News by Marion Johnson (01934) 834106
(reproduced by kind permission of the Clevedon Mercury)

Dateline: 8th May 2008

SIX young people made an impassioned appeal last week for a log cabin to be built on church land at Congresbury as a focus for youth activities in the village.

They asked St. Andrew’s church members at the annual church meeting to back them in their aim to erect a building approximately 14 metres by 8 on the Glebelands, site adjacent to St. Andrew’s church.

The site has been empty for four years since the bungalow on it was burned down, and the church has recently had the area cleared, levelled and grassed.

The youngsters envisage the cabin as a safe place for young people from toddler groups to teenage students, and able to accommodate holiday clubs and evening classes.

The Cybercafe in the village is actively looking for a permanent base, as the space they use in St. Andrew’s church refectory is needed for the Vine counselling service.

The new building would incorporate a large activity hall, kitchen, toilets, storeroom and office, with a covered canopy and space outside for activities and displays.

Encouraged by their group leader, Ruth Mitson, Mac Anderson, Elena Chapman, Alec Drew, Matt Ivory, Mikey Thomson and Ellie Musson had numerous ideas for fundraising for the project, which they estimate could cost as much as £100,000.

These ranged from community events, sponsorship from local businesses and specific money making by the young people.

Congresbury businessman Kim Kearney was enthusiastic that church members should support the initiative of the young people.

He emphasised that, although it would sit on church land, all young Congresbury villagers should use the cabin.

“Support should be given by every segment of the community,” he said. “The police should be delighted to encourage youngsters off the streets and reduce vandalism.”

He agreed to join a small committee of church members to help the church youth groups move the project forward and look for grant applications.

EVOLUTION of plant life was vividly brought to life for about 80 members of Congresbury Horticultural Society who visited the new Bristol Botanic garden on Stoke Park Road on Thursday. They were guided through the evolution dell, laid out with mosses, the plants existing 450 million years ago, progressing to the Jurassic period, with monkey puzzle trees and tree ferns. The first flowers appeared on magnolia trees. Local plant life is displayed in a miniature reconstruction of the Avon gorge and there is an extensive range of specimens in the Mediterranean collection, and the Chinese and European herb gardens. Stunning plants are displayed in the cool, temperate, sub tropical and tropical glasshouses. Chairman Mike Sweeting thanked the University for an interesting evening.

CYCLISTS, walkers and motorists are all invited to participate in the great Pentecost fun bike ride on Saturday when 18 churches in the area are open from 10am to 3.30pm. Intended as a social non-competitive event, enabling people to visit beautiful buildings and meet members of the local ministry group. Afternoon tea will be served in St. Andrew’s church Refectory, Congresbury, from 2pm and the event will close with a short act of worship at 4pm.  Participating churches are St. Andrew’s and the Methodist church at Banwell, St. James the Great and the Lynch chapel at Winscombe, All Saints and the Methodist church at Sandford, St. John’s and the Methodist church at Churchill, St. Mary’s at Langford, All Saints and the URC chapel at Wrington, Holy Trinity at Burrington, St. Michael and All Angels at Butcombe, Christ church at Redhill, R.C. church at Cheddar, Holy Saviour at Puxton, St. Andrew’s and the Methodist church at Congresbury.

TRAFFIC congestion has forced Congresbury millennium green trustees to change the time of their Friday litter pick, which will now be scheduled at 6.30pm in the Ship & Castle car park. Chairman Mary Short suggests that, if residents experience problems in joining the Friday community effort, they should litter pick the area immediately surrounding their homes. Already the effort put in by the trustees is evident in the approach to the green from the parish car park, which is clean and tidy for the first time for several months.

LOSS of a 23-year-old nephew, who died of cystic fibrosis, triggered Eileen Moran of Congresbury to raise funds for research, and a quiz night is being organised at the Plough Inn, Congresbury, on Sunday, May 18 at 8pm.  Everyone is invited.

MUDDY approach at the Congresbury station end of the Strawberry Line should be remedied by the end of May when a contractor for North Somerset will spread stone over the muddiest sections to make the site more cycle and pedestrian friendly.

HISTORIANS are invited to join Congresbury History Group on Wednesday, May 14 for a walk around Bedminster with Anton Bantock.  Meet at Congresbury Cross at 6.30pm or outside the London Inn, Bedminster at 7pm.  Non-members welcome, fee £1.

SUMMER fun and sport is available for Congresbury young people with a play scheme week starting Monday, July 28 and other activities during the rest of the school holidays. As part of the programme, the Youth Partnership is looking to employ a youth worker in charge, assistant youth workers and an administration assistant to co-ordinate and manage the activities. Details can be obtained from Ian Sheppard on ian@congsyp.org.uk.

EASY meal is available on Saturday, May 17 when Congresbury Methodist church are organising their missionary lunch in the Methodist Hall at 12.30pm in aid of Methodist Overseas development fund.  Tickets £5 (families £12) available from Edith Wilson on 01934-832456.

REPAIRS and renovation work, which will not be repeated for several years, contributed towards an adjusted loss of nearly £6,000 in St. Andrew’s church, Congresbury finances last year. The Refectory was re-decorated, electrical work was carried out in the church, the churchyard lighting scheme was completed and the Glebelands site cleared and grassed. Total income for the year was £162,576, but expenses are nearly £3,000 per week. Presenting the accounts to the annual church meeting last week, treasurer Paul Tivey pointed out that the Diocesan quota is nearly £50,000. There are currently 175 members on the electoral roll.  New members elected to the P.C.C. are Cherida Stobart, Ruth Mitson, Hamish Patterson, and Frances Urwin, with Ruth Wrattan as Deanery Synod representative.

North Somerset Council are setting their budgets for next year and they are looking to cut spending on libraries; one of the libraries they are considering closing in Congresbury Library.

The only way to save our library is to let North Somerset know how important the library is to us and so they find budget savings in other areas.  The most vulnerable library users are children, the elderly, the disabled, and families without cars - furthermore driving to Yatton library is an environmental step backwards!  Based on Congresbury Library costing £21,219 last year, and a village population of 3,400 this equates to just £6.24 per person, a very small proportion of annual council tax!  It is also depended upon by a number of people outside the village.

ACT NOW

1) Write and/or email to North Somerset giving your views on the library closure ASAP (before their meeting on 11th December).  Contacts in positions of authority are listed below.  A template letter is attached but PLEASE ADAPT THE LETTER OR WRITE YOUR OWN - do not send it as it is!  The bullet points are intended as suggestions; remove the asterisks and adapt.

2) Put up a copy of the attached poster in your window and also any prominent positions you own/oversee around the village.

3) Show your support by joining and using the library (each time you borrow, collect or return a book it is counted!)

4) FORWARD THIS to anyone you have email addresses for in Congresbury

RELEVANT CONTACTS

David Turner, Director of Development and Environment, Town Hall, Walliscote Grove Road, Weston-Super-Mare  BS23 1UJ (david.turner@n-somerset.gov.uk)

Cllr Elfan Ap Rees, Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Economic Development, Town Hall, Walliscote Grove Road, Weston-Super-Mare  BS23 1UJ
(elfan.ap.rees@n-somerset.gov.uk)

Cllr Jeremy Blatchford, Children & Young People's Services, Town Hall, Walliscote Grove Road, Weston-Super-Mare BS23 1UJ

Cllr Ian Peddlesden, Adult Social Services and Housing, Town Hall, Walliscote Grove Road, Weston-Super-Mare BS23 1UJ

John Penrose MP, Constituency Office, 24-26 Alexandra Parade, Weston-super-Mare, Somerset  BS23 1QX

Note that you may not get a quick reply to your letter.  Follow this up by telephone.  Also you may be palmed off with a general response about cuts in services to avoid an increase in council tax - do not accept this - these are the elected people (a large Conservative majority) who are making decisions about how to spend our council tax!

Note that this is a general village initative but if you want to speak to someone about this issue or have a contribution, Mary Short has volunteered to be a point of contact.  Her telephone number is 833764.

CONGRESBURY GROUP

We have set up a forum for anyone who would like to have their say about anything pertaining to Congresbury.
You can find out all about it and how to join at:

http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/congresbury/

Congresbury Diary - May 2008
To receive the monthly Congresbury diary by email, send an email to
congresburydiary-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Please let us have entries for June 2008 by Saturday 24th May.
To submit entries, call Glenda Hagger on 01934 830 264 or email JL Hagger at
jl@hagger.net 

Monday

5

Tuesday

6

9.30 - 11.30am Just turn up to the Rascals’ Toddler Group each Tuesday morning term-time in the Old School Rooms.  £1.50 per family (first time free). Friendly group; toys & craft activities; birth to 3 years.

Wednesday

7

6.30-8am YACWAG Early Morning Birdwatch at Congresbury Station Led by Trevor Riddle. Sorry no dogs. Note that this will be held on 8^th May if wet on 7^th May.

Thursday

8

1pm Senior Citizens' Lunch Club in the Old School Rooms, contact Val Giles on 833632.  Cost of lunch £2.50.

Friday

9

Saturday

10

Congresbury Cricket Club 1XI home league game vs Shirehampton CC 1st XI

9am-1pm Book sale in the War Memorial Hall.  Jigsaws and videos also available.

Monday

12

Wednesday

14

7.45pm Women’s Institute Evening Meeting in The Methodist Hall.  Resolutions.  Lady Cotter will also talk about life as an MP’s wife.  For more information contact the secretary Mrs Wendy Manning on 838209.

Saturday

17

Sunday

18

Monday

19

Tuesday

20

Wednesday

21

Thursday

22

1pm Senior Citizens' Lunch Club in the Old School Rooms, contact Val Giles on 833632.  Cost of lunch £2.50.

Saturday

24

9am-1pm Book sale in the War Memorial Hall.  Jigsaws and videos also available.

Wednesday

28

Advance Dates for June

Monday

2

Tuesday

3

Wednesday

4

Thursday

5

Monday

9

Tuesday

10