Your Weston Central Team

Changes are on the way for GP services in Weston town centre

mikebell — Wed, 09 May 2012 21:08:10 +0000

Have your say on changes proposed to the services offered by the GP practice and Walk-in Centre at Weston General Hospital and the Boulevard.

You can find out more by visiting: www.northsomerset.nhs.uk

Or you can attend one of the public meetings being held by the NHS to seek your views:

Thursday 10 May at 7pm, 12-14 The Boulevard

Wednesday 16 May at 2.30pm, The Badger Centre, Wadham Street

Alternatively, please let us know your views by emailing us.

Cllr Mike Bell or Cllr Clare Kingsbury-Bell

“One rule for Weston, another for the rest of the district” as on street pay and display parking hits town centre

mikebell — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 12:11:25 +0000

North Somerset Council’s ruling Conservative Executive will meet next week to approve plans to introduce on-street pay and display parking charges for much of Weston-super-Mare town centre.

The proposals include:

Pay and display meters on 28 town centre streets with parking charges of £1.20 an hour
Charges to be imposed 9am to 6pm, Monday to Satuday
A parking permit for town centre residents giving an hour’s free on-street parking in the morning and at night charged at £62 per annum
A ‘Tradesman Permit’ costing £20.80 per day
A 10p per hour reduction in short stay off-street parking charges

If approved next week, consultation will commence immediately with the intention that the new scheme could be implemented later in the year. The Weston scheme will cost a total of £324,000 to set up and will have annual running costs of £237,000. The council expects the scheme to generate £327,000 in revenue and parking fines in a full year – a surplus of £66,000 which they expect to rise to almost £100,000 a year by year two.

Councillor Mike Bell (Lib Dem, Weston Central), who represents most of the area affected by the proposed on-street charging scheme, said: “Businesses and residents have been pressing for a new, fairer parking scheme for many years. But this isn’t it.

“Town centre residents will be significantly worse off, forced to pay to park near their home or cough up for expensive permits which guarantee nothing. The scheme proposes to do nothing about the inevitable knock on effect of motorists parking in roads just outside the pay and display zone. Most people I speak to who live in streets like Jubilee Road, Stafford Place or around Ellenborough Park think parking is bad now. It’s only going to get worse.

“But worst of all this is a continuation of the unfair policy of hitting Weston. It’s one rule for Weston and another for the rest of the district. Weston residents already have high charges on the seafront – £7 a day – and in our off-street car parks. Now, visitors and residents will be expected to pay on street as well. Meanwhile, the council is happy to have no charges at all in Portishead or Nailsea and almost none in Clevedon.

“Not content with taking £1.5 million in parking income from Weston, North Somerset Council wants more. We need to see the profit taken out of parking and a fair deal for residents and businesses right across the district.”

Public toilets could be closed for good

mikebell — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 12:07:45 +0000

THOSE desperate to spend a penny could soon be faced with the prospect of having to pay for the privilege in North Somerset’s public toilets – or see the facilities close for good.

The council is looking to persuade town and parish councils or private individuals to run the conveniences in order to save cash.

The authority is hoping to save £400,000 by transferring its responsibilities for running toilets across the district from 2013/14.

The proposal, which is contained in North Somerset Council’s budget papers, suggests passing them over to parish or town councils, letting them as part of concessions so, for example, someone running a seafront café would also run the toilet, or closing them altogether to achieve the saving.

Although the authority says it is ‘far from inevitable’ that charges could be introduced, North Somerset councillor Mike Bell says there is a danger the public could end up with an ‘unfortunate’ choice of losing even more public toilets or have public toilets where fees apply.

He said: “No concessionaire is going to want to run expensive toilets for nothing and will at least want to cover their costs.

“So where the toilet is kept, we could see charges of 20p or more.

“Tourists, those with young children, older people, pregnant women, people with disabilities – they will all have need of an accessible and clean public toilet.

“Closing more or asking people to pay is simply wrong.

“We already have scandalously high parking charges on the seafront and in the town centre.

“The prospect of on-street parking charges is looming. Now we will be asking people to pay to spend a penny too – that is if they can find a public toilet that is not boarded up or demolished.

“It sends the wrong message and will harm our tourist industry and our economy.

“North Somerset Council must think again on this, consult widely and put the interests of residents and visitors before its bottom line.”

There are currently 29 public toilets across North Somerset, 15 in Weston, with only three left around the seafront.

A North Somerset Council spokesman said: “We are looking at a number of options at the moment and have been having discussions with town and parish councils.

“Those discussions are ongoing and no decisions have been reached yet.”

A few years ago Birnbeck Road, Carlton Street and the Uphill beach toilets were closed and over the years many of the seafront and town centre ones have also been shut.

North Somerset to benefit from Mary Portas cash boost

mikebell — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 12:06:20 +0000

HIGH Streets in North Somerset are set for a much-needed cash boost following a Government-supported report by a television shopping expert.

Following Mary Portas’ high street review, North Somerset Council will benefit from a £100,000 grant from the Department for Communities and Local Government.

The authority says the money will be used to improve the ‘vibrancy and look’ of the district’s main shopping areas.

Last year shopping guru Ms Portas compiled a Government-supported report which recommended a variety of options to boost the nation’s ailing high streets.

Among her recommendations were introducing new town management teams, affordable town centre car parking, disincentives for landlords who left shops empty, and adopting a ‘town centre first’ approaching to planning.

Today (Fri) the Government has responded by launching a new package of help for town centres, such as a £1million fund for the most creative and effective schemes to revitalise high streets and introducing national markets day.

North Somerset is one of five authorities in the South West to benefit from the £100,000 grants from the High Street Innovation Fund.

Although it is currently unclear how the money will be used across the district, in Weston the council is likely to work in conjunction with the Business Improvement District (BID) which was recently voted in.

A spokesman for North Somerset Council said; “We welcome the announcement today that we have been given a grant of £100,000 as part of the Government’s support of the Portas review.

“We will be looking at exactly how we can use this money to improve the vibrancy and look of the area’s high streets.”

Liberal Democrat councillor Mike Bell, who represents much of Weston’s High Street, said: “This cash is really important in helping North Somerset to tackle the very real challenges faced by our high streets – namely vacant premises, the poor retailer mix, absentee landlords who are disinterested in the community and unaffordable business rates, especially for new businesses.

“I hope that North Somerset Council, the Town Centre Partnership and the Business Improvement District team can work together with landlords, businesses and the community to use this money as a real catalyst for change in our high street and retail economy.”

Town budget – no tax rise for residents

mikebell — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 10:58:24 +0000

THERE will be no council tax increase from Weston Town Council residents over the next financial year after it passed its new budget.

The authority’s budget will remain at £1,176,234, and although that figure may rise as the council takes on the running of new services, hard-up ratepayers will not see council tax bills increase.

Weston Town Council passed the budget at its meeting on Monday, meaning the rate for a band D household will be £43.62 – 15p less than last year.

The budget may increase if the town council takes on the running of parks and recreation grounds from North Somerset Council later this year.

But this would not mean a rise in tax as North Somerset would transfer £204,000 which it already raises for their maintenance from people in Weston.

Council leader Keith Morris said: “I frankly take pleasure in supporting this budget. We have had a hard year but all things considered we have done exceptionally well.”

At the meeting concerns were raised over Barcode youth cafe – which costs 11.5 times more money than the income it brings in – and allotments, where expenditure is 22 times greater than income. Although both were included in the budget, the council is likely to look at ways of cutting those costs over the next year.

Although Liberal Democrat and Labour councillors agreed with the majority of the budget, the council’s LibDem group voiced its dissatisfaction that a residents’ fun pass for certain facilities, such as Weston Museum and the water park, had not been included.

Officers are currently looking into four separate schemes to offer schemes for Weston residents, but a LibDem proposal to include a free pass in principle was voted down, while other budget amendments were also not adopted.

One LibDem councillor, Clare Kingsbury-Bell, said: “Our priority as a town council should be to provide the best service we can for residents. A residents’ fun pass, which would encourage hundreds more local families to visit and engage with our services should be in the budget.

“Museums across the country clearly benefit from free entry – families pour through the doors, spend more in the shops, stop for lunch and afternoon tea and most importantly are free to benefit from facilities their council tax has paid for in the first place.”

Car park increase – a ‘disgrace’

mikebell — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 10:56:51 +0000

WESTON Town Council has united against proposals to raise car parking charges in the town.

At the authority’s meeting on Monday, councillors labelled North Somerset Council’s plans a ‘disgrace’.

It was also agreed that should the charges go up as planned, the town council may launch a judicial review on the basis they are discriminatory against the town’s residents.

Some parking charges in the town’s eight off-street car parks could rise by as much as 25 per cent, with the council’s executive due to make a decision after consultation ends on January 30.

But following town centre figures’ opposition, reported in last week’s Mercury, councillors from all three political parties voiced their anger at the proposals at Monday’s meeting.

Mark Canniford, a Liberal Democrat who also runs the Spar shop in High Street, said: “Do the executive members have shares in Cribbs Causeway? It feels as though they are trying to drive people away from Weston with these changes.”

The council’s Conservative leader Keith Morris agreed, saying: “Why should we have our car parking charges go up, when other towns in North Somerset won’t see theirs increase?

“It is cheaper to park in the centre of Bristol on the weekend than it is in Weston, and I think that is a disgrace.

“The annual pass for a senior citizen in Weston will be £260, whereas it will be £175 in Clevedon – do they really think people are more affluent in Weston?”

Proposing the charges be challenged through a judicial review which could see the decision overturned by the High Court, Liberal Democrat Mike Bell said: “These proposals are nonsensical and should be challenged as they are discriminatory to the people of Weston.

“Other town and parish councils have challenged decisions by principal authorities which they have believed to be unlawful and been successful, so if the proposals are voted through we should challenge it on that basis.”

Councillor Morris will now write to North Somerset on behalf of the council to object formally to the changes.

Police budget consultation – 6 days to have your say

mikebell — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:27:57 +0000

There is less than a week left to have your say on the policing part of the council tax in an online survey by Avon and Somerset Police Authority.

You can have your say online or you can receive a copy of the survey in the post please call 01275 816377.

They are asking you questions on the Coalition Government’s proposals to freeze their precept (charged with council tax) by giving police authorities funding equivalent to a 3% council tax increase for one year only.

The survey closes on January 15, 2012.

Avon and Somerset Police Authority will set the police budget on Wednesday, February 9, 2012.

Trop demolition agreed – but group still wants to save it

mikebell — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 11:03:55 +0000

After 11 years of dashed hopes, a decision to demolish the Tropicana was approved by executive councillors on Tuesday – to the disappointment of a group of businessmen who harboured hopes of developing the site.

Last month a North Somerset Council working party charged with finding an answer ruled there were no viable projects left on the table – and recommended demolition.

However, Puxton Park owner Derek Mead put forward proposals at the meeting on behalf of a new consortium – which includes Grand Pier co-owner Kerry Michael and Worle businessman Guillio Ellis – in a last attempt to save the landmark.

They proposed forming a charitable trust, alongside the council, to create a community project and restore the attraction.

But this proposal was rejected by executive members who felt this would drag out the process of making a final decision.

Deputy leader of the council, Elfan Ap Rees, said: “Enough is enough; we have been trying for years to do something on this site.

“Demolition isn’t going to start tomorrow and there is an opportunity for them to come forward with a credible and viable solution, but we cannot just defer this forever and ever.”

Councillors Mike Bell, Richard Tucker and John Crockford-Hawley asked for the decision to be deferred to full council, to give the authority time to look in detail at the plans put forward by the consortium and to allow all the councillors of Weston to make a decision.

Council leader Nigel Ashton said the process of demolition would not start until the new year and there would still be time for interested parties to submit proposals for the site.

He said: “Anyone can put their plans in front of us before Christmas because nothing would have happened by then. Deferring this it just avoiding taking a decision instead of facing up to it.”

Members of the consortium voiced their disappointment at the decision.

Mr Michael said: “It’s not a good day for Weston and we are very disappointed with the decision, but that won’t stop us from taking the opportunity to put something back there.

“Their minds were made up a long time ago and if their minds are set on demolishing it, they are going to do that no matter what we come up with.

“It doesn’t encourage myself and others to spend money on plans knowing in the back of their minds their decision is to demolish it.”

Mr Mead said: “I think it’s not all lost. If they stick by what they say then there is still room to talk about it, and we have still got a chance. We hope to meet with the council about this as soon as we can.”

Reproduced from the Weston and Somerset Mercury.

Town is a car park cash cow

mikebell — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 15:01:29 +0000

CAR parking charges across Weston could be raised as part of a fundraising drive by the council.

The increase in charges, due to be discussed and possibly passed by North Somerset Council’s executive on Tuesday, would see some charges rise by as much as 25 per cent.

The proposals have led to complaints that the town is being used as a ‘cash cow’, with increased prices only affecting the 10 off-street car parks which currently have charges – eight of which are in Weston.

Liberal Democrat councillor Mike Bell said: “It is simply unfair that Weston is being treated as a cash cow in this way.

“We all understand that money is tight and that we have to pay for parking off-street. What many will not understand is why Weston is hit year after year with inflation-busting increases while other towns get off scot-free.

“The Conservative administration in charge at the town hall is famously anti-Weston and we can see further evidence of it in their parking charges policy.”

The proposed changes come in the light of unprecedented levels of savings which the authority is being forced to make.

They are designed to encourage use of long stay car parks, as there would also be a reduction in short stay spaces at the car park in Carlton Street.

The other two car parks affected by the proposals are in Clevedon.

Among the proposals, motorists staying for five hours in the Grove Park, Knightstone Causeway or Melrose car parks would see charges increase from £7 to £7.50, with price increases varying between 3.1 and nine per cent.

An overnight stay in Hampton car park will rise from £2 to £2.50, an increase of 25 per cent, while long stay season tickets at Locking Road car park would rise between 2.6 and 4.7 per cent.

But the peak charging period along Weston’s seafront will be reduced, with peak charges only lasting until October 31, not November 30.

A total of 22 short stay parking spaces will be created in the Locking Road car park to compensate for the closure of the Carlton Street car park as part of the Dolphin Square redevelopment works.

Reproduced from the Weston Mercury

Lapdancing clubs get new licences

mikebell — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 15:00:07 +0000

Licences have been granted to two lapdancing clubs in the centre of Weston, despite concerns being raised over their locations.

Both Shadow Lounge in Regent Street and T’s in Oxford Street went before a licensing committee at North Somerset Council last week.

Objections had been raised against granting permission to T’s on the grounds that it was an inappropriate place for such a club, being near to Emmanuel Church and the Quaker Meeting House.

North Somerset Council ward member Mike Bell had raised objections to Shadow Lounge being granted a licence.

But councillors on the planning and regulatory (licensing) sub-committee granted both licences on November 29, with the proviso that both open no earlier than 10pm, and that outside signs must not specifically mention pole dancing.

The applications came after a new law came into force earlier this year, requiring existing premises to re-apply for their licences. Councillor Bell said he was disappointed with the decision.

He said: “I have no objection to businesses operating in any way which the law allows, but I do feel that these two locations in the tourism and leisure heart of Weston are not the right places for these kind of premises.

“I am particularly disappointed that the licence for T’s in Oxford Street was granted despite opposition from myself and local religious and community groups.”

“It is difficult to imagine a more inappropriate location for a strip club. We now have two strip clubs in the small area of Regent Street and Oxford Street and I do worry about how many more will be permitted.”

After the decision, Shadow Lounge owner Jesus Rodriguez Casas said: “I am pleased that our licence has been granted, but it will not make much of a difference to how the club is run, as we would have opened at these hours anyway.”

Reproduced from the Weston Mercury