LET'S BUY WOODS FOR LONG ASHTON

It is early on Thursday morning and a group from Long Ashton led by two Parish Councillors are getting ready for the last day of raising funds to buy Woods in Long Ashton for the community.  Radio Bristol are coming to interview and put us on the airwaves. It is a fantastic project as the woods are very close to the village recreation area and would fit very well into greater educational and leisure improvements for us. Long Ashton has been trying to buy these woods since the 1970's when it was agreed but the then District Valuer would not agree the price of £45,000 required by the then owner as being the correct value. This was a shame but he could not be swayed. Now we have another opportunity and the price asked is now upwards of £90,000.  We hear that the Golf Course want to buy it so that they can give themselves a 100m safety strip which we could well accommodate them with but on initial talks are not ken on supporting the village bid. Perhaps they will think again. Other groups apparently want to have a log cabin village in the 18 acres. Holiday homes perhaps? Something like the leisure Park in Gloucestershire which has just had problems with rating and some residents there are struggling and not able to live in their, rather expensive, 'holiday homes' when they wish.

The woods also have connections to an ancient monument which may effect the possibility of obtaining planning for anything but it might be that there would be an archeological dig there at some point. How exciting is that!? Living at Gatcombe I well remember the University digging up what they think is one of the earliest Christian burials in England in the 1970's.What might they find on Keed's Hill? Time Team watch this space! 

Just think of the nature walks that the two schools could enjoy. I remember still the primary school walks I took on Backwell Hill. Good constitutional and absorbing information as we went. THis is an ancient woodland site full of fascinating natural elements to set young hearts racing with enthusiasm and only a stone's throw fromthe village hall.

We have loads of local talent to get involved, foresters, walkers would be coppicers.  As we are constructing the New Village 'way forward to 2026' this seems a wonderful proiject to give the villagers that will be cohesive, educational, conservationist recreational and very very interesting.

May I suggest that everyone 'gets stuck in'? Contact me, Listen to Henny Fordham on Radio Bristol. Maybe I can get Chris Evans to join in  Its a GREAT PROJECT and we need to get moving

Long Ashton new developments

Where I wonder does any developer in this area expect to provide water services to any new development from?  Has anyone had a good look at Chew Valley Lake recently. It has not to my knowledge been so low even I believe in 1976 when we had no rain from April to the end of August. Why is it so low? The water company is now supplying Bristol with water from the Mendip Hills. This is leading to a shortagefet stringly by the sailing club who are having difficulties with their bigger dinghies having enough water to sail and race successfully. If as has been put forward that 9,500 houses should be built on Fenswood Farm and between the proposed new ring road, shelved for the moment but.... where exactly do the authorities that might approve this plan propose water to service it comes from?

Bikes and Woods

There have been a couple of unfortunate accidents involving mountain bikes in Ashton Hill Woods recently. The first a thirty something man flew off a jump made by local teenagers (I can cut anything down if it hasn't got leaves on 'cos it's dead - in February!). His handlebars made a mess of his liver and he spent 5 days in intensive care. He and his companion had difficulty explaining where they were and the emergency services had an impossible task to aid them until a local with 'knowledge' gave them assistance. I have taken part in a risk sport for years and spent my share being looked after by our wonderful health service for my sins. I have not yet injured someone and left them on the floor while pursuing my sport. This happened a week or so ago when a biker ran into a lady walking through the woods. He, again a thirty something riding, as they do with head down in determined manner along a winding but fairly level track - originally made by deer but expanded by walkers and now cyclists - knocked the lady into a patch of nettles, his handlebars catching her in the chest. He was completely unsympathetic and swore at her leaving her on the ground to recover as best she could. A good thing that she was not in fact as badly injured as his fellow cyclist who has been aided by all. The speed with which he abandoned her did not allow him to know that he left her with severe abdominal bruising and a nettle rash down her back. There are many considerate mountain bikers in the woods, the Bristol Mountain Bike Club do a great job and train consideration into their members but there seems to be a core of thirty something bikers who visit the woods and are rude and aggressive. They have no consideration for any other user of the woods, human or other wild life which needs to be addressed before someone gets killed. To that end I am meeting up with the Forestry Commission who are at the moment appearing to take a very relaxed attitude to the accidents that have happened on their patch.

June...already!

I cannot believe that it is June and I've not written anything here since March. The Council elections have been and gone, won by two rather ancient blues as expected. We independents gave them a run for their money Tony Butcher getting almost to the post which was a very good effort. Having looked around the counting house new blood might have been a good idea but that's for another day.

The sun has at last come out without wind and we have had a fair amount of rain. The garden has perked up no end and the hay fields look like waving fields of grass rather than a trimmed lawn. A relief.

I have been taking my young horse eventing which has been a shock as I didn't expect to do that again. He is such fun and no pressure. These small courses of unaffiliated one day events are such a good idea. Good income for the organisers and a great introduction to young riders and horses without the expense of affiliation until you know that you can compete at the level.

Visitor numbers are down this year. I'm not sure if it was the expense for the group that came from Swindon this week or perhaps having a 3 hour stop over in Clevedon which while a decent enough town does not have a great deal to offer the day tripper and they got rather bored. They did however love the rose and vanilla cake that I made (the roses are fantastic this year). I've been making rose jam the perfume is a knock out a little really sends the senses reeling whipped into cream on strawberries....terrific. We are now picking elderflower for the liqueur. It did rather well at the flower show last year and is a great party starter included in a cocktail.

The dogs are enjoying squirrel tv and are glued to it from the moment that they get up. I'm not sure why they don't give it a second thought until we come down as it is light and the window is in their 'bedroom' but they don't. They have both had birthdays Pip is 1 and Georgie 11.

My youngest brother and family came for the weekend so lots of swimming and cricket while their eldest spent her time with the small grey pony who had been made very white for his trip to the RDA regional competitions where our group had a great day out and came home with a few prizes which was very exciting for all. One of them has qualified for the championships which was roundly applauded and I have just sent in the entry. There will be great support and we hope for a good result there as well. Everyone is very competitive, in a good way, as the playing field is very level and everyone likes to see effort rewarded. Parents had made lunch and coffee which was very welcome with an early start (5am) to get the ponies ready. I forgot their passports so one sainted father made a detour to get them (wonderful man). We all arrived in good order and were undaunted by an unfortunate accident occurring outside our trailer right at the start of the day. Harvey was almost good but managed to be distracted by needing a pee through a whole dressage test (which made him rather slow) and most of the handy pony until he could stand it no longer and proceeded to do the longest know to horse while standing by the gate as his rider opened it and had a fit of the giggles. Fun for all.

Last day of campaign

A very hectic day yesterday I was able to visit Ridgeway, Highlands, Folleigh Lane and all associated closes etc. Then down to Parsonage Road and Glebe Road a lot of walking and good for fitness and figure!

No-one wants a road to be built across the valley in front of them with which I agree. I feel that Wild Country should be widened and a junction made onto the A370 by Barrow Hospital thus aiding Barrow Gurney as a village and taking some traffic off Long Ashton Road. I would hope that this would also take traffic away from Yanley/Glebe roads as that rat run becomes unnecessary.

Someone rang worried about a station on Glebe Road. IF and that is the rub, the stadium is built then any station must be adjacent to that complex and all integration of transport systems needs for once to properly addressed not approached piecemeal and for once with a little cooperation between all for the whole community.

The village picnic on Friday was a fun afternoon and Harvey be-ribboned and I, gave pony rides for several hours until the queue had diminished and he was rather tired! He is a wonderful pony also taking disabled children on a regular basis. They love his cuddliness and it is a joy for him to give so much pleasure to a host of children.

Sixty Acres

When I first remember 60 acres it was largely people's home built mostly of wood one storey houses. Plots of land had been given by the Smyth family of Ashton Court to servicemen returning from the 'Great War' (1914-18) with room for a dwelling and space to grow enough vegetables to feed a family. Lady Smyth is long dead but her legacy lives on in many ways. She did not wish to see a house from Ashton Court and as the family owned a great deal of Bedminster and Ashton Vale she could so dictate and Bristol sprawled Eastwards between WW1 and WW2. Requirements that 'only agriculture' be carried out on some of the land that was sold have been got around and we are in danger of losing that legacy. On sixty acres not many of the plots could sustain a family now but those in receipt of the original largese have done very well and the community has thrived. The density of houses is far greater than might originally have been expected but walking round it is an interesting mix of house size and styles that suggests that some development can be interesting and practical. It is certainly not an area of 'little boxes without topses ' and has a character all it's own.

Another brilliant sunny day. Great for visiting but not so good for the garden. I am quite glad as the weeds aren't growing so fast either and I don't feel so guilty being out and about delivering leaflets and speaking to people on the issues that concern them.

David (my husband) and I have spent the last hour clearing blocked drains so before I go out again I must have a shower. It is never dull here!

The issues that are coming up are the prospective Bristol City stadium and the effect on Long Ashton. We must ensure that any development does not have a detremental effect on the village with added roads, parked cars and traffic. The roads feeding such a development are potentially going through North Somerset so if this occurs then there should be concessions to North Somerset in general and Long Ashton in particular for this and they must be very carefully considered. Ribbon development along any new road should not be allowed or Bristol will creep closer.

Should we have a hustings?

On Saturday morning a Lib Dem and 2 Independents were to be seen in the Community Hall Car Park as Long Ashton Village Market was in progress. It was very good natured and the candidates swapped literature so that we can see what we are all saying taht we will do. THere was quite a debate over the Alternative Vote which many people do not understand. I was gald that I had spent some time making sure that I did so that I could explain the system being put forward in the referendum. Someone said that there is a mathematical possibility that in a five horse race the fourth horse could end up winning. It seems questionable but I can see that the maths may be quite complicated and require an unlikely set of voting possibilities to occur for this to happen in reality. The jury is still out and the debate will doubtless continue. There were a good number of residents prepared to debate the local politics and on a warm morning we all enjoyed seeing old friends and having a rolling debate.

Sadly I had to leave early for some riding teaching duties. The weekends are ever popular for children and ponies.

Sunday early evening after allowing a good space for Mothering Sunday lunches I was out on the trail. It is very difficult as many people wpuld like to enter into a lively debate but with aq population over 7,500 in the ward I shall have to get my skates on!

So yesterday it was down to the Town Hall in Weston Super Mare to submit my nomination papers. Not a completely simple task as one of my assentors (you must be able to find 10 people who are prepared to vote for you!) was not on the electoral role which was a bit of a poser sitting in the Town Hall. However in true British spirit if fair play two other candidates were prepared to help out which was a great relief and I hope a sign of fairplay to come as we canvas around the area. That small trip took 1 1/2 hours I hoep that is NOT a sign of how long even small matters take in the Town Hall!

Bridget Mackwood

My family has lived in the village since 1922 and been independent representatives for much of this time both Parish and District. I have therefore a good knowledge of the evolution and dynamics of this important village community.

I have been involved with the village in a small way; with the fete last year and we have several village allotments here. I have been in discussion with the Forestry Commission to work with them to improve the community enjoyment of the woodlands within our area.

I believe that we are custodians of where we live for the next generation and that it is important to be involved to ensure that we keep the best while evolving to the benefit of all.

If elected I will hold monthly clinics where people can voice their concerns and will try to assist where possible. In addition I would endeavour to:-

Maintain a buffer between Bristol and Long Ashton. - Historically the boundary between North Somerset and Bristol was the River Avon. This has been eroded since WW2 the latest when Avon was disbanded and the boundary again moved west allowing the proposed new Bristol City stadium to be within the new city boundary and out of North Somerset control. North Somerset does have influence over the access roads to and from the proposed site and it is this area that we must influence to ensure that Long Ashton does not suffer from creeping development along any roads in our area, with greater congestion and parked cars. Should the stadium go ahead we must lobby for better infrastructure for Long Ashton as a result of any co-operation such as a new ‘Long Ashton Halt’ Station. Paid for by the developers. We must also remain vigilant that those recently or currently building in the village meet their obligations under 106 agreements, which ensure that those who develop provide assets for the community in return for being given permission to build.

Education – I believe that there should be provision for local children to go to their local school or to the school of their parent’s choice.

Community facilities – With the encouragement of ‘The Big Society’ we should grasp the potential and become involved in running our local woodlands with the Forestry Commission to provide involvement for local people in both leisure pursuits and greater knowledge of our flora and fauna. This will protect our heritage and community woodland from possible sales and give additional environmental protection for this wonderful facility for our community.

Train and Bus Services – I will lobby for the inclusion of additional stations and improvement of affordable bus facilities locally.