Welcome to www.longashton.org.uk

Withdrawal of bus service

From the end of November, the bus service into Bristol will become half-hourly, and no buses to Backwell and Weston during the day.

I have just emailed the bus First Bus to complain, and here’s the link for anyone else to do the same:

http://www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/southwest/bristol/contact/bath.php

You can also phone their customer services on 0845 606 4446, or write to: First, Freepost BS8931, Bath, BA1 1X.

Our local councillors can be emailed at bob.cook@n-somerset.gov.uk and howard.roberts@n-somerset.gov.uk. The North Somerset executive member for transport is Elfan ap Ress, elfan.ap.rees@n-somerset.gov.uk (he has already spoken out against other threatened cuts in bus services.)

The clerk to the Parish Council is Marilyn Addis, clerk@longashtonparishcouncil.com. 

Development proposals at Long Ashton

The University owns a 170-acre (69ha) site south of Long Ashton village. The site is bounded to the north by the main railway line, to the west by Wild Country Lane and to the south by the A370.

 The site falls within a wider ‘area of search’ identified in the Draft South West Regional Spatial Strategy. This proposes providing some 10,500 new homes within the South West Bristol area, 9,000 of which would be in North Somerset.

The University’s site is one of several in the area currently being promoted for new development as part of the South West Bristol Urban Extension. 

A project team has been asked by the University to look at ways of redeveloping the site as a new, sustainable extension to Long Ashton village. The underlying principle is to ensure that Long Ashton maintains its identity, separated from the larger expansion of Bristol being promoted south of the A370, whilst also adding much-needed community facilities and family homes to the area.

The development proposals could include around 1,100 new homes, together with a new school and improved community facilities. The development could also help secure better transport connections, possibly including a new rail link into Bristol city centre or out to Weston super Mare.

Part of the site, including the area around the lake and the sloping land leading down to the main road, would not be developed. Instead it would remain as public open space, managed to protect and encourage wildlife and ecology.

Having had some initial discussions with North Somerset Council and Long Ashton Parish Council, the University would now like to share its emerging proposals with the local community and invite public comment.

A public exhibition will take place from Thursday 10- Saturday 12 September in Long Ashton. During this time there will be two opportunities to meet the project team who will be on hand to explain the proposals and answer queries. Background information will also be available online at www.bristol.ac.uk.

Details of the exhibition are on the diary page.

Best Kept Road

The Best Kept Road and Cul-de-Sac Competition will again take place in June/July. This year there will be a new category - a "Nominated Best Kept Garden" shield.  Any resident can nominate an individual address (but not your own) and all nominations must be sent to the Clerk by 7th July.  You may nominate one garden.

Petition against proposed development

There is an online petition against proposed development in the Long Ashton valley and around Ashton and Yanley.

We are told that 10,500 new homes are to built locally, much in undeveloped and current greenbelt land between Long Ashton and Ashton. Once developed, this open space, hedgerows, fields and woodland will be
gone for ever.

Please add your support by signing the on-line petition. Go to http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/YANLEIGHHOUSES/ to sign up.  Please feel free to send the link onto as many local people as possible.