Very limited access

The new initial planning application 12/P/1539/F for a large number of houses on Clevedon Hall estate will lead to many problems regarding traffic and will almost certainly lead to further parking restrictions and possibly the introduction of permit parking, especially for the residents of Victoria road, Old Church Road, and surrounding areas.

This will be as a direct result of the fact that there is very limited access to this large estate, and has been amply demonstrated by the congestion caused some years ago when Clevedon Hall was used as a call centre.

Large numbers of employees would park on Old Church Road and Beach Avenue so that they could enter and leave the site easily via the pedestrian entrance to avoid delays at peak times.

The recent concerns regarding flooding in Clevedon are also of great importance, and the building of large numbers of houses in such a relatively higher central area will also place further strains on the existing drainage systems.

Houses obviously need to be built, but surely Clevedon has had enough town centre ‘infill’ projects over the last few years, without destroying the last large open space on the sea front?

CHRIS LOCK

Old Church Road, Clevedon

Saved the town

On the nights of September 23 and 24 several inches of rain fell in the area, once more causing significant surface water flooding in parts of Clevedon.

This surface water caused chaos for people going to work in the mornings. It is well to note that the work carried out by a voluntary group, The Land Yeo Friends, in the last few years has saved the town from what could have been a much more extensive flood. Initiating culvert clearing, especially the Queens Square culvert, removing litter and debris and a programme of weed and silt removal, has ensured that the river is effective in carrying away flood waters from areas of risk within the town.

It is hoped that the townspeople continue to give support to the Friends, and do their bit to keep the river free of obstructions, and the water clean for its wildlife.

The Land Yeo Friends can be contacted though their chairperson- jackiedtate@gmail.com

DAVID ROBINSON

Thackeray Avenue, Clevedon

Lake Grounds full

I see from your paper last week that another special interest group wants to add more to the Lake Grounds in Portishead.

At present it holds the excellent re-invigorated open-air swimming pool, three flood-lit tennis courts, two caf�s, two bowling greens, a pitch and putt golf round, toilets, cricket and hockey pitches and, of course, the boating lake.

May I suggest that the Lake Grounds is now full and cannot accommodate the present proposals for: larger play equipment for teenagers; a big concrete bowl for skateboarding; a bandstand; an athletics track; a loss making ‘pay and display’ parking system and perhaps others lurking in the background.

It has been difficult over the years to get enough money allocated to carry out the necessary maintenance, litter collection, grass cutting and so on arising from the present number of visitors.

The Lake Grounds should not have to cope with any further additions. There are other places in Portishead.

BARRY WALTERS

The Paddock, Portishead

Green belt land

Re THE article ‘Taxi boss happy to showcase his dream eco home’ in September 12 North Somerset Times, this fails to say that the proposed building is on green belt land, which should not be built on.

As regards access, wherever it is, the B3124 has traffic travelling at 50mph and more.

There is no existing track for vehicles onto the site in question.

The area is not residential – there are only 20 houses nearby – it is very rural.

If schools and colleges visit the house where will the buses park?

The application envisages the house will be almost invisible due to its underground plot.

This is only because the earth dug out for the house will be banked around the edge of the site.

CATHERINE DIXON

Black Rock Villas, Portishead

Lacks parking

Well, what money grabbers Quay Marinas will do with its charging decision is ruin the Tea Cabin and the Lock Keeper.

I have frequently parked in the car park and never have I seen it full.

Any current issue is probably due to the construction workers in the area.

Presumably the new commercial premises will remain empty as no-one will be able to visit, who is going to pay a �1 levy to shop.

The whole of the area lacks parking space and this will just make things worse.

BOB BULL

The Deans, Portishead

Poor service

On SUNDAY September 9 I needed a pharmacist.

No-one was open in Nailsea and there was no notice on the doors stating where the nearest one was.

It was about 2.30pm. I phoned all three pharmacies in Nailsea in the vain hope that there would be information on the answerphone. I then tried Portishead and Boots in the High Street was the only one giving the information I needed.

I feel this is very poor service and feel sure that in these days of technology it would be possible for such information to be available for people like me who do not have access to a computer.

MRS E MANSFIELD

Eastway, Nailsea

A lot of tosh

Regarding Cherry Orchard Residential Home.

What a lot of tosh, Sean Tregonning, spokesman for Shaw health care, to say that the Clevedon elderly are opting for staying at home.

How does he know? The folk of Clevedon were never given a chance to voice their opinions, because the closure has been kept hushed up.

Most of the staff and all of the residents were not told until the beginning of September.

My mother-in-law spent six weeks in the home recovering from surgery, the staff took very good care of her. Later she returned home to her flat. The care plan package is not ideal, when put into practise, and many people are of the same opinion. Cherry Orchard would definitely have full occupancy if it were ever advertised like other homes in Clevedon.

It’s a well run, happy place, and is home to the existing residents.

How dare they treat these people like pawns in a game of chess. Is it about profits because it certainly is not about their needs and feelings?

Think on Mr Tregonning, you will be old one day.

S RICH

Chard Road, Clevedon

How can you?

I ABSOLUTELY agree 120 per cent with Judith Carr (Mailbox September 9) on parking. Our councillors are spending our monies and now trying to claw-back whatever and whenever they can.

We have been in Portishead for more than 30 years. They tried park & display for the Promenade in Portishead many years ago and failed as we as a community here in Portishead through many petitions eventually got our way.

How can you place park & pay in Slade Road, Portishead, in Roath Road, Portishead, where the market takes place every Friday, and most importantly car parking at the Windmill Inn.

So what will we do, when we go to the Windmill Inn for a drink and meal? We will park on Nore Road. Guess what. When we clog-up Nore Road, the council will place double yellow lines. More cost.

Sorry Hilary Power, you totally missed my point on the gas leak. I am not stupid enough to take a box of matches to find a gas leak.

Having been an engineer for more years than I can remember, health and safety has always been my top priority.

I do not believe that North Somerset Council actually staged the gas leak, just at the start of major road works at Wyndham Way but why did they not put in place Plan B or Plan C?

Because it did not have either plans in its mentality.

Hilary, my major point is that if there was a suspected gas leak in the area, why did they allow a deviation for buses, lorries, motorbikes and cars to pass through this area, from Wyndham Way?

Any shorting in the engine system, or a spark from very hot exhausts could have caused a disaster here. Perhaps it was hoping for Portishead to blow-up.

ROYSTON J COOK

Drakes Way, Portishead