PARISH COUNCIL NEWS

 

Youth and Play provision  One of the key areas identified in the Parish Plan and other local consultations was that more resources should be devoted to young people in the community. Your Parish Council, with the support of the Community Forum and the Friends of Watchhouse Hill, has sought to achieve this in a number of different ways.

 

Firstly for the youngest children we have made some small improvements to the swings at Hardwick Road, and taken out a maintenance contract to improve safety and maintain the play area. We are looking to replace some of the older equipment and install new items that will provide a wider range of options.

 

For the 8 – 14 year olds we are concentrating resources on the Brookside Playing Field. Gates and fencing have been installed to separate the main part of the field, which is subject to a dog restriction order, from the footpath which provides a secure route through to the bridle path. Drainage is also being improved and the fencing extended along the bridle path. The Playpod has been installed and, with the support of the Play Rangers, has proved a very successful feature. We have recently been informed of some lottery funding being made available through North Somerset Council which will enable us to provide some additional facilities suitable for this age group. Members of the Parish Council will be visiting parks and open spaces which have the most modern play facilities in order to form ideas about the most appropriate equipment.

 

Facilities on Watchhouse Hill are intended to cater for older children and adults. Usage of the Multi-Use Games Area is increasing all the time, and a youth shelter is being installed adjacent to it, well away from other residents. This will be paid for out of the Section 106 money that was deposited with North Somerset Council to compensate for the loss of amenity from the Redrow housing and office developments at Ham Green.

 

Council Vacancy  We now have a second vacancy owing to the resignation of Valerie Walker. We are anxious to hear from anyone interested in being considered for co-option. As we hope is apparent, the Parish Council is involved in much more than its statutory responsibilities. An information leaflet giving full details of the Council and its activities is available from the Resource Centre, and anyone interested in being involved in this way should contact Julie Smart, theParish Clerk, at the office in the Centre. As stated in the last Paper, we are currently male dominated – a situation we should very much like to change!

 

Change of Name Councillors have now confirmed to North Somerset that we should like the decision to change the name of the Council to “Pill and Easton-in-Gordano” to be reconsidered.