NAILSEA
PEOPLE
THE online community newspaper for Nailsea people, their family and their friends
December 2025
Our town is a very, very nice town
Property people
North Somerset Council’s revised draft Regulation 19 Local Plan is out for consultation. The plan highlights Backwell along with Nailsea as a strategic area for growth with almost 4,000 more homes. Read more on our property page HERE
Gallery 2025
Rudolph arrives in Somerset Square and all agree big improvement on 2024. One more farmers' market in Nailsea High Street, then the fabulous Eat:Festival and all the Christmas events this month we hope to share many photos. Lots and lots of slideshows in our galleries HERE
PETITION ONE
CALL FOR DOUBLE YELLOW LINES
update 285 signed
Nailsea resident Ian Ridge began this petition to enforce double yellow lines on Mizzymead Road. He said: "For those of us living along this road it has become a dangerous and congested nightmare, especially during school hours. I've witnessed firsthand the hazards caused by the lack of proper parking regulations. Cars line both sides of Mizzymead Road, creating a chaotic and perilous situation that endangers children exiting the school and causes significant traffic issues." Go to https://www.change.org/p/enforce-double-yellow-lines-on-mizzymead-road-in-nailsea
PETITION TWO
FREE PARKING FOR AN HOUR
update 263 signed
Nailsea resident Sienna Braithwaite is also concerned about parking along Mizzymead Road but feels if Crown Glass Shopping Centre introduced one hour free parking this would help solve the problem. She said: "I live near Mizzymead and my road is getting dangerous to drive down and to cross the road due to people trying to avoid parking charges. Some people are only going to collect a prescription, for example and I don’t think you should pay for that." To sign her petition go to https://www.change.org/p/allow-first-30-minutes-of-crown-glass-car-parking-to-be-free?source_location=search
Nailsea Town Council is meeting at 7.30pm on Wednesday, December 3, at the Tithe Barn and its agenda of business is so long we imagine they will still be there at Christmas!
As landlord Nailsea Town Council has given permission for Nailsea United FC to create a new hardstanding as an entertainment area; new pathways around the pitch; and the installation of a two (one 40ft and one 20ft) shipping containers for storage and disabled toilets.
The town council licence for an extension and expansion for the garden of rest at Stockway North needs new planning permission before work can start likely to take 18 months before interments can start.
Planning consultants at a total cost of nearly £40k are to be engaged to fight the massive growth for Nailsea and Backwell proposed in the local plan coupled with a media campaign to ensure residents are aware of all being planned – basically lots and lots more houses with question mark about new roads!
A healthy food fair is proposed for early 2026 and it was agreed the decaying tree sculptures on Lion’s Green will be allowed to rot away as a bug habitat, with a sign explaining the fungus is not a health risk.
A volunteer for the Nailsea Community Group spoke in favour of the group’s grant application to support the community foodbank and larder.
Councillors learned every day 80-100 people come through the door of Nailsea Community Group shop in Somerset Square which is open six days per week.
The rent for the unheated premises with one electricity point is more than £4,000 per year and were asking for £10k but looks as it only £5k is being recommended.
The group deliver 50-60 food boxes each month, pack 30-40 food club bags weekly and distributed 150 Holiday Hunger bags every school holiday with 4.5 tonnes of food distributed every month.
A budget of £25k for market research into communication methods people used to engage with the council is proposed.
Among the 130-page agenda papers are all the financial and grant updates with the bank balance still showing more than £4m surplus.
There is a section about North Somerset Council devolving land it owns/manages in Nailsea to the town council and includes Scotch Horn (Millennium Park presumably), Fryth Way, playgrounds and more BUT not the grass verges next to highways.
And there is a solution for all the odd pieces of land being snapped up at auction by speculators to resolve the wave of scurrilous planning applications.
To read/download in full which has a report on whether to purchase £3k tablets and scrap expensive printouts of council papers go HERE.
Nailsea Town Council matters
Christmas time in Nailsea
Ho, ho, ho - here we go...
Join Nailsea town councillors and staff for an evening of festive cheer in the High Street and on the village green (its that small triangle outside Coffee1) on Friday, December 5.
Festive fun starts from 5.15pm, the wonderful Barn Owls – Nailsea’s own dementia choir – with traditional Christmas carols.
At 6pm, the Christmas tree light up ceremony takes place, followed by the dazzling Christmas Vee Dubs parade along the High Street from 6.10pm.
And Santa needs your help!
His nine reindeers have gone missing, and they’re hiding around Nailsea High Street - can you find them all?
Collect your clues at the Christmas tree light up ceremony or from No. 65 High Street from 5.30pm.
The winners of the Christmas bauble competition will see all baubles hanging on the village green Christmas kindly sponsored by James Steel of Quality Collectables.
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Nailsea Community Christmas Float is coming to North Somerset roads this December setting out on weekdays 6-8pm from Tuesday to Friday, December 2-18 and weekends at Tesco and Waitrose supermarkets - the timetable is on our Christmas page.
eat:Nailsea the fabulous food and drink street festival returns on Saturday, December 6, 10am-4pm all along the High Street and at Crown Glass Shopping Centre.
The food and drink festival will showcase 100 producers – including farmers’ market favourites like ales, cheese and baked goods alongside street food, more exotic deli produce and high-quality makers.
eat:Festivals bring the very best West Country food & drink producers and artisans together.
The eat:Nailsea is dog friendly and the whole family are welcome and it will be fully accessible for buggies, scooters and pushchairs.
Always free entry – no pre-booking or reserving tickets.
Festival organiser Bev MIlner Simonds said: "We have loved getting to know Nailsea during the past six years and this year, thanks to the support of the town council."
Friday, December 5
Saturday, December 6
FREE PARKING
Free parking in Clevedon Road car park from Friday after 6pm, and Sunday. Permit holders only outside these hours. North Somerset district councillor Mike Bird who represents the Yeo ward said: "The sign is very confusing. Basically Monday to Saturday the car park is now free 6pm to 8am, but then it’s free all day Sunday. The rest of the time it’s Pelican Permits only!"
FAULTY PARKING
Upper Langford driver Roger Daniels said: "G24 has a defective machine in the Crown Glass car park that does not issue receipts or record payments properly. It seems the only solution is to photograph the payments page (and keep bank statements) so that you have evidence of payment when G24 sends you a Parking Charge Notice demanding £100 (£60 for early payment). This failure is causing drivers a lot of angst and wasted time."
Just days after tickets for a fundraising charity event on Saturday, March 21, went on sale the special candlelight music and dance evening at St Andrew’s church, Backwell sold out.
Here is the story behind A Night of Music and Hope.
When Jane Roberts visited her GP last year, to discuss symptoms she thought were related to perimenopause, she never imagined she’d leave with the news that she had an inoperable and incurable brain tumour.
Just months on from that diagnosis, Jane is preparing to mark its first anniversary, not with sadness, but with Candlelight to Dancefloor — an inspiring charity concert at her village church, raising funds for The Brain Tumour Charity.
The event will bring together talented young musicians from Backwell School Orchestra, performing in their village — a real celebration of local talent and community spirit.
An inspiring evening of live orchestral music, Candlelight to Dancefloor will transform St Andrew’s Church, in Backwell next March — a nostalgic night that begins with candlelight and builds to a little dance in your pew (glow sticks optional!).
Jane said: “I was dreading the anniversary and worried it would be a really sad day.
“The concert is packed with ’90s and ’00s dance classics, reimagined by an orchestra — it’s my favourite music, and it’s been great fun putting it all together.
“The fact that it can also raise money for such an important cause just makes it even more special.”
Guests will enjoy a moving candlelit orchestral performance — uplifting, atmospheric, and full of energy.
Alongside premium drinks and cocktails, there’ll be a raffle with brilliant prizes kindly donated by generous supporters — with all proceeds going to The Brain Tumour Charity.
HR business partner with a large engineering company Jane, aged 47, is married to Simon and the couple have a 10-year-old daughter.
She added: “The concert is the big one but also I have also signed up to do a half marathon in April (dressed as a giant brain for charity) and have a number of other ideas in the pipeline.
“2026 is going to be a full year of fundraising and raising awareness.
“I’ve already visited my MP Sadik Al-Hassan to discuss funding, research and what we can do to improve the prognosis (87 per cent die within five years).
“Because of the tumour’s location, a biopsy carries additional risks, so for now I’m being monitored with regular scans.
“The doctors call it Active Surveillance — I call it getting on with it.
“It could have been there for 20 years already, and hopefully it’ll stay that way for another 20 or more.”
For those who can’t make gig, Jane has put some non-attendance tickets on sale here https://fb.me/e/8A4mtmng6
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The George at Backwell quiz night on Friday, January 30, is also in aid of The Brain Tumour Charity
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STOP PRESS: Jane said: "’m asking about putting on a second night but awaiting the green light so be great to add that if we can but you might not be able to wait - might take a week to get an answer I guess."
Candlelight to Dancefloor:
A night of music and hope
In June 2025 we reported residents feared a small plot of land sold at auction for more than £80,000 at Tetbury Gardens had been fenced off prior to building.
Shortly after the sale workmen arrived and installed fencing to keep people out and closed the footpath.
The London Auction House sold the land which adjoins 46 Tetbury Gardens, Nailsea, for £83,000 back in May 2023.
It was described as 'parcel of land measuring approximately 760 sq m'.
Plans submitted to North Somerset Council by Tan Construction have already attracted 44 objections to building two 4-bed homes on the plot with off street parking.
One resident said: “While the land may seem small or insignificant to those unfamiliar with the area, it has been an important and well-loved part of the local community for generations.
“It has been widely used not just by the residents of Tetbury Gardens, but by many in the broader Nailsea area.
“Recently, however, the land has become less accessible due to the new owner/developer erecting a fence that completely obstructs the public right of way, rendering the footpath unusable.
“For decades, this land has provided a safe and open space for children to play, including my own children and grandchildren.
“It has been used for a variety of activities, including cycling, scootering, roller skating, and ball games.
“This area has been designated as a public space since the development of the homes around 50 years ago.
“It was intentionally designed by the original developers to serve as a safe, all-weather play area for local children, and also to provide easy access to the surrounding footpaths that lead to schools, parks, and local shops.
“Losing this space to development would be a significant loss for the community, especially given its long-standing role in the lives of local residents.
“I strongly urge you to reject this application and preserve this irreplaceable land for future generations.”
To add your comments go to
https://planning.n-somerset.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=makeComment&keyVal=T5JYCYLPL2G00
More speculative planning in Nailsea
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