point. There are others who have worked on proposals for even longer and their efforts have been invaluable. The numerous comments and suggestions from residents have also been instrumental in improving the scheme.

Your comments have been crucial. I personally have met with Council staff weekly for over 6 months to ensure your voice was heard. Every comment and suggestion, supportive or not, was discussed and debated. Nothing was ever dismissed out of hand. This has resulted in significant changes and a much improved scheme.

I appreciate that some residents remain sceptical about the scheme, a change of this magnitude was never going to receive unanimous approval. However, extensive consultation has been undertaken and dozens of changes made to the scheme design over many months.

Some of these changes have been significant. In May 2019 the scheme slated for implementation would have prevented anyone, resident or not, from parking on the road all day without moving the their vehicle. Not only has this been removed but we are now ensuring spaces are specifically reserved for residents and their guests. Other significant changes have been made more recently, these include revision to proposals around the Church and on North Road.

The report issued by the council (click here to access the report on the North Somerset website) not only includes a summary of the comments and objections received but also details where amendments have been made in response to concerns.

A full post implementation review

Although a great deal of thought has been put into the design of the scheme and we have consulted widely there are bound to be things that have been missed. It is because of this that I have asked that a full review be undertaken after 6-12 months operation to identify whether any changes are required.

How this review will be undertaken, and the extent of resident involvement, is yet to be decided. However, I remain committed to ensure that your voice is represented and heard.

North Somerset Council Local Plan update - still 5,000 houses planned for the Green Belt

ashley.cartman@gmail.com (Ashley Cartman) — Fri, 12 Nov 2021 17:27:11 GMT

Up to 5,000 homes could be built in the green belt around Long Ashton, Failand, and Wraxall

North Somerset Council is currently developing a Local Plan to set out how it intends to accommodate the 20,000 new houses it is being told by Government it needs to build over a 15 year period. As we currently have just under 100,000 homes this represents a huge increase, it is about the size of two Clevedons.

The purpose of drawing up a Local Plan is to ensure that building is planned and avoids speculative and ad-hoc development. So far the council has consulted on both the challenges we face as well as the broad choices as to where development could go. The outcome of these consultations was that earlier this year it set out its preferred strategy stating that "priority will be given to locating new residential and mixed use development in or close to urban areas".

Although the greenbelt has to be the last area considered for development North Somerset Council has already acknowledged that it does not expect to be able to accommodate this huge increase without green belt development. The shortfall is about 5,000 houses. The map below shows the current green belt boundaries in North Somerset .

Where in the Green Belt could development occur?

As part of the process of developing a Local Plan the Council has to issue a 'call for sites' to landowners and developers. This has enable them to identify where there is potential for housing. All these site were then included on a map, this map is shown below with the grey areas representing areas where landowners/developers would like to build.

It is important to remember that this map does not show where development will occur, indeed the council makes no comment as to the suitability of any of these sites. Some may be suitable and others not.

If you are interested in your local area I have written separate posts on the following:

Failand, click here
Wraxall/Nailsea, click here
Long Ashton, click here

What's the latest position?

Documents published to accompany the recent North Somerset Council meeting stated that the meeting of the Councils Executive Committee of senior Councillors on 8th December would approve a draft of the Local Plan for consultation . This draft local plan was expected to contain detail as to which of the sites on the map above would be included in the draft Local Plan, and crucially which ones were excluded. As the Executive meets in public all documents it considers would have to be published in advance of the meeting, usually a week before.

However I have now heard that the Council intends to delay publication of this report until the new year . There appear to be two main reasons for this;

The report will undoubtedly be contentious, turning a vague threat of development for many residents into specific sites. The Council wishes to consult on this and feels that publishing just before Christmas is not ideal.
Rumours are starting to circulate that the Government may revise some of the housing numbers it is allocating to local councils, more specifically there may be a reduction in numbers allocated to areas such as ours. Michael Gove, who is now responsible for the housing numbers, made some interesting comments to the Housing, Communities, and Local Government committee in the House of Commons on Monday. Click here for a link to an interesting article entitled 'Gove promises overhaul of 'out of date' housing need formula'. It is very early days but government thinking appears to be shifting (keep those letters going to Liam Fox!).

I appreciate many people would prefer to know what is happening and may find the continuing uncertainty frustrating. I will update as soon as I know more. Please email me at Ash@Ashley.cartman.org.uk if you have any questions.

Weston's Birnbeck Pier saved! New lifeboat station announced

ashley.cartman@gmail.com (Ashley Cartman) — Wed, 10 Nov 2021 12:10:56 GMT

Council works with RNLI to save Pier from falling into the sea

I am absolutely delighted to report that last night, North Somerset Council gave unanimous support for a new partnership with the RNLI to save Birnbeck Pier in Weston-super-Mare. Birnbeck Pier has been closed to the public for over 20 years and was in danger of being lost for ever. The Council had previously issued legal notices to the current owner to make necessary repairs, notices which had largely been ignored.

A significant programme of works to renovate the pier and provide a new lifeboat station will be phased over several years. This will be funded through a variety of sources including the RNLI, Historic England and other grants. North Somerset Council and the RNLI will work closely with, and be guided by, Historic England in order to collaborate and access specific grants and trusts reserved for restoration and community projects to fund the venture.

The Council has been working for some time to secure a future for the Pier and announced in June 2020 that the RNLI were looking to move their life-saving operations back to the island, significantly improving their access to the water.

Crucially, the private owner has agreed to sell the pier to the council, and we are keen to acquire Birnbeck as soon as possible. This avoids the time-consuming and expensive compulsory purchase order process. Under the plan, the council will take over ownership of the pier and a new charity or similar will be formed, jointly with the RNLI, to drive forward the restoration project and manage the pier in the future.

We have worked for many months on this project and I am grateful to North Somerset Council officer team and the many volunteers and groups who have been involved in getting this over the line.

Duncan Macpherson, RNLI Principal Estates Manager said: “The RNLI is extremely grateful for the support and commitment of North Somerset Council in its determination to secure a long-term base for the RNLI’s lifesaving in Weston-super-Mare. This announcement comes after many months of collaborative work between the two organisations and while the funding and engineering involved in such a project is incredibly challenging, the Council taking ownership of Birnbeck is an essential to the RNLI’s ambition to re-establish a lifesaving facility on the island.”

Watch my 2 minute video below of an RNLI Weston emergency call out , the new Birnbeck life boat station, with 24/7 direct access to the Severn estuary, can only but help the RNLI provide an even better emergency service.

Ross Simmonds, Acting Regional Director at Historic England, said: “Birnbeck Pier is one of the longest standing and most important cases for Historic England here in the Southwest. We are delighted that the council have secured the ownership of the pier and with the RNLI, we will continue to work closely with all partners to help rescue this outstanding and much-loved structure.”

Bristol Clean Air Zone to launch summer 2022

ashley.cartman@gmail.com (Ashley Cartman) — Tue, 09 Nov 2021 11:01:20 GMT

Good news for Bristol residents but what does it mean for us in North Somerset?

Bristol City Council announced last week that the Government has now approved its Clear Air Zone ("CAZ") proposal and intends to launch the scheme next summer with the aim of meeting clean air targets by 2023.

As I noted in my post earlier this year , although everybody agrees that improving Bristols air quality is important the manner in which it is tackled is of crucial importance for us here in North Somerset - the devil is in the detail. Not only which cars will be charged to enter the CAZ but what are boundaries of the CAZ itself.

Where are the boundaries of the Clean Air Zone?

The main area of contention was the proposal to include parts of the Portway (A4, road from the harbour to Avonmouth) in the CAZ. At the moment many road users visiting North Somerset (for example to go to the Airport) currently leave the M5 at junction 18. My concern was that its inclusion would simply divert traffic down to M5 junction 19 and then through Failand, Leigh Woods, and Long Ashton. Not only would this be a longer journey, hence increasing total carbon emissions, it could mean that Bristol has just exported air pollution to us.

Representations were made by both Long Ashton Parish Council and North Somerset Council to Government and directly to Bristol City Council to try and avoid this. We even asked our MP to get involved. Sadly, this has fallen on deaf ears. As you can see form the map below, taken from Bristol Councils CAZ website , parts of the Portway have been included.

This is disappointing and sadly there is nothing we can now do to change this. It is difficult to know the impact on local communities of this change. Although Bristol City Council says 71% of Bristol vehicles will not be charged (see below) there will undoubtedly be some displacement. I have asked the council to, at the very least, put measures in place assess any local increase in pollution and traffic.

£9 a day charge, will I have to pay?

Bristol City Council says that "around 71 per cent of vehicles in Bristol are already compliant so won't have to pay to enter the zone" . Basically, older and more polluting vehicles are being targeted, the daily charge for private petrol/diesel cars will be £9 .

Officially charges will not apply to Euro 4, 5, and 6 petrol vehicles (roughly 2006 onwards) or to Euro 6 diesel vehicles (roughly end of 2015 onwards). If you're like me you probably haven't a clue about the Euro status of your car. Helpfully, Bristol Council have said they will follow the same rules as Birminghams CAZ, and you can check whether or you will be charged on the Governments website by clicking here .

ln addition there will be a number of exemptions, these will include:

People on low incomes travelling into the zone for work (currently earning less than £26,000)
Patients and visitors to hospitals in the zone
Blue Badge Holders

Backwell School Bus update

ashley.cartman@gmail.com (Ashley Cartman) — Mon, 30 Aug 2021 17:37:57 GMT

Backwell School bus - latest information

I wanted to give a quick update as to the latest position with respect to the Backwell School bus.

Two school buses have run successfully for many years, but it now appears that this is being reduced to one while at the same time the cost, if you are fortunate enough to have been allocated a place, has risen dramatically.

I have been contacted by several parents who either haven’t been allocated a place, are astounded by the huge increase in cost, or have simply heard nothing. Many parents have also posted in local social media groups expressing concern. I am also a parent with a child at Backwell School who is now without a place on the school bus.

A letter to the Headmaster....

I have written to Mr Nunes, the Headmaster of Backwell School, asking him to set out the reasons for the changes as well as any ideas he may have as to how we can work together to resolve the situation. Ideally we would like the second bus reinstated but I accept that this may not be possible, particularly at such short notice. However, even if we are looking at using the public bus or lift shares we would want to understand if there are any ways the school can help to make sure our children arrive at school safely, on time, and ready to learn.

Possible amendments to public bus times

I have also done some work looking at the most recent public bus times (a new timetable came into force on 29 August). The X2 is timed perfectly in the morning, picking up just after 8:15 each morning and arriving at Backwell crossroads just after 8:30.

The main issue seems to be in the afternoon. The X2 picks up from Backwell crossroads at 15:58. With school finishing between 3:05 and 3:15 pupils may have to wait up to an hour.

At the end of last week I was in correspondence with North Somerset Council to see whether we could request the bus operator to change the timetable to better align with the end of school. There is some precedence for this, but given the short notice any change would not be implemented until October at the earliest.

There are two possible options.

The first, and least likely, is to move the time X2 picks up in Backwell. The current timetable has one picking up at 14:56 and the next at 15:58. A pick up at 15:25 would be perfect.

The second option is to get the X1, which at the moment goes from Backwell down the bypass straight into Bristol, to divert through Long Ashton. This would be for a particular service and for only limited stops in the village. The problem with Long Ashton is that it is......well......long, so we would need a minimum of two stops. I am suggesting these be at Lovelinch Gardens and by the old Northleaze School.

At the moment the X1 picks up at 15:18 and 15:38. Ideally both of these buses would divert through Long Ashton. If this is not possible then ideally we would move to having just one service at about 15:25. I'm worried that unless we're careful our children will get on the wrong bus and find themselves heading down the bypass into Bristol!.

This is the option I am currently working. If you have any views on this please do let me know.

If you want to keep up to date on local issues in and around Long Ashton, Failand, Wraxall, and Leigh Woods then please sign up to my newsletter. If comes out roughly monthly and is a summary of all the articles I post on this website and social media.

North Somerset prepares to welcome Afghan families

ashley.cartman@gmail.com (Ashley Cartman) — Mon, 23 Aug 2021 17:28:13 GMT

North Somerset Council offers to help Afghan families

Nobody can fail to have seen the chaos caused by the sudden, and seemingly, poorly planned exit from Afghanistan by the US army. With the Taliban making rapid advances many Afghans are living in fear, often for their own and their families lives.

Whatever your view on the righteousness of our involvement in Afghanistan everyone seems to agree that those Afghans who worked closely with our troops, diplomats, and aid workers should be protected from reprisals by the Taliban. In many circumstances this may well involve permanently relocating whole families to the UK.

At the end of July four flights had arrived bringing 137 families to the UK. At that point the plan was to relocate 3,000 people (or approximately 600 families) before September. If these 600 families were distributed evenly across the UK then North Somerset could expect 2 families to arrive. The final number of families relocating will undoubtedly be higher.

North Somerset Council is keen to play its part in protecting those that for many years protected and assisted British citizens as they undertook dangerous work. We have already been in touch with central government to offer our help. At a meeting this afternoon I reiterated my total support for this initiative and said that we must be prepared, if necessary, to accommodate more than 'our share' of 2 families.

The council, working with central government, continues to plan for arrivals. Work has already been undertaken to find accommodation. Although larger homes suitable for a family can be particularly hard to find a number of suitable properties have already been identified.

In addition the Council will also need to ensure that suitable support services are rapidly put in place to aid integration into our communities, this is particularly the case where families arrive with children.

If you want to keep up to date on local issues in and around Long Ashton, Failand, Wraxall, and Leigh Woods then please sign up to my newsletter. If comes out (roughly) monthly and is a summary of all the articles I post on this website and social media.

Wraxall and Nailsea - developer proposals

ashley.cartman@gmail.com (Ashley Cartman) — Fri, 30 Jul 2021 08:21:40 GMT

Developers propose large sites around Nailsea and Wraxall

At the moment North Somerset Council is developing a Local Plan (for more about what a local plan is, click here ) to accommodate the 20,475 homes the government says we need to build over a 15 year period. Thats represents a 20% increase and equivalent to building two new Clevedons.

Last summer the Council issued a 'call for sites', this allowed developers the opportunity to submit land for consideration. Land, that if approved as part of the Local Plan, would be brought forward for development.

The map below shows all the sites (in grey) around Wraxall and Nailsea that have been proposed for development. This amounts to thousands and thousands of houses. This map is publicly available on the Councils website , it is dynamic and you can use it to look at specific sites as well as other areas in North Somerset.

This is scary stuff. Although we undoubtedly need more homes, after years and years of us as a nation not building enough, these developments if permitted would change our community beyond recognition. Key features would be:

Building on the gap between Wraxall and Wraxall village which includes a Site of Nature Conservation Interest as well as contains a Scheduled Monument.
Substantial building on the Green Belt.
Effective removal of the strategic gap between Backwell and Nailsea.

Of course it is important to note that this is only what developers want to do, it is for North Somerset Council to decide which (if any) of these sites will be allowed . In addition, much of this land is in the Green Belt which gives it extra protection. However, given the size of the housing allocation being imposed on us by central government North Somerset Council is being forced into considering development in the Green Belt and/or in areas subject to flooding.

If you want to know more I have set up a dedicate page on my website to monitor the development of the North Somerset Local Plan . It also includes lots of background information as to why all this is being done. If you have a specific concern please feel free to contact me .

Leigh Woods Parking - revised proposals to be published mid August

ashley.cartman@gmail.com (Ashley Cartman) — Thu, 29 Jul 2021 10:04:07 GMT

After extensive consultation revised scheme due to be published mid August

All residents in Leigh Woods received a letter earlier this year outlining proposals for a resident parking scheme in Leigh Woods. The usual process is that the Council would issue a Traffic Regulation Order ('TRO') before implementing changes, by writing to all residents we have been able to gather much more detailed feedback and because a TRO wasn't issued it is much easier to make changes.

The next step is to issue a formal TRO. The usual process is that a TRO would be advertised in The North Somerset Times and notices displayed prominently locally. However, given the level of local concern I am expecting that the Council will write again to all residents, as a minimum I am asking that those who responded to the consultation are contacted.

The current plan is that the TRO will be issued in mid August after which a statutory 3 week consultation period will begin. During that time I will continue to meet weekly with council staff and review submissions. However, given the extensive consultation already undertaken I am not expecting any further major changes.

What's the feedback from the consultation?

I have been attending weekly meetings with Council staff and every single comment submitted has been discussed in detail. There are of course a number of themes emerging which I covered in my June update .

Overall though I am pleased that two thirds of respondents expressed support for the scheme even though some were asking for significant changes. Wherever possible changes have been made to the scheme to reflect your concerns and comments. I have been asked not to share the full details at the moment as the plans are still being revised. However I can share that:

We will be reducing the number of long stay spaces and increasing the number of residents only spaces.
The daily charge will be increased, though by not as much as I wanted. Nonetheless I have secured a commitment from the Council that in the event the charge does proves to be too low (as many of us expect) then it will be revised upward quickly.
All residents will be entitled to apply for up to 2 permits.

Details of all changes and a revised scheme plan will be published on the Councils website when the TRO is issued.

Doesn't the scheme just turn Leigh Woods into a cheap overflow car park for Bristol?

This point made has been made to me a few times and want to address it directly.

Let's be honest. At the moment Leigh Woods is a free overflow carpark for Bristol. Anyone can park anywhere, anytime, and for as long as they like. They can do all this for free.

This scheme may not go as far as you like but it does move us significantly in the right direction. This scheme, in conjunction with the commitment I have secured to review it after 6 months, should mean we can find a happy balance for everyone in a relatively short period of time.

I appreciate that I can't please everyone. Indeed, it is not in my power to do so. I am your local councillor, not the scheme designer. What I can do is advocate for you in the meetings where the decisions are made. I have been doing this and I hope you will see that significant changes have been made to reflect your concerns. I will continue to do this for you.

When will the scheme be implemented?

Sadly we are are looking at another short delay. When I last wrote I was expecting the scheme to be implemented late September / early October, work is now expected to be undertaken in November.

I pushed for the recent consultation and we have taken more time than expected considering and dealing with your queries. Although I know many of you will be disappointed I think it was right to delay slightly so we could get things right.

Green bin collections - cancellation update

ashley.cartman@gmail.com (Ashley Cartman) — Wed, 28 Jul 2021 17:13:09 GMT

Service back to normal but further cancellations possible

As many of you know last week green bin collections were cancelled on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. A combination of the hot weather and a large number of operatives being told to self isolate ('pingdemic') meant that the council were short of crews. As you would expect priority was given to collecting black bins and recycling which meant that many of us (including myself) did not have our garden waste collected. There are no plans to return to empty missed bins before the next scheduled green bin collection.

Immediate action was taken to get temporary staff and normal service was resumed Friday and so far this week there have been no further cancellations. However, we should prepare ourselves for the possibility of further cancellations.

This morning I spoke with the Managing Director of North Somerset Environment Company, the business that collects our waste, who pointed out that green bins collections are being being completely cancelled for weeks by other nearby councils. Bristol City Council has cancelled them for 10 weeks, Somerset County Council for 6 weeks, and Bath and North East Somerset Council for 4 weeks. So, although we are OK at the moment we may see further cancellations. I have been assured that we are doing everything possible to avoid this.

One advantage we have is that last year North Somerset Council took back control of its waste services from Biifa. It is now a company 100% owned and controlled by the Council. I hope this is validation of that choice, it allows us more flexibility and control when faced with difficult circumstances.

Bristol Airport planning appeal update

ashley.cartman@gmail.com (Ashley Cartman) — Tue, 27 Jul 2021 15:58:47 GMT

Public Inquiry starts into Councils decision to decline Bristol Airports application to expand

In March last year the Council refused plans by Bristol Airport to expand its passenger throughput from 10 million to 12 million passengers a year and to change its night flying arrangements. As noted in my previous post the airport appealed against this decision and as a consequence a public inquiry started last Tuesday (20th July) at the Town Hall in Weston.

The appeal is expected to last until mid October and will be heard by a panel of three independent Inspectors. The council and the airport submitted their evidence in advance and the inspectors will be working their way through the various aspects of the application over the coming few weeks.

Last week the Inspectors initially heard the council’s opening submissions outlining the case they are making, together with the opening submissions of the airport. The focus of the week was then on the evidence from the PCAA (Parish Councils Airport Association), local residents and others with over 65 people making statements. This week the focus will be on the economic and aviation forecasting evidence.

The inquiry is being streamed live via YouTube. The link to the live stream, as well as the running order for the inquiry can be found on the inquiry website . The councils website has answers to a number of FAQ's and will be updated regularly as the inquiry progresses.

Long Ashton in The Sunday Times for record house price rises

ashley.cartman@gmail.com (Ashley Cartman) — Mon, 26 Jul 2021 10:25:03 GMT

Long Ashton one of only eight postcode areas in the UK where prices rose by more than £100,00 in a year.

In an article in yesterdays Sunday Times (25 July) the headline on the front cover of the Home section was 'Winning the Postcode Lottery. Revealed: the eight areas where house prices rose by more than £100,000' . Under a photo picturesque coastal village I expected it to be a mix of coastal villages and swish city centres. I wasn't expecting Long Ashton to be one of them.

For those of you interested in what The Sunday Times said about Long Ashton here is the text:

SOMERSET BS41

The village of Long Ashton, three miles from Bristol, is, like Kilmacolm, growing in popularity now that city-centre living is seen as less desirable. The village is about 2 miles in length with a pretty high street.

Lee Atherton, a regional director with Andrews estate agency, says:

"People in flats on the harbourside in Bristol city centre, with no outside room, are looking for more space; that coupled with two primary schools and a new academy means we have seen a 50 per cent uplift in sales in Long Ashton year on year. We have one property which was sold earlier this year for £1.25m which is now back on the market for £1.5m - and that's in just six months."

(Quoted from The Sunday Times, 25 July 2021, Home section, page 7)

If you want to read the full article either follow this link to the Sunday Times website. Alternatively you'll find a picture below.

Wraxall and Failand to develop Neighbourhood Plan

ashley.cartman@gmail.com (Ashley Cartman) — Fri, 23 Jul 2021 17:30:39 GMT

Parish Council leads work to develop Neighbourhood Plan in face of development threat

As the Council develops its Local Plan in response to a Government imposed target to build 20,000 more homes in North Somerset over a fifteen year period Wraxall and Failand Parish Council have decided to develop their own Neighbourhood Plan. Work on the plan, which started earlier this year, could take up to 2 years and will be key in shaping the area for years to come.

Neighbourhood Plans were introduced by the Coalition Government with the aim of giving 'communities direct power to develop a shared vision for their neighbourhood and shape the development and growth of their local area'. Usually developed by Town and Parish Councils (Long Ashton Parish has one) they allow for more influence as to where new homes are located, the design of new buildings, as well as what infrastructure should be provided.

It's also important to note that Neighbourhood Plans are not a way to block all development, rather they are a way for a community to shape any development that may happen and to ensure that the right infrastructure is put in place. By having a Neighbourhood Plan Wraxall and Failand Parish Council would also be entitled to 25% of the revenues from the Community Infrastructure Levy (commonly known as CIL) as opposed to the 10% they currently receive. These funds are retained by the Parish Council to be spent on local infrastructure., although the amounts can be large they are not big enough to address larger infrastructure demands for things such as roads and doctors surgeries. However, the amount received can be in the tens of thousands (it all depends on the size of any development). You can read more about Neighbourhood Plans here .

Ultimately before any plan can be adopted it needs to be approved in a referendum of local residents. In the meantime there is a lot of work to do and I, as of the two local North Somerset Councillors, we be helping in any way I can. If you are interested too (and volunteers are needed!) then I suggest you contact the Parish Council via their website .

Planning permission for New Scout HQ in the green belt

ashley.cartman@gmail.com (Ashley Cartman) — Thu, 22 Jul 2021 18:15:53 GMT

Councillors overturn planning recommendation to allow Scouts to build in the green belt

At a meeting of North Somerset Council's Planning and Regulatory Committee last night I joined with other Councillors to unanimously reject a Council officer recommendation to deny permission to our local Scouts to build a new HQ in the green belt. I was pleased to be able to propose the motion and spoke in favour the application.

My fellow ward Councillor Stuart McQuillan, who was instrumental in drafting the motion to approve the application, seconded the proposal and also spoke in its favour. I felt very privileged to be able to play a role in helping the Scouts bring their dream to a reality. Even though there is still much to do it is incredible how far the project has come since the Scouts had to move out of their old HQ on Providence Lane. I know my predecessor as your North Somerset Councillor, Charles Cave, has been involved over many years with this project and has worked very hard to help the Scouts.

Other concerns raised during the meeting included outstanding ecological surveys as well as ensuring that any harm done the green belt can be mitigated as far as possible. As you can see from the pictures above the the new building is designed with a very natural style so that it blends into the green belt as far as possible.

if you would like to see the full detailed application, it can be found on the North Somerset Councils website

Why Dominic Cummings is right and I don't care what he says about Boris

ashley.cartman@gmail.com (Ashley Cartman) — Tue, 20 Jul 2021 21:42:17 GMT

I am a political nerd.....

I am a political nerd. I admit that. So it was with great excitement that I sat down with my dinner this evening to watch the hour long ‘special’ interview with Dominic Cummings (find it on BBC iPlayer). There are many who obsess about football – I love politics. Yes, I have my team (Lib Dem) but to stretch the football analogy, I love the game far more than my team. I have never been a tribal person and for me politics is about values in action. It’s about following what all the players are doing, irrespective of their party affiliation. What ‘they’ think and do really does matter.

But I was caught out. I was expecting salacious details of his turbulent time with Boris Johnson. More details to justify what many of us political obsessives have known for some time, that Boris Johnson being our Prime Minister is not, to use a Churchillian expression, evidence of our ‘finest hour’. Many of those details were there of course and if you want more ammunition for your anti-Boris gun then it’s worth a watch. But this interview as important for other reasons.

This is not about Boris bashing...

If you’re reading this as a conservative voter or supporter, the danger is you’ll simply turn off as you're expecting a session of Boris Bashing to follow. Please don’t, hold on. Similarly, if you have sympathy with the view that Boris isn’t up to the job and are hoping I will relay all the Cummings jibes and put downs so to avoid you having to watch the entire hour yourself then you’ll be disappointed (except to say I was really confused when Cummings referred to the PM as a shopping trolley, what does that even mean?!?).

The point I would like to make is that when the interview ended, I was left with a great sadness, sadness at the state of our country. I was also left with the very uncomfortable feeling of actually agreeing with some of the points made by Dominic Cummings, and when you’re a Lib Dem like me saying you agree with anything Dominic Cummings has ever said is extremely uncomfortable! But, as I said before, I am not a tribal politician, and nobody has a monopoly on good ideas.

What was Laura Kuenssberg thinking?

Much of what Cumming’s thinks is available online, it’s not secret. What was different tonight was that you heard him try to articulate it in person. Over the years he has been unwilling to deal directly with the media and to articulate his thoughts on camera and, to be honest, watching Laura Kuenssbergs approach to the whole interview I can see why. She seemed more concerned with cheap headlines and personality politics more than anything more considered and meaningful.

The point he made that chimed with me was the inadequacy of the whole national political system, more specifically that we have MP’s who aren’t up to the job of governing and civil servants in Whitehall who aren’t up to the job of advising them anyway. Over many years I have sadly come to the same view, to hear it from an insider was truly shocking.

Why are our politicians so rubbish?

There is a wealth of evidence going back some years that shows that the skills you need to become a national politician (and to some extent a local politician too) bear absolutely no resemblance to the skills required to be an effective minister or prime minister. Indeed, some would argue these two skill sets are actually mutually exclusive.

The sad reality is that our political system places people in the most senior positions who are best at climbing the political greasy pole, not at making the changes that so many of us crave. This is not just a concern of the usual suspects in the leftwing or anti-conservative media. A leader article in The Economist last July noted that the 'Britains political system puts artificial constraints on the supply of talent'. Although generally supportive of right leaning governments the article went on to identify ' the four biggest lemons in British Politics', s adly for us here in North Somerset Dr Fox was one of them.

The media is so often caught up with the Punch and Judy show that is day to day politics that it fails in its duty to ask the important and fundamental question: we deserve better politicians, why aren’t we getting them? This goes beyond political parties to the very core of what we want our democracy to do. How we want it to represent us. What we want our government to change or preserve. Have you ever heard any TV channel, radio station, or newspaper ask this question? I suspect not.

Ending with a (sort of) negative thought.....

My sadness came not from the realisation that I shared a viewpoint with Dominic Cummings, but from the impossibility of the task ahead. He has a valid viewpoint which should have been explored further in the interview. The fact the even he, as a nationally prominent figure, can’t get coverage for this point highlights the size of the problem not just with our political system but with the media too.

I always like to end with a positive thought but in this instance it’s difficult. As the public disengage from politics because of our poor politicians the inadequate in Westminster tighten their grip on power. This leads to further apathy and the problem just keeps getting worse. I can only hope that over time apathy turns to frustration and the public put aside party-political differences and join me, Dominic Cummings, and others in our view and demand fundamental root and branch reform to our political system. After all, it’s our country, and we deserve better.

Balloon Fiesta cancelled....sort of

ashley.cartman@gmail.com (Ashley Cartman) — Mon, 05 Jul 2021 16:36:35 GMT

Balloon Fiesta cancelled and replaced with 'Fiesta Fortnight'

I always look forward the balloon fiesta each year and so it was sad to hear that the organisers have decided to cancel the event citing 'continued uncertainty regarding organising large scale events within HM Government’s roadmap out of Covid-19 lockdown' . They say they considered a number of alternatives but ultimately felt measures permitted by government would undermine the 'ethos and accessibility which is at the heart of the fiesta' as well as expose them to a 'huge financial gamble of a seven-figure sum' . If you would like to read their full statement you can access it here .

Nonetheless they are planning a Fiesta Fortnight with flypasts and balloon spectaculars. Further details of events and flypasts can be found on their Facebook page .

Leigh Woods Parking - June 21 update

ashley.cartman@gmail.com (Ashley Cartman) — Mon, 28 Jun 2021 09:46:56 GMT

Leigh Woods Residents Parking Zone - FAQ's

As many of you will know I have been advocating for better parking restrictions in Leigh Woods since I was elected in May 2019. The introduction of charges in Clifton effectively turned Leigh Woods into a free car park.

By the end of the summer of 2019 I had secured a policy change at the Council meaning that residents parking zones (RPZ's) would be permitted in North Somerset. I also secured a commitment that if residents wanted it , Leigh Woods would be the first in the queue for such a scheme. My early conversations with residents indicated that this would be popular.

In response to unprecedented parking last autumn phase 1 of the project was implemented at short notice and double yellow lines were put down just before Christmas. Despite some initial concerns the general consensus seems to be that the changes have been a great success. The council is now considering phase 2; the consultation on, and implementation of, a RPZ.

My role as your councillor is to represent you, inform you of important matters, and to ensure that your views are taken seriously. That is why every resident in Leigh Woods received a letter from the Council outlining the current proposals in advance of any formal Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) being issued. This allows for a 'soft' consultation period and specifically asks for your comments so amendments can be made.

I have received a number of emails raising a range of points and concerns. In response I have put together answers to a number of frequently asked questions. I hope you find these useful. if there is anything missing please let me know and I will update accordingly/

£75 fines for dog fouling and littering to be enforced

ashley.cartman@gmail.com (Ashley Cartman) — Tue, 25 May 2021 17:55:10 GMT

Private company to issue fines to tackle anti-social behaviour

Starting next week, North Somerset Council will be taking tougher action together against antisocial littering and dog fouling.

Last years 'Your Neighbourhood' consultation showed that 90 per cent of respondents agreed that it was reasonable to issue on the spot fines to deal with dog fouling and 77 per cent agreed it was reasonable to deal with littering. Although most people (65%) thought their area was clean or 'ok' there is a clear desire for more action.

From next week four new e nforcement wardens (there were none before) will patrol the district issuing fines to those who drop litter or don't pick up after their dogs. They will only be able to issue fines where there is a public space protection order in force. In Long Ashton that is exclusively by the community centre, there is also one in force at Abbot's Pool. They will start in Weston but will be consulting with Parish Councils over the coming weeks to see if there are areas they would like patrolled.

The enforcement wardens will be provided by a private company with the proceeds of fines expected to cover the cost of the service. We looked at a number of options and this seemed the most sensible given the demands on council finances.

The Council has entered into an initial 12 month contact during which it will be keeping a close eye on what is going on.

I appreciate some people may be worried by a private company being able to issue fines, however I have been reassured that it has been implemented successfully in other parts of the country.

Of course many people will rightly say that this doesn't cover many parts of our local area. This is true and I agree that there are other areas that may need attention. Nonetheless, I hope this will make a difference and start to tackle anti-social behaviour across the district.

Ban parking by the quarry on Longwood Lane?

ashley.cartman@gmail.com (Ashley Cartman) — Tue, 18 May 2021 13:28:03 GMT

Do you park by the quarry on Longwood Lane and go walking in Ashton Court?
North Somerset Council is considering introducing a parking ban......

Since parking charges were introduced to Ashton Court many of us park on Longwood Lane by the quarry which allows easy access to Ashton Court. Although this is next to the quarry it seems to work well and rarely do I find there to be traffic issues. Nonetheless North Somerset Council are considering prohibiting parking here as part of a wider scheme to control parking around Ashton Court.

The map below shows where consideration is being given to introducing a clearway (which would prohibit parking).

Many of the proposed restrictions indicated in red on the above map make a lot of sense (if you're wondering why a section is green that's because it is within Bristol and hence not controlled by North Somerset Council).

Beggar Bush Lane...

Introducing better parking restrictions on Beggar Bush Lane will improve safety. I know a lot of people park here too to access Ashton Court but the road has a 50 mph speed limit and it surely only a matter of time before there is a serious accident. After all there is no lay-by, people are just parking on the verge.

I have been contacted by concerned residents over this and have been pushing for additional restrictions, it is good to see that something is being done about it.

Longwood Lane (and Providence Lane)...

My view is that there is no need to introduce parking restrictions here. I always start with what problem is seeking to be solved, in this case I am of the view that there is no significant problem. Hence, it is my intention to object to the introduction of parking restrictions here. I also note that the 'no parking' restrictions are also planned to be introduced at the top of Providence Lane. As nobody ever seems to park here I don't think they are needed either.

I need to know what you think...

I have already let council staff what I think of the proposals but I need to know what you think too. They have provisionally agreed to relook at the scheme but are keen to understand local feeling. Please let me know either by using my contact form or emailing me at ash@ashleycartman.org.uk.

Leigh Woods Residents Parking - coming soon!

ashley.cartman@gmail.com (Ashley Cartman) — Tue, 18 May 2021 12:45:29 GMT

Residents Parking Scheme to be completed by October

It has been a long battle to ensure that parking available in Leigh Woods is split fairly between all users and that adequate provision is made for residents. Last year I was pleased that in response to an enormous increase of lockdown related visitors I was able to work with residents and the council to introduce some of the parking restrictions early. This has undoubtedly been a great help but at the same time has highlighted the need for further work.

As reported in my previous article (which details some aspects of the scheme) the residents parking scheme was approved by the Executive of North Somerset Council last October for implementation. I was told late last year that the full scheme would be implemented by late spring / early summer this year. Sadly this has not happened. However, I have been working to get the council to agree to a timetable for implementation.

I am pleased to say that we now have a provisional timetable.

Starting immediately I will be consulting with local groups and individuals, in particular I would like to hear feedback following the introduction of yellow lines last year as well as comments on the proposals as previously published .
By 1st June the council plans to issue the current plans on its website along with other guidance. North Somerset Council will also write to all residents, informing them of the plans.
All feedback will then be collated and, if appropriate, minor amendments made to the proposals already published. By the end of June or early July a Traffic Regulation Order ('TRO') will be issued - this represents the formal legal consultation process that will last for 3 weeks.
After the TRO period ends there may be further small amendments, though amendments can only be to relax not tighten restrictions.
During August (early September latest) residents will be notified as to how to apply for a residents parking permit.
Work to implement the scheme will be undertaken late September or early October .

I appreciate that many residents are frustrated by the delay, I share your frustration. Nonetheless, I have been working on this and now hope we have a firm timetable.

If you would like to contact me about this, or any other matter, please use the contact form or email me at ash@ashleycartman.org.uk.

6,000 homes on the green belt?

ashley.cartman@gmail.com (Ashley Cartman) — Tue, 11 May 2021 08:53:55 GMT

North Somerset Council announces that almost 6,000 homes may need to be built in the green belt to meet target imposed by Government

Those of you who have read my posts before will probably be aware of the problem North Somerset faces in accommodating the 20,000 new homes we are being told by central Government that we need to build over a 15 year period. We have just under 100,000 homes at the moment so 20,000 represents a huge increase. Finding somewhere for all these homes to go is particularly difficult in North Somerset as we have a lot of green belt, extensive areas subject to flooding, and an area of outstanding natural beauty. (If you want to read more click here for my dedicated webpage).

In responding to the target the Council is drawing up a Local Plan , this plan aims to ensure that development is planned and avoids speculative and ad-hoc development.

Up here in the northern part of North Somerset we are blessed with Green belt which for decades has prevented the sprawl of Bristol and preserved villages such as Long Ashton and Failand. This is now under threat.

Options: where could these houses be built?

Last year the Council consulted on a number of different approaches to accommodating these numbers. The four broad strategies were retain the green belt, urban focus, transport corridors, and greater dispersal. These approaches are illustrated by the maps below.

The outcome of this consultation was clear. Residents wanted development to be focused in and around urban areas but at the same time to avoid building on the green belt.

North Somerset Council draft Spatial Strategy

In a document published on its website at the end of April North Somerset (click here for full document) Council sets out its preferred spatial strategy for accommodating and allocating these new houses. It reads as follows;

' Priority will be given to locating new residential and mixed use development in or close to urban areas where there is an existing or proposed wide range of facilities, service and jobs, and there are opportunities to encourage active travel, particularly at locations which are currently, or have the potential to be, well served by public transport. Employment opportunities will be encouraged at accessible locations well-related to the urban areas and where sustainable transport opportunities can be maximised. Residential development in areas at risk of flooding will be minimised outside the towns. The amount of development at villages and in the countryside will relate to local community needs '

This can be very confusing! However, there are two important points to note.

1 - The Green Belt HAS to be the last option

The diagram opposite, taken from the North Somerset Council report, details the steps that have to be undertaken before the green belt is even considered for development.

As you can see there are many other options and, as stipulated by law, the Green Belt has to be the last area considered for development.

2 - It's so many houses there seems little choice but to consider development on North Somerset Green Belt

Following the process outlined in point 1, and adopting the preferred spatial strategy detailed above, the Council included an illustrative table in the report detailing where the houses could be built. This is illustrated below:

This details that the Council believes it can accommodate 14,225 houses outside of the greenbelt. The implication is clear, unless more land can be found the 'residual' 5,860 homes would need to be built in the green belt (unless neighbouring Local Authorities are able to take some of the allocation, though this is considered very unlikely).

With respect to the green belt the report notes the following:

What does this mean for Long Ashton, Failand, and Wraxall?

In short this means more uncertainty for those of us living in Failand, Long Ashton and Wraxall. It seems the council have completely ignored, either by choice or by having to following existing law, the wishes of residents across North Somerset to avoid development on the green belt.

Although the Council are keen to point out that the table above is 'illustrative and will be subject to further testing and assessment' , the direction of travel is clear. The council will now spend some months considering specific sites and locations before publishing a draft Local Plan at the end of the year.

It seems our fight to stop greenbelt development is now more about limiting development and influencing site allocation rather than stopping it altogether.

Who you 'blame' for this up to you. However, I can't help think that that accommodating a 15% increase in housing outside the Green Belt is a significant achievement. In my mind if we have to build on the green belt the blame lies firmly with the Government. Without a ridiculous housing allocation, we would be in a very different position.

BattleAxes to be converted to single home

ashley.cartman@gmail.com (Ashley Cartman) — Sun, 09 May 2021 14:33:05 GMT

Planning Application submitted to change use from pub to single home

North Somerset Council has received an application to convert the former BattleAxes into a single family home.

There has been speculation sometime as to the future of the building since a 'for-sale' sign appeared a few months ago. The application, which can be viewed by clicking here , shows floor plans and seeks permission to change the use of the building.

It only a few years since the pub was extensively refurbished. However, it was sold in August 2019 to Country Pub Group together with the Castle Inn in Bradford-upon for a reported combined price of £300,000. Country Pub Group went into administration last August resulting in the pub being put up for sale.

A number of comments, both in support and against, have been forwarded to North Somerset Council and can be viewed here on the Council website. These comments reflect the sadness at the loss of a local amenity as well as relief that at least something is going to be done with the building and it is not going to be left to fall into disrepair.

The Parish Council considered the application at its meeting of 6 May. Of the 11 councillors present 8 voted to object to the application, 2 voted against objecting and 1 abstained. The objection submitted to North Somerset Council was on the grounds of loss of local amenity as well as insufficient efforts being made to market the property as a public house/restaurant.

At the time of writing no decision has been made on the planning application.

Sign up now or no Green Bin collection by the end of May!

ashley.cartman@gmail.com (Ashley Cartman) — Thu, 06 May 2021 14:38:00 GMT

Green waste collections to stop 24th May if you haven't signed up

From the beginning of April North Somerset Council introduced an annual charge for collecting your green bin waste - details of why the charge was introduced, how it compares to other councils, and how to register were contained in my news article of 30 March ( click here for link to article ).

However, from Monday 24 May, only garden waste presented by households who have signed up will be collected . In the two weeks before this date (from 10 May) a hanger will be put on all green bins to remind people to sign up.

Please sign up as soon as possible to give time for your bin sticker to be sent out to you. Details of where to sign up online are below.

Festival Way Toucan Crossing

ashley.cartman@gmail.com (Ashley Cartman) — Wed, 05 May 2021 13:56:41 GMT

New crossing on Festival Way after Sustrans identify it as national priority

Nobody can fail to have noticed that on the way into Bristol we have a new Toucan crossing. A Toucan crossing is a Pelican crossing that also permits for bicycles to be ridden across, an essential aspect given that the Festival Way is not only a well used local cycle path but also part of the National Cycle Network.

Following a nationwide audit of the National Cycle Network Sustrans, the Bristol based walking and cycling charity, identified the crossing as a priority for improvements. The charity allocated £140,000 of funding it had received from the Department of Transport for North Somerset Council to deliver the improvements (further funding from the Joint Local Transport Plan met the total cost of the scheme). The new crossing links the Festival Way to the recently built traffic free route through Ashton Court to Bristol.

As well as the new crossing, visibility has been increased on this stretch of road by removing low-level vegetation and raising the crown of some sycamore trees. This is to help people using the crossing, and those driving on the road, to see one another.

Backwell Pool saved and now set to reopen!

ashley.cartman@gmail.com (Ashley Cartman) — Sat, 24 Apr 2021 16:23:13 GMT

Backwell Lesiure Centre set to re-open after being saved from closure

The main swimming pool at Backwell Leisure Centre will re-open in mid-May. The centre's other facilities, including the learner pool, gym and squash courts, will re-open as planned on 1 May.

As a member of the 8 strong Executive Committee of senior Councillors at North Somerset Council I am privileged to be involved in many decisions relating to residents all over the district. As many of you know we are an alliance of different political parties but nonetheless we operate on the basis of coming to a consensus before making a decision. In the 2 years since we took office we have only ever held one vote, and that related to the potential closure of Backwell Leisure Centre.

As your local councillor I argued strongly that up here 'in the North' (so much discussion can be focused on Weston-super-Mare) we needed a swimming pool. However, the leisure centre roof was in desperate need of repair. So much so that serious consideration was given to closing the facility permanently.

Thankfully a majority of colleagues agreed with me and over the past 12 months hundreds of thousands of pounds have been spent on repairs. The Leisure Centre is now secure for the foreseeable future.

New War Memorial for Long Ashton

ashley.cartman@gmail.com (Ashley Cartman) — Tue, 13 Apr 2021 15:42:18 GMT

New memorial unveiled commemorating over 100 villagers

On 12 April a new memorial to over 100 villagers who have died in the service of their country was unveiled. HRH Princess Anne was planning to unveil the memorial but cancelled following the death of her father HRH Duke of Edinburgh. HM Lord-Lieutenant of Somerset, Annie Maw, stepped in so the ceremony went ahead.

The monument is certainly a fitting and beautiful testament to the sacrifice made by 104 parishioners. The 104 names comprise those who died in military conflicts since World War I as well as civilian casualties.

The stones used in the surrounding wall (pictured above) were taken from the former British Legion building at the bottom of Providence Lane.

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Green Bin Charging

ashley.cartman@gmail.com (Ashley Cartman) — Tue, 30 Mar 2021 15:52:01 GMT

Green Bin charging: why it's being introduced and what to do

As many of you will have realised North Somerset Council has decided to introduce an annual charge for collection of green bin waste. This was a difficult decision to take so I wanted to set out some of reasons for why the charge is being introduced as well as what you need to do to get registered.

Why is a charge being introduced?

Every year the council has to balance its books, unlike central government it is not allowed to spend more than it has coming in. As I set out in my recent post North Somerset Council Tax set for 2021-22 our council tax will rise by 4.8% next year. This rise was roughly the same as all other local councils and still means we have the lowest council tax of all of our neighbours.

However, costs continue to rise and the council is targeting savings and efficiencies of £7.5m. Most of the pressure for rising costs comes from adult social care and children's services. These are services that the council legally has to provide.

The decision to charge for green waste collection means we don't have to make cuts in other areas and we can continue to prioritise those areas that people care about. We are the last council in the region to charge for green waste collection and have resisted its introduction as long as possible.

Do other councils charge for green waste collection?

Yes they do. North Somerset Council is introducing a £50 per year charge (£45 if you register by 16 April), here is how it compares to our neighbours:

Bristol: £21 for the bin and an annual service charge of £32

North East Somerset: £3 for the bin and £46.82 per year

Somerset: £57.20 per year

North Somerset : £50 per year

Looking further afield an ITV report in 2019 identified that 212 of 326 English Councils were charging and that the annual charge ranged from £22 to £96 per year.

How do I register?

The best way to register is to sign up at www.n-somerset.gov.uk/gardenwaste . You can also register by phone on 01934 888 802, although due to demand there can be long waiting times.

If you register before or on 16 April you will also receive a 10% early bird discount.

What if I haven't signed up by 1st April? Will my green bin still be collected?

Yes it will for a short period.

The council have a 'start up period' during which they will continue to collect all green bins. I am not aware of when this period will come to an end so I would encourage people to sign up as soon as they can. I would have thought that by early May teams may stop collecting bins from properties that haven't subscribed. .

After you have signed up you will receive a permit to stick to your bin(s), this will enable collection crews to identify which bins to collect.

Won't people just put garden waste in their black bin or even worse fly tip it?

The evidence from neighbouring councils is that there is no discernible increase in fly tipping as a consequence of introducing a charge. The council is continuing to prosecute fly tippers when evidence is found, see my most recent article about prosecuting a local fly tipper .

Residents may of course decide to put green waste in their black bins. Again the evidence from other councils that have introduced a charge is that this does not happen to any great extent. There is no legal obligation for councils to collect green waste, therefore if crews notice that a black bin does contain garden waste they may not collect the bin at all.

What is the Green Belt?

ashley.cartman@gmail.com (Ashley Cartman) — Thu, 18 Mar 2021 17:04:54 GMT

Green Belt: History, myth, and reality

Before I got involved with my local councils, first as a Parish Councillor and then in 2019 when I was elected to North Somerset Council, I had very little understanding about the green belt. I would say that my understanding was limited to knowing that it was a good thing and we needed to preserve it.

Over the past few years, as the threat to our local Green Belt in North Somerset has increased, my understanding of the reality of the green belt has increased. Last weekend I put together a short (3.5 minute) video to cover the history, myth and reality of the greenbelt.

It is far from perfect but covers some of the main things I have learned. I thought I would share as others may find it useful.

Yanley Lane - Another fly tipper prosecuted!

ashley.cartman@gmail.com (Ashley Cartman) — Thu, 18 Mar 2021 16:44:36 GMT

Secret Hidden Camera captures Yanley Lane Fly Tipper

Fresh on the heels of last years prosecution of a fly tipper we have caught someone else.

Yanley Lane has always been a hot spot for fly tippers as one of the first quiet lanes fly tippers find having left Bristol. Last year the council prosecuted someone for the first time in years, this additional prosecution shows that we will not stop.

In order to catch more people a special camera was purchased last year, it is being hidden in bushes and hedges near sites often used for fly tipping.

Lee Stuart Docherty was identified as the registered keeper of vehicle that was captured dumping cardboard, children's toys, an umbrella, plastic boxes, lawnmower parts, and black bags of waste. He was invited to attend a voluntary interview under caution to answer questions but failed to attend. He was subsequently arrested. On 2 February.

After entering a guilty plea at Bristol Magistrates Court Mr Docherty was ordered to pay a £480 fine, a victim surcharge of £48, and ordered to pay costs of £605.

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First indication of North Somerset Spatial Strategy

ashley.cartman@gmail.com (Ashley Cartman) — Thu, 11 Mar 2021 21:01:42 GMT

Not an enticing headline but this is really important......

As many of you know North Somerset has to accommodate 20,475 new homes over 15 years which represents a 20% increase. In simple terms the council works out how to do this by developing a Local Plan. This Local Plan is based upon an assessment of the sites available, the needs and desires of the local community, and guidance and regulations issued by central government. An important step in this process is when the Council sets out its preferred strategy for picking development sites.

This week the public got their first glimpse of the direction of council thinking when a draft spatial strategy was discussed at a meeting of the Strategic Planning, Economic Development and Regeneration policy and scrutiny panel (known as SPEDR). You can watch the full 2 hour meeting on YouTube .

This is draft strategy the scrutiny panel discussed;

Priority should be given to locating new residential and mixed-use development in or close to urban areas where there is an existing or proposed wide range of facilities, services, and jobs, and where there are opportunities to encourage active travel, particularly at locations which are currently, or have the potential to be well served by public transport.

Employment opportunities should be encouraged at accessible locations well related to the urban areas and on sustainable transport corridors.

Residential development in areas at risk of flooding should be avoided outside the towns.

The amount of development at villages and in the countryside should be minimised and should relate to local community needs.

The there are two important implications of this statement:

By focusing on existing urban areas it appears small villages will be excluded from large development, especially given the last sentence. What it actually means is that rural development will be considered last, but where they are considered then areas such as South Bristol and Weston will be considered first in preference to other areas as they are deemed to be more sustainable.
The green belt is not mentioned. However, under legislation the green belt must be considered last and development is only permitted after all other options have been exhausted. That is why the statement on 'areas at risk of flooding' is important. By saying that these areas are not to be developed mean that there is increased pressure to release green belt.

My view is that of this statement effectively means that the council is looking to release a significant amount of the green belt. There is simply not enough land to accommodate 20,475 homes outside of the greenbelt in a sustainable way if areas at risk of flooding are excluded. It could mean thousands of houses being located in greenbelt around south Bristol.

If this is the case then which sites are chosen will depend on how sustainable they are perceived to be.

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Quarry mud on Clarken Coombe?

ashley.cartman@gmail.com (Ashley Cartman) — Thu, 11 Mar 2021 15:44:33 GMT

What's happening with all the mud on Clarken Coombe?

We all have seen the terrible mud on the road on the way into Bristol. What has been really frustrating is that things seem to be getting worse over the past few months. Earlier in the year I was in discussion with Council staff who in turn were in contact with Durnford Quarry. It appears that their wheel washer was out of action and that consequently mud was being spread onto the highway. Although they deployed a road cleaner it didn't seem to resolve the issue. Mud was even starting to flow down Providence Lane into Long Ashton.

This week there has been concerted action to resolve this issue once and for all . The HIghways Act 1980, which we are making full use of, is very clear:

Section 149 of t he Highways Act 1980 states; "If anything is deposited on the highway so as to constitute a nuisance/danger the Highway Authority can require the person who put it there to remove it forthwith"

Section 161 of the Highways Act 1980 states; "If a person, without lawful authority or excuse, deposits anything whatsoever on a highway in consequence of which a user of the highway is injured or endangered, that person is guilty of an offence"

It appears that the quarry is now taking this issue more seriously . Yesterday I learned that they have two wheel-washers in operation and will be installing an even higher pressure washer over the next couple of months. In addition yesterday I saw two road cleaners in operation. However, I also noticed a lorry arriving without a cover over the back, which I believe is illegal.

The Clerk of Long Ashton Parish Council is also in contact with the local police force and will ask them to visit the quarry if necessary . From the perspective of North Somerset Council the Leader is now involved with the aim of getting it resolved.

The final aspect is to consider whether or not the quarry is responsible for all the mess. Undoubtedly there will always be some debris that finds it way onto the road from the quarry. However, there is also significant work being undertaken at the Bristol City Training ground, it could be that this is contributing too. Council staff will be assessing this too.

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Zero landfill from your black bins! Plus top recycling rates

ashley.cartman@gmail.com (Ashley Cartman) — Thu, 11 Mar 2021 08:52:05 GMT

Great landfill and recycling news

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Problems with Potholes? New funds announced

ashley.cartman@gmail.com (Ashley Cartman) — Wed, 10 Mar 2021 14:48:36 GMT

£1.25 million top by Council to repair roads and potholes

We all hate potholes and they are particularly dangerous if you are a cyclist. Last month North Somerset Council was awarded £5.9 million for 2021/2022 from the Government's pothole and road maintenance fund. This will really help to get more urgent repairs done, but it is nowhere near enough and is a lower than the amount we received last year.

On top of this the council has allocated a further £1.25 million of its own funds (from your council tax) to repair the network. Sadly this is still not enough to bring all roads up to a decent standard and to stop potholes forming in the first place. The last Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance (Alarm) Survey in 2020, reported that it would now cost £11.14 billion to bring England's roads up to scratch – and the Government has provided just £500 million over the whole country for the coming year.

North Somerset Council tries to top up this budget as much as we can each year, but only the Government can deliver the step change we need. At the moment we are undertaking a detailed piece of work to ascertain the minimum we really need to be spending each year.

Over the last few months we have seen some work locally with the resurfacing of both Rayens Cross Road and Raymore Rise in Long Ashton and work on Wraxall Hill to improve the junction at the top and drainage at the bottom.

You can report potholes or damaged pavements on the councils website by clicking here . Someone will then come and inspect (usually within 24 hours) and assess whether remedial work will be undertaken. For a pothole to be repaired it needs to meet certain criteria, the council sets this out as follows;

"For us to repair them, a pothole must be more than 4cm deep and 30cm across in the road, or deeper than 2cm and more than 15cm across on a pavement. A dangerous pothole is one in the road that exceeds these dimensions and is in a location likely to cause a vehicle to lose control."

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North Somerset Council Tax set for 2021-22

ashley.cartman@gmail.com (Ashley Cartman) — Wed, 10 Mar 2021 14:12:50 GMT

North Somerset Council Tax set for 2021-22

The average Council tax bill across North Somerset is set to rise by 4.8% next year bringing the annual cost for a Band D property to £1,900.21. At a full council meeting at the end of February all parties voted for the increase, reflecting the enormous pressure placed on North Somerset Council resources by the Coronavirus pandemic.

How does North Somerset Council tax compare to others?

The rise in percentage terms was the same as all other councils around us (Bath and North East Somerset, Somerset, Bristol, South Gloucs) and our council tax remains the lowest in the region and is hundreds of pounds a year lower than Bristol City Council.

Are you spending our money carefully?

Next year the council will spend £171 million. Sadly, each year costs just keep on rising. To ensure that this burden doesn’t just fall on local taxpayers we have identified £7.5m of savings and efficiencies . When I was elected in 2019 I felt that people were fed up of austerity and cuts. These savings mean that we have protected all front-line services.

Where does all the money go?

What most people are surprised about is that over half of the £171 million the council spends goes on services for vulnerable adults and children, a significant proportion being care for the elderly. The council also maintains our minor roads, collects your waste, looks after parks, provides planning services etcetera.

Can I get a discount?

Possibly yes.

It is well known that if you are the only adult in your property you receive a 25%. However, there are a number of other ways of getting a discount. There is more information on the councils website .

Exactly how much will my bill be?

Ignoring any discounts (see above), everyone’s Council Tax bill will vary depending upon the ‘banding’ of their home and the Parish they live in. I have produced two tables below covering the two Parishes I represent.

I have also detailed the amount that is collected on behalf of the local Fire Authority as well as Avon and Somerset Police. These amounts are not set by North Somerset Council.

Long Ashton Parish Council Tax 2021-22

W raxall and Failand Parish Council Tax 2021-22

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£300k for local footpaths

ashley.cartman@gmail.com (Ashley Cartman) — Thu, 04 Mar 2021 09:54:11 GMT

Significant increase in funding for North Somerset Public Rights of Way announced

For years all of us have enjoyed our local countryside. Around Long Ashton, Leigh Woods, Failand and Wraxall we have many beautiful walks, we are very fortunate.

The Coronaviris pandemic has brought many new visitors to our area to enjoy what we have had for years. Although we welcome others to enjoy our neighbourhood it has caused problems, not least with respect to parking and additional restrictions have been put in place at Leigh Woods, Failand, and Abbots Pool.

I shall be working with Long Ashton Parish Council as well as Wraxall and Failand Parish Council to ensure we get our fair share of funds. I'm particularly interested in seeing if we can get a formal footpath put in place between Wraxall School and The Grove. If you are aware of any issues on our footpaths please let me know and I'll make sure it's added to the list.

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Abbots Pool - stopping anti-social behaviour

ashley.cartman@gmail.com (Ashley Cartman) — Tue, 02 Mar 2021 19:21:46 GMT

Remember the wild swimming and parties last summer....

I heard a story last year, that in between the short break when Covid restrictions were relaxed and end of summer, a resident of Abbots Leigh opened their front door to be confronted by two young men. Their question was simple; "Could you please tell us how to get to the swimming lake party? We've been looking for ages and just can't find it".

They were of course referring to Abbots Pool and the extraordinary number of people who, unable to go abroad or to anywhere else, descended upon the lake to enjoy themselves. It got to the point that even the police were reluctant to visit the pool. As we know now this resulted in the Council acting to cordon off the lake and effectively close it to visitors.

To prepare for this summer and to protect the longer term environmental value of the lake last month North Somerset Council introduced a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) to restrict swimming, bathing, wading or simply jumping into the pool. The order also prohibits the use of boats, dinghy's, canoes, sailboards or inflatables in or on the water. This PSPO will mean that the Council can act quicker in the event of transgressions.

Bristol Clean Air Zone could drive traffic to Failand, Leigh Woods, and Long Ashton

ashley.cartman@gmail.com (Ashley Cartman) — Fri, 26 Feb 2021 18:10:16 GMT

Bristols proposed clean air zone: Bad news for local residents?

Bristol has a problem with air quality. The government has set a deadline for Bristol City Council to act to reduce emissions and pollution. Its response is to propose a clean air zone that would restrict and charge drivers for entering certain parts of the city. I have been watching this for a little while as the boundaries are absolutely crucial. While everybody agrees that a focus on air quality is important the manner in which it is tackled is of crucial importance - the devil is in the detail.

The red C on the map below shows where the congestion charging zone is proposed to start. This is at the bottom of Bridge Valley Road. The black line I have imposed on the map shows the route road users who wish to visit North Somerset (for example to go to the airport) currently use if they leave the M5 at junction 18.

If a congestion charge is introduced all this traffic will simply divert, come off the M5 at junction 19 (Gordano Services) and drive through either Failand, Leigh Woods, and by Long Ashton in order to avoid the congestion charge.

This has a couple of important implications. Firstly, the diversion of traffic will undoubtedly put immense pressure on the A369 and other local roads as people avoid the charge. Secondly, if people are heading down the M5 and now divert via the A369 rather than using the Portway (the route marked above) they will be making a longer journey and hence emitting more pollution. In summary the side effect will be more traffic and pollution for us.

I am concerned about this and as your representative am making sure that North Somerset Council is strongly expressing concerns to Bristol City Council. These are just proposals at the moment but I will continue to watch the situation closely and keep you informed.

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Shocking map shows what developers want to do to Long Ashton

ashley.cartman@gmail.com (Ashley Cartman) — Wed, 17 Feb 2021 13:22:22 GMT

If this happens then Long Ashton will become a suburb of Bristol........

At the moment North Somerset Council is developing a Local Plan to accommodate the 20,475 homes the government says we need to build over a 15 year period. Thats represents a 20% increase and equivalent to building two new Clevedons.

The map below shows all the sites (in grey) around Long Ashton that have been proposed for development . This amounts to thousands and thousands of houses.

It's difficult to take it all in but it includes significant development. Key features would be:

Extension of the village towards Gatcombe Farm
The Festival Way path would be completely surrounded by houses.
Massive development down Wild Country Lane
Land on the other-side of the railway line would be fully developed (with no new railway station of course)
The open field after The Angel Inn on the left as you come into the village would disappear.
'The Vale' on the other side of the bypass would be developed to accommodate thousands of houses, Yanley lane likely to become a cul-de-sac or one way.

Of course it is important to note that this is only what developers want to do, it is for North Somerset Council to decide which (if any) of these sites will be allowed . In addition, all this land is in the Green Belt which gives it extra protection. However, given the size of the housing allocation being imposed on us by central government North Somerset Council is being forced into considering development in the Green Belt and/or in areas subject to flooding.

If you want to know more I have set up a dedicated page on my website to monitor the development of the North Somerset Local Plan . It also includes lots of background information as to why all this is being done. If you have a specific concern please feel free to contact me .

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What about areas around Long Ashton?

Other areas around Long Ashton are also facing the possibility of large developments. At the end of January I reported on the proposal for a 500+ house development in Failand .

The map below shows the potential for development in the wider areas surrounding Long Ashton. You can clearly see the development at Failand as well as the significant sites between Wraxall and Nailsea as well as between Flax Bourton and Backwell.

At the moment North Somerset Council is considering all the sites. Which sites the council allows development on will be set as a part of the local plan process. We expect to hear which sites have been chosen towards the end of 2021.

My response to Dr Fox's misleading standard Failand Development Reply

ashley.cartman@gmail.com (Ashley Cartman) — Mon, 15 Feb 2021 18:20:43 GMT

If you write to Dr Fox about the speculative development in Failand you will receive a misleading reply, here's why......

Last week I was in email correspondence with Dr Fox in relation to the housing numbers the Government is requiring North Somerset to accommodate. Following significant correspondence from Failand residents I felt it was right, in my capacity as your local Councillor, to raise this with him. A copy of this letter, 'My first letter to Dr Fox - Friday 12 February' is below.

Over the weekend it seems a standard response was drafted to be used in all correspondence with those contacting his office with concerns about the speculative development in Failand. A copy of this statement (taken from his website 6pm 15 Feb) is included below. It is disingenuous and misleading.

My reply, 'My second letter to Dr Fox - Monday 15 February', is included below if you wish to read it in full. In summary, Dr Fox had omitted key facts about how the housing numbers are set nationally and then allocated to local authorities to accommodate. It is the combination and interaction of these two government bodies, central government allocating housing targets and local government deciding where to put them, that results in a threat to the Green Belt. To say it is just the responsibility of North Somerset Council misses the point.

In my correspondence of Monday 15 February I pointed this out. Although I have received a reply I am not expecting the standard response to change, hence my posting of this article.

Key correspondence noted in text above:

£750k Great Lakes investment - Portishead, Clevedon, Weston

ashley.cartman@gmail.com (Ashley Cartman) — Fri, 12 Feb 2021 15:18:59 GMT

This is the sort of thing I came into politics to do....

I am really pleased to announce a Great Lakes investment programme of £750k. Covering the Portishead Lake Grounds and the Clevedon and Weston Marine Lakes.

Below is my short (less than 3 minutes) video that I made to publicise the news. Please like the video it helps my YouTube ratings! Or you can read on below or even read the coverage in the North Somerset Times .

We will dredge the Weston marine lake and investigate what other work is needed, which could include upgrading the sluice gates. With a fair wind we hope that it’ll all be ready for a Boxing day swim.

Clevedon Marine Lake is incredibly popular. Although we hope the restoration of Westons marine lake will help to manage demand it is clear that extra facilitates and investment is needed to cope with visitors. We will work with local organisation to assess what is needed and deliver.

The Portishead Lakes grounds have also suffered from years of underinvestment.

We will work in partnership with Portishead Town Council to draw up a long-term plan and investment strategy for rejuvenation, some of the buildings like the boat house, café, toilets need work and this is where we are likely to focus. However, as part we will also look to identify some ‘quick wins’, it’s important that residents see action

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Sovereign Centre Weston £2 million refurbishment - My BBC Radio Bristol interview

ashley.cartman@gmail.com (Ashley Cartman) — Fri, 12 Feb 2021 15:02:31 GMT

The Sovereign Shopping Centre Weston-super-Mare set for £2 million makeover

I'm really pleased to announce that North Somerset Council is investing up to £2m in redesigning and revitalising the Sovereign Shopping Centre in Weston-super-Mare. There will be fewer shops, more workspace, a bike hub, and even roof top events. I was interviewed on the BBC Bristol Breakfast show this morning by James Hanson, below is a link to the interview or read on for more detail.

So what's going to happen to the Sovereign Centre?

At the moment there are many empty shops. Since Marks and Spencer left it has declined. It's owned by North Somerset Council so the last thing we want is for it to loose money - this would mean that tax payers would have to subsidise it.

In the past shopping centres were really popular, a leisure activity for lots of us. However times change and the trend to internet shopping, accelerated by the Covid pandemic, has reduced footfall and resulted in shop closure. It's time to reimagine it for the future, it needs to be place where we shop, work, and play.

The first phase has now been announced. Funded by a £1.8m grant the ground floor will be rejuvenated with a new space for office based workers. They will be able to rent a small office or indeed just a desk . With more people keen to avoid long commutes and aware of the limitations of working from home all the time we hope this will prove popular.

There will also be a 'Bike Hut' , funded by a £65,000 grant from the Department of Transport. Here you will be able to rent a bike or just get some repairs done. Finally we want to start running events on the roof top. Last year we trialed this, the event was sold out in 10 minutes. Roof top events with the marvellous view of the coast would be great. Part of the grant will be used to install electric, water, and facilities needed.

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Why North Somerset Council is thinking of building on the Green Belt

ashley.cartman@gmail.com (Ashley Cartman) — Wed, 03 Feb 2021 13:59:16 GMT

Building on the Green Belt: Why North Somerset Council is thinking the unthinkable

In summary, the council has been told by central government that over 15 years it needs to add 20,475 homes in North Somerset. At the moment we have just under 100,000 dwellings so this represents a 20% or increase - or equivalent of building two new Clevedons.

The reality is that there is very little space. The map below, taken from North Somerset Councils Choices for the Future consultation document , shows that outside of Green Belt, Flood Zones, and Areas of Outstanding Beauty there are very few options. This is the problem North Somerset Council faces.

Of course there is a process to go through. Essentially Green Belt can be recommended for release in 'exceptional' circumstances and only after all other 'reasonable' options have been exhausted. What 'reasonable' means is uncertain, what is clear though is that it is increasingly considered reasonable to reject sites outside of the green belt if they are unsustainable. Or more to the point, if developing in the Green Belt is considered more sustainable.

There are three options specified in the National Planning Policy Framework that Councils must exhaust first before Green Belt release can be considered, they are;

Make use of all suitable brownfield and previously development land.
Optimise the density of all new and existing development i.e. seek to squeeze more dwellings into existing space.
Talk to neighbouring local authorities to see if they could accommodate some of the growth (in addition to their own requirement).

Last night (2 February) I gave an update to Failand and Wraxall Parish Council as to the current status of the Local Plan North Somerset Council is developing to accommodate the 20,475 homes we are being told to build and what this means for the Green Belt. The meeting was held in response to a recent proposal to build 500 houses on Green Belt around Failand .

The video below is of my section of the meeting, it's just over 10 minutes and explains in more detail what I have written above.

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Festival Way closed for 6 weeks to install Toucan crossing

ashley.cartman@gmail.com (Ashley Cartman) — Thu, 28 Jan 2021 18:08:48 GMT

Toucan crossing by Ashton Park: Festival Way closed for 6 weeks

We all know that crossing over the B1234 at the Ashton Park end of the Festival Way path can be dangerous. It’s good news that funding has been found to put in place a Toucan crossing (that’s a pelican crossing with lights for cyclists too).

Work starts next week on Monday 1st February and will last for approximately 6 weeks. During this time Festival Way can still be accessed from Yanley Lane but it will effectively be a dead end, closed at the Ashton Court end for the safety of pedestrians and cyclists.

In early March also expect the road to be closed overnight (19:00 – 06:00) so the work can be completed

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500 houses proposed for Failand

ashley.cartman@gmail.com (Ashley Cartman) — Mon, 25 Jan 2021 10:59:48 GMT

Proposals for a 40 hectare 500 house development in Failand announced

Residents in Failand, Wraxall, Flax Bourton, and parts of Long Ashton have started receiving promotional literature from Harrow Estates promoting the development of around 40 hectares of land around Failand. Although a planning application hasn't been submitted Harrow Estates are hoping that the sites will be included in the Local Plan being developed by North Somerset Council.

Targets set by central Government mean that 20,475 houses will have to be built in North Somerset over the next 15 years. The Local Plan is being developed to accommodate this growth. Without a plan in place areas previously protected would be more vulnerable to speculative development.

In addition to writing to residents Harrow Estates has set up a website, www.sustainablefailand.co.uk where further information can be found. It also hosts an initial survey and contact details of the developer.

In response to this proposal Failand and Wraxall Parish Council are planning to hold a public meeting in the first week of February where the developer will present their proposals, I will give the background in terms of the Local Plan, and there will be an opportunity to ask questions.

Police update: graffiti, thefts, and parking

ashley.cartman@gmail.com (Ashley Cartman) — Wed, 20 Jan 2021 11:55:08 GMT

Police update 20 January 2020

Last night I attended an online PACT event with our local Police Constable Justina Lewis. PACT events (Police And Communities Together) are held all over the country and are regular forums for people to share concerns with local police and to receive update from the local Constabulary.

Three topics were discussed; local thefts, graffiti, and parking in Leigh Woods.

Local thefts - someone arrested but there's still a problem

Justina updated us that there had been a spate of local thefts over the past few weeks and months. This appears to be mainly (but not exclusively) thefts from sheds and garages of things like bikes and tools. The advice as always to make sure that everything is locked up.

A couple of weeks ago a Bristol man (in the Muller Road, Ashley Down area) was arrested relating to some of these thefts. However the view is that the Police are still looking for someone else.

Graffiti - arrest made as previously reported

As previously reported an arrest has been made, apparently the police caught the person in the act!. No more details are available at the moment and the police are considering how best to proceed. Options include asking the individual clean the graffiti and/or contribute towards the cost of having it all removed.

Leigh Woods Parking - Covid violations

The situation in Leigh Woods continues to be problematic as people head there for their daily exercise. Anecdotal evidence is that people are gathering in groups that contravene the Covid restrictions. Last weekend the police attended for a couple of hours and spoke to visitors, this resulted in some people going home. The police are reluctant to issue fines except for the worst offenders. The police will continue to visit the woods for the next few weekends

The next PACT meeting is expected to be in March/April. It is open to any member of the public. I will put details of the meeting in my Newsletter, please sign up to keep informed about this and other local news.

Bristol Airport to appeal planning decision

Mon, 18 Jan 2021 21:43:35 GMT

Bristol Airport to appeal last years decision to reject their planning application

As Bristol Airport sits within North Somerset all of their planning applications are considered by North Somerset Council. It was on 10 February last year that the Councils planning committee voted by 18 to 7 to reject the airports application to expand.

I was at the meeting when the application was thrown out and spoke against the expansion, not only was I worried about the impact on local residents but also conscious that less than year after declaring a climate emergency it would have been strange to have approved the airport to expand by over two million passengers a year.

Council officers had worked for many months on the application and had actually recommended that Councillors vote to approve the application. It perhaps then not surprising that Bristol Airport has decided to appeal the decision. This time though the appeal will not be heard by North Somerset Council, instead there will be a four-week public inquiry which will start in July this year.

The Council though is preparing a defence. The Leader of the council, Don Davies, has said “a team of specialist consultants has been assembled to mount a robust defence of the council’s decision and a senior QC has already been appointed to lead the case.”

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Clevdon to Weston cycle path approved

ashley.cartman@gmail.com (Ashley Cartman) — Fri, 15 Jan 2021 12:01:56 GMT

Clevedon to Weston cycle path - coming soon!

After more than 30 years of trying funding is now in place to build a cycleway between Clevedon and Weston after Highways England confirmed they would give North Somerset Council £1.2m towards the cost in early 2020. This has been topped up by North Somerset Council.

The path will follow an existing farm track built on the former Weston, Clevedon and Portishead railway line which closed in 1940. The project will include highway works in Kewstoke and Clevedon, signage and road markings along the whole of the Weston to Clevedon cycle route, as well as a replica of the old Wick St Lawrence Station Halt at the entrance to the cycleway off Wick Road that will be built in conjunction with the Weston, Clevedon, and Portishead Railway Group.

Work during the summer of 2020 revealed that the cost of building a bridge on the route at Tutshill Sluice was almost double the amount originally anticipated. North Somerset Council have pledged to meet the additional cost to ensure this landmark project goes ahead.

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Long Ashton Graffiti: Arrest made

ashley.cartman@gmail.com (Ashley Cartman) — Fri, 15 Jan 2021 09:39:09 GMT

Long Ashton Graffiti: Police arrest suspect

Starting sometime last year the situation in the village has gone from bad to worse, graffiti gradually spreading from road signs, to bus shelters, to individual properties. No part of the village seems to have escaped from this mindless vandalism. I'm pleased to say that someone has now been arrested.

On the first weekend of the year I saw two police officers inspecting the bus stop at the bottom of Providence Lane. I stopped to ask if they were looking into the matter, I was pleased to hear at that stage they had a suspect. It seems now that they have made an arrest. We hope that they have got the culprit and it will bring the vandalism to an end. The Police have asked that we wait a short while before removing the graffiti so that they can take pictures and collect evidence. Once I hear more I will let you know.

I'm keen that as soon as possible we get organised and remove the graffiti. Please use the contact form on this website to let me know of sites you are aware of. Once we have compiled that we will look to get a clean up organised, again please let me know if you would like to get involved.

I'm also starting a regular newsletter about local issues. The aim is to send a summary out once or twice a month, please sign up below.

Trump shouldn't have been banned from Twitter

Wed, 13 Jan 2021 14:25:19 GMT

Why Twitter was wrong to ban Trump.....
....and why every liberal should agree with me

Are liberals opposing free speech?

This morning I posted on my Facebook page that I thought it was wrong that Donald Trump was banned from Twitter and asked what others thought. While I expected that amongst my liberal friends there would be a majority in favour of the ban, what I was not expecting was that I would be in a minority of one.

On the surface I find this surprising. After all, being a liberal is fundamentally about liberty. About freedom. If there is one political group you would expect to stand up for someones right to freedom of speech surely it would be liberals?

So what explains this seemingly bizarre tendency to advocate restrictions on someone else’s freedom? Undoubtedly Trump is a bit of a bête noire for those of us with a liberal disposition. His tirades, incoherency, irrationality, and blatant lies are anathema to the liberal mindset. It’s easy to jump to the conclusion that the best thing for everyone is to to just shut him up. Starved of the oxygen of publicity his hate and those inspired by it will fade away into obscurity.

I’m sure that a desire to deny him a platform for his extreme views and the division it creates does drive some to support a ban, illiberal though that may be.

However, I do most of my fellow liberals a disservice by suggesting that that this is the main reason for their support for the ban. The real core of the argument is about the reasonable limits of free speech.

What would John Stuart Mill think about it?

I have recently been reading Mill’s ‘On Liberty’ which contains the classic defence of freedom of expression. In the chapter ‘Of the Liberty of Thought and Discussion’ he systematically builds the case for free speech arguing that:

‘there ought to exist the fullest liberty of professing and discussing, as a matter of ethical conviction, any doctrine, however immoral it maybe considered’.

But how does Mill help us in thinking about Trump and Twitter? To me, there are two aspects of his work that can help us untangle the issues underlying the Twitter ban:

Our human pre-disposition to intolerance

On Liberty was first published in 1859 so it’s not surprising that in the context of a constrained Victorian society so much of Mill’s essay was devoted to justifying free speech and there is little, if any, direct discussion of its limits.

However, what is really pertinent to today is his argument is that intolerance is the default condition of human societies. Or, to put it more bluntly, our natural inclination is always to silence those that we disagree with.

This is important, in an age such as ours where our immediate reaction is captured, published, and amplified by social media there is perhaps a need to reflect and to question our own natural desire to censor. My hope is that this natural desire to censor explains much of the initial support for Trumps Twitter ban and that on reflection people will revise their views.

Free speech, the harm principle, and inciting a mob against corn dealers

In On Liberty Mill asserted;

‘that the only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilised community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others’.

This is Mill’s famous harm principle, and it is from this principle that liberals justify restrictions to free speech (or indeed any restrictions to freedom).

At the beginning of chapter 3 ‘Of Individuality, as One of the Elements of Well-being’ Mill distinguishes between the forming and holding of opinions on the one hand and acting upon opinions on the other. Key to our debate he notes:

‘No one pretends that actions should be as free as opinions. On the contrary, even opinions lose their immunity, when the circumstances in which they are expressed such as to constitute their expression a positive instigation to some mischievous act’.

The price of corn was a hot political topic in Mills time and he goes on use it as an example, saying that it would be simply wrong to express an opinion that ‘corn dealers are starvers of the poor’ to a mob gathered outside the house of a corn dealer. In such a circumstance he argues that (in one of my favourite Mill quotes) ‘The liberty of the individual must be thus far limited; he must not make a nuisance of himself’.

Did Trump breech the limits of free speech?

Was Trump simply inciting the mob? If so, then it seems pretty clear to me that he should be banned from using Twitter or any other media platform. This I believe is where many of my fellow liberals conclude their thinking. I would however ask them to think a bit more. There are two arguments that pulled me away from the desire to censor Trump.

‘Positive Instigation’ and the benefit of hindsight

In Mill’s quote above he refers to ‘positive instigation’, this is important. There needs to be a direct link between the words and the subsequent actions. Was this the case for Trump? Indeed, a better way of phrasing the question would be to ask; ‘would a reasonable person have expected the storming of the Capitol Building to have resulted from the comments made?’

My assertion is that they would not, indeed I have found no direct reference in either the tweets he made or the speeches given to any form of civic disobedience. Furthermore, Trump is known for his aggressive and divisive rhetoric and has deployed it consistently during his candidacy and presidency, never before has it led directly to violence on this scale. Indeed, in his defence, once the violence was underway he did take to Twitter asking supporters to “go home”.

In that regard, are many of us simply looking at these events with the benefit of hindsight? It does of course change the expectation for the future. Should he give a similar speech then it would be perfectly reasonable to expect violence, and in that regard his words would be a ‘positive instigation’.

Who gets to decide? The law or silicon valley tech giants?

There is no doubt that Twitter and other social media platforms have profited over the years from those who, like Trump, seek to challenge the boundaries of free speech. That now, after making billions, they stand up righteously and proclaim the public interest has a very hollow feel. Being cynical you could argue that all they are doing is acting to avoid public sentiment shifting against them and damaging their stock price.

My view is that any media company has a responsibility beyond their shareholders to the wider community. After all a healthy media is a key component of a healthy democracy. This means that they should not, as some suggest, be free to ban Trump on the basis of him transgressing their terms and conditions, they need to think of their wider public responsibilities.

If I ran a shop and made it a condition of entry that you had to be male (or black, or over 6ft tall, or part of the LGBT community etc.) there would undoubtedly, and rightly, be public uproar. That is because by engaging in business I enter into the public sphere and have to abide by a number of socially and legally imposed constraints designed to protect individual rights and freedoms.

In the same way Trump, much as I dislike what he says, should not be precluded from a public platform on the basis that we disagree with what he has to say or who he is. Indeed, as Mill argues so strongly, this vehement disagreement is precisely the reason why we should allow him to continue. Furthermore if we are not careful it amounts to the worst form of tyranny, that of succumbing to prevailing public opinion, the tyranny of the majority view.

It is useful to remember that the US does, like the UK, have laws regarding incitement to violence. These should be our guide as to whether to restrict the freedom of Trump on Twitter or other platforms. If he has not broken the law how can we justify restricting his freedom of expression? Isn’t everyone innocent until proven guilty? We should resist in this instance trying him in the court of public opinion.

However, if it can be shown that according to the democratically constituted laws of the US that he has indeed incited violence then there is an exceedingly strong case for restricting his freedom of expression. To do so otherwise is to place the decision in the hands of a self interested tech elite who will bow to the worst instincts of the public and enforce the tyranny of the majority.

Concluding remarks - on being a real liberal

Freedom is core to being a liberal. It is from freedom that we get our love of diversity, our desire to protect minorities, and to challenge entrenched interests for the benefit of all. But I have always thought the true test of a liberal comes when they have to defend something that it is not only unpopular but also something with which they fundamentally disagree. The quote (falsely) attributed to Voltaire seems to sum it up perfectly; ‘I disagree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it’. Unless you can do this are you really a true liberal?

This is where I am with Trump. America has never known a more divisive and offensive president. I am truly pleased that the American public voted with a resounding ‘you’re fired’ last November. But that does not mean he should be removed from Twitter.

It is a finely balanced situation with no easy answers where I have found myself to be in a minority amongst liberal friends. At its most basic level it comes down to how high the bar needs to be before we think about constraining freedom of speech. Fundamentally, I believe that should be higher than many others. It comes back to freedom. body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source.

Backwell lesiure centre saved from closure

ashley.cartman@gmail.com (Ashley Cartman) — Tue, 05 Jan 2021 14:21:44 GMT

Backwell Leisure Centre saved from closure

As we all know, across North Somerset last year all leisure centres were closed in response to COVID 19. What's not known is that serious consideration was given to closing Backwell Leisure Centre permanently.

All the leisure centres in North Somerset (Weston, Clevedon, Portishead, Churchill, and Backwell) are owned by the Council but run by third parties. The pandemic and subsequent closure created a huge financial problem in response to which a multi million pound support package was announced.

Despite this package of support extra 'savings' were looked for and our local leisure centre - old and worn out - was a prime candidate. My view remains that here in the north of the district we need our own swimming pool. Anyone who has visited the centre recently would surely agree that a new swimming pool with other leisure facilities (perhaps combing with Scotch Horn in Nailsea?) has to be the way forward in the longer term. Indeed this is what we are stating to plan for.

To bridge the gap between now and a new facility being built we need to keep Backwell Leisure Centre open. In order to do this, I fought for and achieved a promise to temporarily close the centre so that essential work could be done to extend the leisure centres life. This program of work, costing in excess of £500,000, is expected to repair the roof, upgrade the boilers, and improve the changing rooms.

Work will start shortly (if it hasn't already) and I hope that the pool and other facilities will open to public again shortly after Easter this year.

Book review: The Shortest History of England by James Hawes

Tue, 05 Jan 2021 12:12:41 GMT

Book Review: The Shortest History of England by James Hawes

Reaching as far back 55BC and coming right up to 2020 it is certainly an ambitious book. Not only providing a potted history of England it also seeks to give some of our current discontents an historical perspective.

The book splits Englands history into 5 periods: 55BC-1087, to 1509, to 1763, to 1914, and finally to 2020. The themes of each are broadly chaos and invasion, subjugation by a foreign elite, revolution and consolidation, rise to power, and decline respectively.

Despite the broad brush a few common themes are drawn out which are supposed to have relevance today. These themes provide a common thread and mean it is so much more interesting than a simple historical summary.

Firstly, there is a sense that the English are not a united people at all and some of our present divisions have deep historical routes. Top of these divisions is the North-South divide, or to be more precise anything above The Trent and in the far West. Those from London, the Home Counties, and the South East dominate the notion of ‘Englishness’ as well as most of the wealth and power.

Secondly, there is a sense that England has nearly always been governed by an elite that is distinct (more foreign) than the vast majority of its people. Whether it be the Norman invasion or the ascent of George I, through history this elite has often seen itself as distinct. This has manifested itself in our language. Nonetheless it is recognised that one of the strengths of this elite over hundreds of years is its ability to incorporate the newly powerful and wealthy.

Thirdly, the spectre of Europe haunts in each chapter. Whether it be the constant invasion and conquests of the 1000 years to 1500, the perceived threat of popery, or the ongoing desire to ensure a balance of power on the continent over the past 500, there is a sense that, as Churchill said, ‘we are with Europe, not of it’.

The book ends on a rather depressing note. Looking at a country in decline that has failed to address the causes of its decline it notes post Brexit we will enter a world split as a nation and ‘alone in the world for the first time in centuries’.

What will come next for the English is difficult to know, but with the Conservative party dominant with dreams of a small state anchored into an international Anglo sphere there is undoubtedly conflict ahead.

This is a great little book and provides a broad brush sweep of English history, definitely worth a read.

The coalition was a mistake

ashley.cartman@gmail.com (Ashley Cartman) — Wed, 30 Dec 2020 13:33:27 GMT

The coalition was a mistake

The coalition gets a pretty bad press now and I have by and large given up defending it, I find people have largely made up their minds and there isn’t much room for debate. My own view for what it’s worth is that although some really great things were achieved during that period it was fundamentally a mistake.

On a purely political level by partnering with the Conservatives the Liberal Democrat voter coalition that had been painstakingly been built up since the late 1980’s was destroyed. Before that moment the party had a reputation for integrity, fairness, and hard working local councillors. After, many voters felt let down and betrayed and no amount of pointing out that we were the junior partners in the coalition would help. The result was disastrous; the party went from 57 MP’s in 2010 to 8 in 2015. The local councillor base, for so long a badge of pride for the party, declined from over 3,500 in 2010 to just under 2,200. After the 2015 general election of 2015 ‘the party was weaker electorally than it had been at any time since the early 1970’s’ (1).

The rot set in pretty quickly after the coalition was formed. Upon finalising the coalition agreement William Hague, a key member of the Conservative negotiating team, is reported to have told his wife, Ffion: ‘I think I’ve just killed the Liberal Democrats’ (2). Within 7 months of the 2010 election a YouGov poll had the Liberal Democrats at 8% (3), down from the 23% achieved at the general election.

During the coalition years and after many Lib Dem activists were keen to point out the Lib Dem achievements. Mark Pack, now the party president, even produced an infographic shared widely amongst members that detailed 12 key policy areas where Lib Dem ministers had made a key contributions (4). These included fairer taxes, 2 million new apprenticeships, a green investment bank, pupil premium, pension reforms, and same sex marriage. These are not to be ignored and are notable achievements, even though some were subsequently reversed by the Conservative government after 2015.

Perhaps most important the coalition delivered 5 years of stable government in the aftermath of the most severe financial crisis since the 1930’s, something not to be sniffed at given the instability of the last 5 years. An oft overlooked point is the things that Lib Dems stopped the Conservatives doing by effectively allowing David Cameron to ignore the right wing of his party. Of course the counter argument is that the coalition only delayed rather than prevented these changes (EU referendum, snoopers charter, £12bn welfare cuts etc).

So was it worth it? In short, no. Although some long lasting liberal changes were made many were either subsequently reversed, stopped, or would likely have been introduced anyway. Perhaps the most damaging consequence of the coalition was the way in which senior Lib Dem MP’s bought into the Conservatives narrative of austerity, particularly after 2013.

Now, 5 years on, there are still a number of things that have lasted. But in my view these are not significant enough to justify the almost complete removal of a liberal voice from national front line politics. For a brief period, swelled by anti-Brexit sentiment, Liberal Democrat popularity surged again but the results of the 2019 election and current opinion polls which put support around 8% (5) indicate that the fundamental problems of the Liberal Democrats remain to be solved.

If we are to recover as a party then we need to recognise the mistakes of the coalition years. In the same way Tony Blair challenged his party in the 1990’s and Theresa May told Conservative members they were often seen as ‘the nasty party’, a public acknowledgement and recognition of our role in the coalition is needed before a line in the sand can be drawn. Until we do this we will continue to languish in the polls.

It is perhaps worth ending with a postive note. In my view the party now has two people, in Ed Davey as leader and Mark Pack as Party President, who are thinking through these challenges in a deep and rigorous manner. It is early days but Britain needs a strong liberal voice, and I will keep fighting for that voice.

(1) ‘None past the post: Britain at the polls, 2017’ Nicholas Allen and John Bartle (Eds). Chapter ‘The Liberal Democrats: Remaining in the doldrums’ by John Curtice.

(2) Quoted in G. Parker ‘Highs and Lows of the UK’s Coalition Government’, Financial Times, 26 March 2015.

(3) You Gov poll for The Sun in December 2010. Quoted from ‘From Coalition to Catastrophe: The Electoral Meltdown of the Liberal Democrats’, David Cutts and Andrew Russell.

(4) You can view his info graphic at https://www.markpack.org.uk/liberal-democrat-achievements-coalition-government/

(5) Survation poll of 1,011 adults conducted on 22 December 2020.

Yellow lines in Leigh Woods

ashley.cartman@gmail.com (Ashley Cartman) — Tue, 29 Dec 2020 18:20:44 GMT

New yellow lines in Leigh Woods, next residents parking

When I was elected last May the very first issue I had to deal with was parking restrictions in Leigh Woods. For a number of years residents had been working to introduce restrictions to counter the commuter parking that had been displaced following Bristol City Councils introduction of parking restrictions in Clifton. A consultation on a proposed parking scheme was introduced just before the May 2019 election that ,although meeting the needs of many residents, was extremely unpopular with a significant number.

The core problem was that the previous council administration had steadfastly refused to countenance any form of residents parking permits anywhere in North Somerset. Yet, this was precisely what the vast majority of Leigh Woods residents wanted. I was pleased when within a few weeks I secured the permission of the new council to introduce a residents parking regime in Leigh Woods, the first scheme in North Somerset.

It has been a long and arduous process and the full scheme has yet to be introduced. But in response to unprecedented levels of parking in November following the second national lockdown we managed to persuade North Somerset Council to introduce a temporary traffic order to place yellow lines in key places around the village. The yellow lines currently in place are largely based on what the anticipated final scheme will include, with some notable exceptions.

Details of the full scheme were approved by the Executive of the Council in October and subject to a final consultation with residents we hope that it will be implemented in the spring of 2021. Key features are expected to include;

Each household entitled to at least one permit for which there will be an annual charge. We don't expect there to be a limit on the number of permits per house but can only guarantee 1 at the moment. There will be an annual charge for each permit.
Available space will broadly be divided equally between residents only, short term, and all day parking. Resident will be able to park in any of the spaces if they have a permit.
Short term space is reserved around the Church and near the bridge.
For visitors parking will be charged at £1 per hour, all day will be £5.
Residents with a permit will also be allocated a number of visitor permits at no extra cost.

There remain many details to work out so if you have any concerns please let me know and I can see if changes can be made.

We prosecuted a fly tipper!

ashley.cartman@gmail.com (Ashley Cartman) — Tue, 29 Dec 2020 11:46:52 GMT

We've prosecuted a fly tipper....

I thought people would like to know that we've prosecuted a fly tipper. I have been keen to see more action on fly tipping so this is good news. it is the first prosecution in over 4 years.

Between July and November last year council officers were found evidence of significant fly tipping in Abbots Leigh/Pool, Dundry, and Felton. By contacting the individuals whose waste was fly tipped they managed to identify that Richard Young had collected the waste and then dumped it in North Somerset using a van with the business name C.Y Landscapes and Garden Maintenance printed on the side. In one location more than seven tonnes of waste was found blocking a bridleway.

Richard Young of Perrycroft Road, Bristol was given a 16-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, during which he must complete 200 hours unpaid work, and was ordered to pay the council's investigation, legal and clean-up costs totalling £6,358.01.

I know waste dumped near us is also checked for evidence and at times a camera is placed to try and catch people in the act.

Why I'm a Liberal Democrat

Mon, 28 Dec 2020 14:31:21 GMT

Why I'm a Liberal Democrat

There are many reasons people join the Lib Dems. Single issues such as the Iraq war and Brexit historically swelled membership, others join because of a deeper philosophical commitment to liberal values. One thing is certain, nobody joins the Lib Dems for a career in politics - whenever you meet a Lib Dem it is pretty certain that they are not in it for any other reason than trying to make a positive difference.

My own journey was somewhat haphazard. I had always been interested in politics, to me politics is always about values in action and although many decisions our politicians, what ever party, make are not contentious there are always a few totem issues that seem to divide us. Often because they offend some aspect of our core values and strike us as simply unfair or ‘not right’. These totem issues have always fascinated me and at times I have sided with the Conservatives over issues and at others the Labour Party.

It was on 12 May 2010 that I decided to join the Lib Dems, that was the day the coalition agreement was announced. I was inspired by a new style of politics - non-partisan, collaborative, isolating the extremes of both main parties. With hindsight I joined at the high point of the Lib Dem support, since then the party was decimated at the 2015 general election and has struggled to recover and find an identify ever since.

So why am I still a member? If anything my commitment has increased over the last 10 years. As both the main parties lurched off to the extremes, particularly after 2015, it has strengthened my view that a distinctive liberal voice is needed in British politics, both locally and nationally.

So what is this liberal voice? It can be difficult for many voters to distinguish what liberal actually means. Our electoral system tends to towards two large parties and much of what centrists in both parties espouse is essentially liberal, although as both parties become more extreme they are becoming less liberal. If you talk to many Lib Dem members about describing the liberal view point they will refer to the preamble to the party’s constitution;

The Liberal Democrats exist to build and safeguard a fair, free and open society, in which we seek to balance the fundamental values of liberty, equality and community, and in which no one shall be enslaved by poverty, ignorance or conformity. We champion the freedom, dignity and well-being of individuals, we acknowledge and respect their right to freedom of conscience and their right to develop their talents to the full. We aim to disperse power, to foster diversity and to nurture creativity. We believe that the role of the state is to enable all citizens to attain these ideals, to contribute fully to their communities and to take part in the decisions which affect their lives.

 What is not said is how this compares to either the Labour or Conservative vision. This is not the place to detail differences but perhaps a few pointers may help. Compared to conservatives liberals are sceptical of privilege and tradition. Liberals share with Conservatives a belief in the power of markets, but differ in that they believe markets should be subservient to us all, not the other way around. Compared to the Labour tradition liberals are sceptical of the power of the state to deliver, understanding that although it can do good it often fails too. Labour as a party often looks at things through the prism of class. Liberals always start with the individual.

It is for all these reasons, and more, that I am liberal.