Parish Announcements and Alerts

MINUTES OF A MEETING OF PUBLOW WITH PENSFORD PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON MONDAY 12th JANUARY 2026 IN THE MEMORIAL HALL, PENSFORD

Present: Mr P Baxter (Chairman), Ms C Dinsdale, Mrs T Jones, Dr L Malt, S Pattimore, Cllr Paul May (Ward Councillor) (Part), Mrs H Richardson (Clerk), and 4 Members of Public.

Public Participation: A resident complained about the traffic lights beyond Chelwood Roundabout as it appears no work has taken place for 5 weeks.

72.1. Apologies for absence: Mr S Filer, Mrs S Grimes Mr S Grimes, Mrs J Stephenson, Cllr Paul May (Ward Councillor) (Late).

72.2. Declarations of Interest: Ms S Pattimore (72.4i & 72.4v)

72.3. The Minutes of the Meeting held on Monday 8th December 2025 were agreed (with a small correction) as a true and fair record and the Chairman signed them.

72.4. Planning:

a) Applications to consult:
i) To ratify response to 25/04550/FUL. Rising Sun, Church Street, Pensford. Minor external alterations to include addition of new windows, doorway to replace existing window, porch, external metal staircase with railings and enlargement of external landing.
The Parish Council ratified their response to SUPPORT the application.
ii) To ratify response to 25/04534/FUL. Whitley Villa, Wells Road, Pensford: Creation of vehicular access with dropped kerb.
The Parish Council ratified their response to SUPPORT the application.
iii) To ratify response to 25/04596/TPO. 15 Station Approach, Pensford. Ash (15) – Fell. Ash (16) – Fell. Group of 6 Lawson Cypress (13) forming a hedge – Fell.
The Parish Council ratified their response to SUPPORT the application.
iv) 25/04619/FUL. Hill House, Pensford Hill, Pensford: Erection of front porch, removal of render to front elevation to expose original natural rubblestone walling (Retrospective)
The Parish Council resolved to SUPPORT the application as it will improve the appearance of the property.
v) 25/04670/AR. Rising Sun, Church Street, Pensford: Display of illuminated and non-illuminated signs to the exterior of the building and painted signwriting to the exterior walls.
The Parish Council resolved to OBJECT in its current form. Although supportive of the changes in principle the Parish Council would be minded to support the proposals, if the lighting could be made softer to reduce the impact on the neighbours.
vi) 25/04412/OUT. 84 Hillcrest, Pensford. Erection of 1no 3-bedroom dwelling with associated parking
The Parish Council resolved to SUPPORT the application as this is an infill plot, which follows the existing building line with minimal impact on nearby residents.

b) Decision Notification:
i) 25/04594/NMA: Kensington House , Pensford Hill, Pensford. Non material amendment to application 25/00605/FUL (Raising of roof in upstairs eaves room with hipped roof and lower ground floor side extension with roof terrace, glazed aluminium veranda and steps). REFUSED
ii) 25/04596/TPO: 15 Station Approach, Pensford. Ash (15) – Fell. Ash (16) – Fell. Group of 6 Lawson Cypress (13) forming a hedge – Fell.
CONSENT
iii) 25/04534/FUL: Whitley Villa, Wells Road, Pensford. Creation of vehicular access with dropped kerb. PERMITTED
iv) 25/04201/TCA: 143 High Street, Pensford. Sycamore T1 – crown lift to 5m. Oak T2 – crown lift to 5m. Horse Chestnut T3 – remove 1x lowest limb. Ash G1 – fell. Yew T4 – crown lift to 3-4m. Eucalyptus T5 – remove lowest limb overhanging garden. NO OBJECTION
v) 25/04070/LBA. Parsonage Farm , Parsonage Lane, Publow: External works for installation an electric vehicle (EV) charger in in the garage. The garage is the most north-western building at the back of the main house. CONSENT
vi) 25/02683/FUL: Cottles Farm House , Blackrock Lane, Publow: Erection of residential annexe and replacement of porch. PERMITTED
vii) 25/02684/LBA. Cottles Farm House , Blackrock Lane, Publow. Internal and external alterations for erection of residential annexe and replacement of porch. CONSENT

72.5. Matters for Discussion

a) The Parish Council resolved to co-opt Sonia Fluke onto the Parish Council.
b) The Parish Council discussed the application for the Ward Councillors fund. It was agreed that the Allotment representative will circulate quotes she had received to install guttering and water butts to collect water to help allotment holders to water their plots. The proposal would be finalised for the next meeting.
c) It was agreed that the Wall behind the War Memorial was in need of repair. PB hoped to repair it this month, once he had sourced one piece of Blue Lias stone.
d) It was reported that Cllr Dinsdale had presented the proposal for Village Car Park to the Village Hall committee and they had agreed to further investigations taking place. A Parish Council working group would meet on January 29th at 7pm to discuss what should be done next.
e) The Parish Council discussed a request from a resident, to install a Skate Park. It was agreed that the Parish Council did not own any suitable land to enable this project but would direct the resident to the Village Hall Committee.
f) The Parish Council approved expenditure of £48.98+VAT for Bin Bags
g) The Parish Council approved expenditure of £200+VAT for the renewal of Titan WordPress hosting the Website.

72.6. Financial Matters

a) It was agreed that the final budget would be approved next month when hopefully more Councillors would be present.
b) It was agreed that the Precept Request would be approved next month when hopefully more Councillors would be present.
c) Financial Report was accepted
d) January payments were approved.

Purpose for Expense – Amount – VAT – Recover

Mrs Helen Richardson (68.5i) – Salary £918.18 £- N/A
HMRC (Month 10) £359.17 £- N/A
Nisbets Bin Bags (reimburse Steve Fluke) £49.17 £- N/A
Easy Space, Titan Internet Domain Renewal £240 £40 Y
Steve Fluke – Emptying Dog Bins £116.67 £- N/A
Frank Scholfield – Footpath Officer £85.00 £- N/A
KC Printing – Housing Needs Survey £146.40 £24.40 Y

 Paul May (Ward Councillor) joined the meeting

72.7. The B&NES Ward Councillor apologised for being late as he had been chairing a Lib Dems Budget meeting. He reported that following a government fair funding review, B&NES had lost £12million of Government funding over the next three years, so the budget was very tight, but most services will be continuing.
They were expecting more details of any development planned for Whitchurch in May, but he was keeping a close eye on them.
He updated the parish Council that he had requested three highways schemes and the 20 mph limit on the A37 had been include in the 2026/2027 programme, a crossing for Belluton had been included in the 2026/2027 programme and speed humps for Old Road had been included in the 2027/2028 programme.

72.8. Reports

a) PCAA: No Update.
b) Village Hall – AGM Next month
c) Housing Needs Survey. Surveys had been printing – Stevie to arrange collection. Distribution will be arranged next meeting
d) Allotment – No update
e) Clerks Report – circulated.
f) Chairmans report – No report

72.9. Items to carry forward to the next meeting: Housing Needs Survey, agree zones for Councillors to deliver. Precept & budget, Ward Councillors Fund.

72.10. To note Future Meetings

DATE OF NEXT PARISH COUNCIL MEETING: Monday 9th February 2026 at 7pm in Pensford Village Hall
The meeting closed at 20.39pm

MINUTES OF A MEETING OF PUBLOW WITH PENSFORD PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON MONDAY 8th DECEMBER 2025 IN THE MEMORIAL HALL, PENSFORD

Present: Mrs S Grimes(Chairman), Mr S Grimes, Mrs J Gully, Mrs T Jones, Dr L Malt, S Pattimore, Mrs H Richardson (Clerk), and 5 Members of Public.

Public Participation: The applicant from the Rising Sun presented their planning application and said that they would work with the Parish Council if that changes worsened the parking issue..

71.1. Apologies for absence: Ms C Dinsdale, Mr S Filer, Mrs J Stephenson, Cllr Paul May (Ward Councillor). The Chair received a letter of resignation from William Tantam.

71.2. Declarations of Interest:

71.3. The Minutes of the Meeting held on Monday 10th November 2025 were agreed as a true and fair record and the Chairman signed them.

71.4. Planning:

a) Applications to consult:

i) To ratify response to 25/04070/LBA: Parsonage Farm, Parsonage Lane, Publow. Works for installation an electric vehicle (EV) charger in in the garage. The garage is the most north-western building at the back of the main house. The Parish Council have No objection

b) Decision Notification:

i) 25/03794/TCA: River Bank, Mill Lane, Woollard. Rowan tree – dead. To fell. NO OBJECTION

ii) 25/01877/ADCOU: Knights Folly Farm, Woollard Lane, Publow: Prior approval request for change of use from Agricultural Building to 2no 3 bed Dwellings (C3) and associated operational development. APPROVE

71.5. Matters for Discussion

a) The Parish Council discussed the process for emptying the bins following the resignation of one of the volunteers. It was agreed that Steve Fluke would be taken on as a contractor to empty all the bins for £116.67 per month and will be reimbursed for buying bin bags.

b) Stevie Pattimore was appointed as allotment representative replacing William Tantam following his resignation from the Council.

c) Expenditure of £220 + VAT was approved for the electrical installation of the new defibrillator cabinet at the Post office.

d) The Parish Council discussed the application for the Ward Councillors fund. It was agreed that the Allotment representative would be asked to put forward a proposal to improve the water supply for allotment holders,

e) It was agreed that the Wall behind the War Memorial was in need of repair. PB would attend to the repair and inform the home owners of the property behind the wall of what he intended to do.

f) The councillor leading the Village Hall Car Park project sent her apologies and so it was suggested that councillors hold a working group meeting to agree how to progress the project and report back at the February Meeting.

g) It was agreed that following a request for a meeting from the Somerset Wildlife Trust they should be invited to attend a Parish Council meeting to brief councillors on the impact of Wild Beavers on stretches of the River Chew in the parish.

71.6. Financial Matters

a) The Third Draft of the budget was reviewed. B&NES Council will be issuing the Tax Base figure this month which will provide us with an estimate of the cost per household for a band D property. Final Precept request to be agreed next month.

b) Financial Report was accepted

c) December payments were approved.

Purpose for Expense – Amount – VAT – Recover

Mrs Helen Richardson (68.5i) – Salary £918.38 £- N/A

HMRC (Month 9) £358.97 £- N/A

DPM Lucas – Grass Cutting £50.00 £- N/A

Water2Business (allotment water) £100.88 £- N/A

RL Sharples (British Legion) £70 £- N/A

Mark Goulding £30 £- N/A

B Head – Reimburse for Child Defib Pads £149.94 £24.99 Y

SLCC £104.40 £- N/A

Frank Scholfield £85.00 £- N/A

Currys Laptop £381.94 £63.65 Y

71.7. The B&NES Ward Councillor sent his apologies.

71.8. Reports

a) PCAA: It was agreed to submit a letter to MP Dan Norris’ office and to the Bristol Airport consultation opposing the proposed approach lighting.

b) Village Hall – No report

c) Housing Needs Survey. Closing Date end of March, bring to Feb meeting to distribute.

d) Proposed 20 mph: No update

e) Clerks Report – circulated.

f) Chairmans report – Invitation to Carol Service in Publow church

71.9. Items to carry forward to the next meeting: Housing Needs Survey, agree zones for Councillors to deliver.

71.10.To note Future Meetings

DATE OF NEXT PARISH COUNCIL MEETING: Monday 8th 12th January 2026 at 7pm in Pensford Village Hall

The meeting closed at 20.32

MINUTES OF A MEETING OF PUBLOW WITH PENSFORD PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON MONDAY 10TH NOVEMBER 2025 IN THE MEMORIAL HALL, PENSFORD

Present: Ms C Dinsdale(part), Mr S Filer, Mrs S Grimes(Chairman), Mr S Grimes, Mrs J Gully, Mrs T Jones, Dr L Malt, S Pattimore, Mrs H Richardson (Clerk), and 9 Members of Public.

Public Participation:

A resident said that the bins are still overflowing and the Parish Council should remove them all rather than pay someone to empty them.
The applicant for 25/03905/FUL asked the parish council to reconsider the delegated response and take into account the local need.

70.1. Apologies for absence: Mrs J Stephenson, Mr P Baxter, Mr W Tantam, Cllr Paul May (Ward Councillor)

70.2. Declarations of Interest: None

70.3. The Minutes of the Meeting held on Monday 13th October 2025 were agreed as a true and fair record and the Chairman signed them.

70.4. Planning:

a) Applications to consult:

i) To ratify delegated response for 25/03903/FUL: The Teasel Barn, Stanton Road, Pensford. Conversion of the existing detached domestic storage/garage building to a single dwellinghouse (C3 use class) together with erection of two dormer windows in the north-west roof plane and provision of parking and external amenity areas. The Parish Council agreed to withdraw their objection and support the application because the harm of development outside the housing development boundary is outweighed by the benefit of providing a modest home for a local family and because it is a conversion of an existing building not a newbuild.

ii) 25/04201/TCA: 143 High Street, Pensford: Sycamore T1 – crown lift to 5m.

Oak T2 – crown lift to 5m. Horse Chestnut T3 – remove 1x lowest limb. Ash G1 – fell. Yew T4 – crown lift to 3-4m. Eucalyptus T5 – remove lowest limb overhanging garden. The Parish Council agreed to SUPPORT the application.

b) Decision Notification:

i) 25/03623/TCA. 1 Old School House , High Street, Pensford. Silver birch – diseased & in danger of falling branches, to take down the tree & leave a small stump NO OBJECTION

70.5. Matters for Discussion

a) The Parish Council discussed the process for emptying the bins following the resignation of one of the volunteers. The remaining volunteer had been invited to attend the meeting but sent his apologies as he was ill. The Parish Council agreed that if the volunteer was agreeable to taking on the emptying of all the bins that they would be offered remuneration to empty all bins.

b) It was agreed that Beth Head would be appointed as guardian for the Woollard Defibrillator

c) Expenditure of £179.94 was approved for replacement pads for the defibrillator

d) Expenditure of £150 was approved to purchase paediatric pads for the defibrillator.

e) It was reported that Remembrance Sunday was well attended, ETM Contractors were very good and would be recommended again for next year. The Vehicle blocking the road was effective and there should be one at the other end of the road closure for the same purpose. We will need more lamppost poppies next year and should order them earlier and consider purchasing some lorry poppies as they last longer. Some people asked about crochet poppies. The guide leaders stood in as first aiders as the first aider was unable to attend.

•  Claire Dinsdale left the meeting

f) The Parish Council discussed the application for the Ward Councillors fund. It was agreed that the Allotment representative would be asked to put forward a proposal to improve the water supply for allotment holders

70.6. Financial Matters

a) The Second Draft of the budget which had been updated with projects discussed last month, including a Speed indicator device, a basic projector for meetings, repairs to the War memorial and an increase to the Village Caretakers budget. This month it was agreed that we would increase the spend on emptying bins and to purchase more poppies for the village. To be reviewed next month.

b) Financial Report was accepted

c) November payments were approved.

Purpose for Expense – Amount – VAT – Recover

ETM Contractors – Traffic management £300.00 £50 Y
Mrs Helen Richardson (68.5i) – Salary £968.58 £- N/A
HMRC (Month 8) £359.17 £- N/A
DPM Lucas – Grass Cutting £50.00 £- N/A
Mr RL Sharples (British Legion) £120.00 £- N/A
LG Cooper – Reimburse for plants £49.97 £8.34 Y
B Head – Reimburse for Defib Pads £179.94 £29.99 Y
Frank Scholfield £85.00 £- N/A

70.7. The B&NES Ward Councillor sent his apologies.

70.8. Reports

a) PCAA: Slides on Sustainable Aircraft Fuel have been circulated. There is a current consultation on Bristol Airport Lighting which will impact Felton common

b) Village Hall – meeting on Tuesday11th November

c) Housing Needs Survey. Distribution is not possible through Parish magazine so councillors will distribute the survey. Deliver February, closing date end of March.

d) Proposed 20mph: Paul May sent reminder to Cabinet member and Paul Garrod to follow up

e) Clerks Report – circulated.

f) Chairmans report- Attended Parish Liaison

70.9. Items to carry forward to the next meeting: Housing Needs Survey, agree zones for Councillors to deliver. Installation of cabinet for Defib, bins

70.10. To note Future Meetings

DATE OF NEXT PARISH COUNCIL MEETING: Monday 8th December 2025 at 7pm in Pensford Village Hall

The meeting closed at 20.25pm

SCAN TO VIEW ON-LINE