Category: News

Bath and North East Somerset Council has introduced a further temporary closure on Public Byway CL17/41 running between Bristol Road and Blackrock Lane in Publow with Pensford Parish due to the likelihood of danger to the public by a large fallen tree. The emergency closure will last for 21 days and is likely to be further extended due to it taking longer than originally anticipated to clear the tree. If you have any queries please contact the Public Rights of Way Inspector for the area, Eddie Procter, at eddie_procter@bathnes.gov.uk or on (01225) 394943.

An 18-tonne weight restriction is being proposed between the Globe Roundabout on the A4 Bristol Road past Rush Hill and Whiteway Road up to the Red Lion Roundabout on the A367 junction with Wellsway. 

According to an article in Bath Echo; Bath & North East Somerset Council says there would be “no defined alternative” route, but there are “options”. “For example, a driver passing through the Radstock area heading towards Bristol could choose to follow the A37, and vice-versa.”

https://www.bathecho.co.uk/news/politics/weight-restriction-proposed-steep-hill-114537/

This suggests that very heavy vehicles travelling to Bristol and the wider motorway network from Radstock and the A367 could move to the A37 through Temple Cloud, Clutton, Pensford and Whitchurch. 

The A37 already experiences problems with HGVs being unable to pass each other on the narrow sections of the A37 particularly the narrow section of the A37 on Pensford Hill where two large vehicles cannot get through if they meet on the narrow section of the road. The additional HGVs could also add to the problems in Temple Cloud, which historically had a significant issue with traffic fumes (specifically nitrogen dioxide leading to the declaration of an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) along the A37. The largest heavy goods vehicles travelling to Bristol, would move from the much wider A4 through Saltford onto the A37 through Pensford, where they would pass immediately in front of the village school. 

This proposed new weight restriction is completely separate from the existing 18 tonne limit on Cleveland Bridge, but combined they will seemingly result in the diversion of all the largest HGVs away from Bath and the surrounding area on to roads like the A37.

Anyone wishing to comment on the proposals has until 1st January. Representations with respect to the proposal, together with the grounds on which they are made must be sent by 1st Jan 2026 either in writing to the TRO Team at the address below, or by email to TROs@bathnes.gov.uk Please quote the title of the scheme; (25-042) (Pennyquick 18t, Bath) (18t Heavy Vehicle Weight Limit) Order 202* with the reference TRO 25-042.

 https://publicnoticeportal.uk/notice/traffic-and-roads/693a7aa5348f4dedfbf5de25

 

The Parish Council has received advance notice from Bath & North East Somerset Council of traffic lights and work to be expected on Pensford Hill. The work will commence on 12^th January 2026 and all going well will conclude by 6^th March 2026. 

A scaffold and portable traffic light licence on the A37 Pensford Hill area, approximately 160 metres south of the Station Approach junction has been granted to enable essential wall repair work. Due to the requirement of scaffolding to carry out the work, lights will be required 24/7.

Due to the sensitivity of the location, delays are anticipated. To help spread awareness, the licensee will deploy advanced warning signs two weeks before, and an electrical variable messaging sign one week before works start. The lights will also be manually operated each day between 07.00 and 19.00 to ensure queues remain balanced and queuing times help the network to function.

Prior to the start date, Bath & North East Somerset Council will also share messaging via digital platforms to raise awareness. 

Christmas Market at All Saints’ Church, Publow – Saturday 6^th December 2025

The Parish Council has been requested to confirm that the Christmas Market at All Saints’ Church in Publow will be going ahead as planned.  There is currently (Friday afternoon) a road closure on Publow Lane by Bristol Water.  If the road remains closed on Saturday, there will be diversion signs in place to take you up the A37 Pensford Hill, turn right just after Travellers Rest into Parsonage Lane, right at the end into Publow Lane and then right again to continue downhill along Publow Lane towards All Saints’ Church.

 The map below may be helpful:

A casual vacancy has arisen for a Councillor for Publow with Pensford Parish Council.

 

EMERGENCY CLOSURE BY NOTICE
SECTION 14(2) OF THE ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984
PUBLIC BYWAY CL17/41, BRISTOL ROAD, PUBLOW

Notice is given that Bath and North East Somerset Council in exercise of its powers under section 14 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 has temporarily introduced a closure with immediate effect on the section of Public Byway CL17/41 commencing from the junction with Bristol Road at grid reference ST 6179 6545 (Point A on the Notice Plan) and proceeding in a generally northeasterly direction for approximately 465 metres to the junction with Blackrock Lane at grid reference ST 6215 6572 (Point B on the Notice Plan).

This temporary closure is required because of the likelihood of danger to the public: namely the danger caused by a large fallen tree. The closure has come into force with immediate effect and will be effective for 21 days.

Applicant Details: Public Rights of Way Team
Bath & North East Somerset Council
Email: prow@bathnes.gov.uk Telephone: (01225) 394943
Public Rights of Way Team, Bath and North East Somerset Council
Lewis House, Manvers Street, Bath BA1 1JG
Dated: 6 November 2025

Shortly before 11 AM on Sunday 9th November, the roadway next to Pensford War Memorial in Church Street closed to all traffic and filled with parish residents who assembled to show their respect and gratitude to those who served and died for our country. 

The service of remembrance was led by the Rev. Canon Trevor Stubbs. At 11 am, the bugler, Mark Golding, sounded the Last Post and the Guides lowered their flags for two minutes silence. Charles Wookey read out the names of the fallen.

Wreaths were laid by Parish Council Chair Cllr Sue Grimes on behalf of all Publow with Pensford residents, by Andrew Hillman for Pensford, Publow and the Stanton’s Community Trust, and by Charles Wookey on behalf of the Armed Forces. A floral tribute and a tribute painted on a stone were also laid above and around the wreaths.

After the act of remembrance, many residents retired to the Old School Room for refreshments.

Our thanks go to PCSO Martyn Bragg for policing the Parade. 

At our Parish Council meeting on 13th October your parish councillors considered the latest Bath and North East Somerset Local Plan Options document. The proposed options for Pensford involve an obligation to accept a further 25 homes in our Parish to be met by infill only and it was resolved to respond to agree to this.

However; your councillors considered that the threat of expansion of Whitchurch Village by some 5000 homes would clearly have a detrimental effect on our own Parish. It was therefore resolved to respond to the consultation to say that the Parish Council objects to the large number of houses proposed for Whitchurch Village. Councillors were concerned about the knock-on impact of additional traffic that would be generated by such a large development in our neighbouring parish both on the A37 through Pensford and the rural lanes that run through our Parish.  

One of the four options set out for new housing sites in the Local Plan could mean more than 5,000 new homes being built around Whitchurch Village. There was a very large attendance at an open meeting held at the Legion in Whitchurch Village on Tuesday 21st October, to discuss the plans.  Members of the public expressed concerns that the plans would turn Whitchurch Village into a town and would destroy the greenbelt and the village community. A further concern is that the extra houses would lead to the revival of the South Bristol Wrong Road which was previously withdrawn after strong public opposition. 

Read a report on the meeting in Bristol Live here. 

The Options Document is a consultation, it is not set in stone.  It is just the first stage in agreeing the Local Plan. The consultation ends on November 14th.  Members of the public are encouraged to submit their own views to Bath & North East Somerset Council by 14th November. You can submit your views on the Bath & North East Somerset web portal here, or you can write and send a signed letter to BANES at Lewis House, Bath, BA1 1JG, stating your personal views. 

A useful template letter has been published on the Whitchurch Village Action Group. Your Parish Council is not responsible for this, but it does address the main concerns for Whitchurch Village. If you wish to use it, please add your own comments, with specific reference to Pensford. All residents have the right to comment on the Local Plan options, not just Whitchurch Village residents, so it is vital that our own parishioners make their voices heard.

Notice is given that Bath and North East Somerset Council in exercise of its powers under section 21 of the Town Police Clauses Act 1847 has made an order to the effect of which will be to close temporarily to vehicles Church Street, Pensford from its junction with the A37, for a distance of approximately 30 metres.

This order is required in order to prevent obstruction during the Remembrance Day Parade and will be operative on Sunday 9th November 2025. The closure will be for approximately 45 minutes and is scheduled to start at 10:45 hrs until 11:30 hrs.

TRO Ref: THTSC971

https://www.bathnes.gov.uk/traffic-order/remembrance-day-parade-pensford