THE online community newspaper for Nailsea people, their family and their friends

January 2025

Our town is a very, very nice town

Property people

Will developers go all out for new homes in Nailsea as the local plan and government rules change how planning permission is granted? More changes afoot in the town centre and our countryside at risk. read more HERE

What's On 2025

This page is filling up with advanced dates for 2025 with Frythival, carnival and perhaps the skate festival back? Pub quizzes, bingo sessions, local walks and library opening hours are all here along with Nailsea Farmers' Market not back until February. Read more HERE

Gallery 2025 soon

A new gallery page for 2025 is to begin. Lots of slideshows in previous galleries. Add your local images of people and places to nailseapeople@gmail.com. Go HERE to view tractor traffic and VDubs illumintated charity runs.

A block of 38 flats can be built in the middle of Nailsea without any affordable housing.

Developments Bristol Ltd was previously granted planning permission to build the seven-storey block of flats on the long derelict Weston College building in the middle of Nailsea on the condition that eight of the flats be affordable housing.

But the housing association who had planned to deliver the affordable homes has pulled out saying it 'wasn't a suitable site' and the developers now say it will not be viable to include any affordable housing in the development.

After carrying out their own viability assessment, North Somerset Council planning officers agreed.

The council's planning committee voted to allow the development to go ahead without any affordable housing on December 18.

Nailsea Yeo ward councillor Mike Bird . who called the plans in to the committee, said: “This site has been disused and derelict for over 25 years and is of high importance to the town and residents.

"My intention is simply to put the application fully in the public light.”

“Is removal of affordable housing in the site valid given what seems now to be unviable?

"This is weighed against the very long need to redevelop this prime town centre site which has been an eyesore for many years.

Weston-super-Mare Central ward councillor Robert Payne said: “I think it is regrettable that we won’t be getting any affordable housing which we desperately need, but on balance I think it is something that we should accept.”

The old Weston College building and former health centre has stood derelict at the Crown Glass Shopping Centre for 10 years.

It stands next to the town's iconic octagonal former library, which was snapped up quickly after the library moved out and is now the Livro Lounge restaurant.

As well as the flats, the development will also see three new shopfronts opened up on Somerset Square, ready for businesses to move in.

Speaking for the developers, Developments Bristol Ltd, Adam Phelps said: “North Somerset is often faced with development pressure to build out into the countryside due to current housing pressure.

"This scheme will deliver 38 much needed new dwellings on a relatively large previously developed site in the centre of Nailsea, which has been vacant for ten years.”

The planning committee voted unanimously to allow the development to go ahead without the affordable housing.

Local developer Paul O'Brien hopes to start work soon and hasn't given up hope of building affordable homes..

He said: “No date yet but hoping to partner/ build out for affordable housing provider that’s the dream.”

Towering times

TOWN CENTRE PLANS

Kado Properties Limited has submitted two planning applications to North Somerset Council.

The first is to merge two retail units and install a new shopfront at 7B Crown Glass Place, Nailsea.

This is part of the old launderette which halved in size and took out all the big washing machines and tumble driers back in 2009 before closing completely a short time after.

It has been up for rent at £1,042 per calendar month since this time and is next door to The Finishing Touch hairdressers.

MORE INSIDE...

Nailsea School is top sixth form in Bristol and North Somerset. Read more on School Peeps page HERE
Backwell School is advertising for a new headteacher Read more on the Jobs page HERE;
Cadbury House is offering January diners 50 per cent discount at MPW restaurant (conditions apply). Read more on the Food & Drink page HERE;
Roadworks are On The Road page HERE;
Parking on the Pavement naughty page is HERE; and finally
Christmas photos (anyone partying, putting up/down a tree or wearing festive pyjamas) along with opening and closing for end of year is on our Christmas page as well as Nailsea peeps who have done good deeds for 2024 (Rotarians, Nailsea United, Nailsea Community Group and more) are HERE

The new year will certainly be hotting up for Nailsea superstar Mollie Pearce when she gets her skates on to appear on the new series of Dancing on Ice 2025.

As well as our own star of The Traitors the celebrity line-up includes Olympic icon Steve Redgrave and someone with Clevedon connections, Michaela Strachan.

It's been confirmed that Dancing on Ice will return on Sunday evening, January 12, 2025.

The first show of the season will air at 6.30pm on ITV and ITVX.

Many celebs suffered injuries in the first few weeks of rehearsals including Mollie.

With an wrist injured her early days with professional partner Colin Grafton were restricted to the ballet studio before thankfully being declared fully fit to perform on the rink.

The Sun newspaper reported that although the former Nailsea School student, model, influencer and advocate for Crohns & Colitis UK may have stumbled at the last hurdle on The Traitors, she's ready for a triumphant return Dancing on Ice.

Mollie dramatically exited the popular BBC mystery show, falling just short of the £95k prize.

Since Traitors she’s been keeping busy, popping up on Lorraine and Loose Women on ITV, and even presenting a segment for BBC One’s Morning Live to raise awareness about living with a stoma.

She led Nailsea carnival in the summer, appeared in a comedy skit for Children in Need and unceremoniously was voted off The Weakest Link by arch rival Harry Clark.

The television personality celebrates her 23rd birthday this month on Tuesday, January 28.

Mollie was diagnosed with an ulcerative colitis aged just 11-years-old requiring major surgery and the fitting of a Stoma bag.

Mollie’s passionate about championing awareness and support for people with limb differences.

Holly Willoughby and Stephen Mulhern will be back to present Dancing on Ice 2025 for the second year.

Mulhern took over the show following Phillip Schofield's exit from ITV, ending his long-time partnership with Willoughby, with whom he presented This Morning as well as Dancing on Ice.

The judging panel for Dancing on Ice 2025 will see Oti Mabuse, Ashley Banjo, Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean return to their seats.

While contestant pay varies from £20,000 to £100,000 the winners of Dancing on Ice only get to take home the trophy, and the accolade of being the series winner, which by all accounts, is a pretty impressive prize to take home. ITV previously confirmed to Metro.co.uk there is no cash prize for winning Dancing on Ice.
Read all about how you can vote to keep Mollie in the competition here (more later)

https://www.itv.com/terms/articles/dancing-on-ice-2025-voting-terms-and-conditions

All our articles about Mollie have been put together on this VIP page HERE

Dancing on Ice

Dancing on Ice 2025 CONTESTANTS

Coronation Street star Sam Aston

EastEnders star Charlie Brooks

The Only Way Is Essex's Dan Edgar

Footballer Anton Ferdinand

Hollyoaks star Chelsee Healey

Stand-up comedian Josh Jones

TV personality and reality star Ferne McCann

The Traitors star Mollie Pearce

Olympic rower Steve Redgrave

Springwatch presenter Michaela Strachan

Love Island's Chris Taylor

Dancing on Ice PROFESSIONALS

Molly Lanaghan

Eric Redford

Vanessa James

Annette Dytrt

Andy Buchanan

Tippy Packard

Brendyn Hatfield

Colin Grafton

Vicky Ogden

Mark Hanretty

Vanessa Bauer

SUNNY SIDE UP: Gloden the new sunbeds, beauty and tanning studio in Colliers Walk, Nailsea, has finally opened after months of watching and waiting. The delay was caused by repeated technical issues with its imported German technology. But as one sunbed facility opens SP Hair in the High Street confirmed it is removing its sunbed