NAILSEA
PEOPLE
BREAKING NEWS
What's new pussycats in Nailsea and nearby? This is mostly crime, court, human interest received too late for front page, weather and traffic updates - planning issues including new development(s), homes for sale all moved to Property Peeps pages. More immediate updates are on the Nailsea People Facebook page. Breaking news pages pre 2020 are in the archives...
2023
This page is sponsored by Nailsea Auto Electrical
call 01275 261005 or follow link to see advertisement in the On The Road page
in the Travel section of Nailsea People the online community newspaper HERE
For first class auto repairs, servicing and much more
EARTHQUAKE HELP: In an urgent and hastily arranged bucket collection in Nailsea on Saturday, Rotary Nailsea and Backwell raised nearly £1,200 in little more than six hours. The money will go to the charity Shelterbox. To donate go to https://shelterbox.org. Rotary wishes to thank all those generous local people who once again came up trumps to support local initiatives for the relief of disaster anywhere in the world.including the Turkish and Syrian earthquake victims
Break-in at Backwell pub
Thieves stole a large amount of meat after breaking into a North Somerset pub on a main road at Backwell.
The culprits broke an outbuilding at The George at Farleigh Road at around 6.20am on Friday, February 3, making off with a large haul of meat and cleaning products as well as other items.
Pub bosses are appealing for help in tracing those responsible and are asking anyone offered a large amount of meat to contact them.
A spokesman at The George said: "Sadly we were broken into and had a large quantity of meat, cleaning products and other items stolen.
“It’s been reported to the police and CCTV passed on, however if any local pubs/restaurants etc get offered a large quantity of the above, please do get in touch so we can try and track down who did this.”
A police spokesman said: "Enquiries are being carried out following a burglary in Backwell last week. Items, including a quantity of food, were reported stolen from a business' outbuilding, off Farleigh Road, on Friday, February 3."
Major roadworks on village B3130
Motorists face 10 weeks of disruption on a busy route between two key North Somerset towns as road repairs get underway.
Work is set to start on improving drainage along Clevedon Road in Tickenham on Monday, February 20, and will finish on Tuesday, May 2.
The drainage works will be taking place mainly between Tickenham Parish Hall to Moor Lane.
Traffic lights will be in place 24 hours a day, with work taking place between 8am and 5pm.
A temporary walkway will be installed to ensure that pedestrian access is maintained at all times. Once the drainage work is completed, an overnight road closure will come into force from May 3 until May 23 for resurfacing work to be carried out.
The overnight closure of Clevedon Road will be in place from 8pm-5am each night. The road is a busy main link between Clevedon and Nailsea.
A diversion will be in place - with many people expected to use the narrow moor roads as an alternative.
A North Somerset Council spokesman said: “Before the surfacing works are complete we will complete extensive civil and drainage works.
“The majority of the drainage and civil works will be completed from the parish hall to Moor Lane.
"The work will be completed under temporary two way traffic signals which will be in operation 24 hours a day with work taking place between 8am and 5pm.
"The carriageway surfacing work will start on Wednesday, May 3, for 15 days, finishing on Tuesday, May 23.
"In order to carry out the work safely we will close Clevedon Road in Tickenham from 8pm to 5am.”
Staff will be on site during the work to advise of access arrangements. But the authority is asking people to limit their movements in the evenings during the overnight road closure.
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And if this isn't enough work on a six-mile section of motorway around the Almondsbury interchange starts on Monday, February 27. The work, on the M4 between junction 19 for Bristol and where it meets the M5 at the Almondsbury interchange, and on the M5 to junction 17 at Cribbs Causeway is extensive, follow link top to read more. Narrow lanes will be in place from Tuesday, March 7. This work will be carried out overnight with road closures and diversions in place and should take about two weeks.
Outdoor fitness Millennium Park
Nailsea residents who enjoy open air exercise are invited to try out new fitness equipment at Millennium Park thanks to the town council.
We visited on Sunday morning but unfortunately it was raining hard so the apparatus wasn’t in use – the only activity was on the football field where the junior players flanked by a steadfast line of family and friends ignored the downpour and played on.
The free-to-use parallel bars, pull-down shoulder press, air walker, leg press and double pull up bars are for public use thanks to a suggestion by resident Sharon Colley and councillor Joanne Hopkinson who headed the working party.
The five pieces of equipment were ordered by Nailsea Town Council after a resident’s survey to find out what people wanted.
Town clerk, Jo Duffy, said: “The survey resulted in more than 68 per cent of respondents giving a big thumbs up for the equipment to be installed and the neighbourhood open space of Millennium Park seemed to be the ideal location.
“The land is owned by North Somerset Council so the town council had to obtain landlord’s permission before we could move forward, but once that was received contractors were given the go ahead and installation was completed during the first week of January this year.“I have seen residents using the equipment already and have talked to several users who were enjoying using it.”
Council chairman Mike Bird, said: “We now want as many people as possible to benefit from this 'free gym'.”
PARK FITNESS: Pictured top Nailsea Town Council chairman Mike Bird, councillor Jo Hopkinson, resident Sharon Colley and son Peter, vice chairman Emily Miller. Below is the junior footballers and their supporters plus a close-up of the outdoor park aparatus unused in the rain
The cost of the project was £21,393, which includes the safety surfacing and installation.
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Still under consideration for 2023 is a circular running track at an estimated cost of £23,500 and multi-use games area (MUGA) at £80,000
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Nailsea Town Council has called an extraordinary meeting for Wednesday, February 1, 7pm at Tithe Barn, Church Lane, to approve buying two electric buses to be leased to Nailsea & District Community Transport based at Southfield Road. The cost of each bus is £80,000 however the council will be able to recover the VAT. This is followed by a community engagement committee at 7.30pm which has included in its agenda a report from the Citizens Advice Bureau. It gave advice on 106 benefits and tax credits queries in Nailsea during 2022 and two homelessness cases. CAB currently has an annual grant from the town council of nearly £20,000 while the N&DCT group gets £13,000. You can find the 36-page agenda papers HERE.
Big bang bother
Nailsea and nearby experience a bit of bother at the weekend.
Someone taking a shortcut across Nailsea Park on Friday, January 27, decided to uproot the Trendlewood road sign and add some graffiti – happily public-spirited residents soon righted the damage.
Then later that night fireworks ‘which sounded like gunfire’ were let off frightening the elderly and animals from Backwell to Tickenham.
Some thought the noise came from Backwell recreation ground.
The big bands left pets ‘trembling’ and could even be heard in Chelvey Batch prompting many residents to sign the petition for ‘quiet’ displays HERE.
More seriously in the early hours of Saturday there was the attempt to steal a wall flue from a home at Cleeve Place.
Thieves thought to be using a black Range Rover sports getaway vehicle attempted a dislodge the twin metal wall flue and neighbours are asked to check any CCTV.
Wet and windy January 2023
North Somerset weather took a turn for the worse in January 2023 with the Met Office issuing yellow warnings for 'persistent heavy rain' nationwide.
The Met Office has said some disruption is expected including flooding of homes and businesses, spray on the roads, increased journey times on public transport, and possible power cuts.
In Nailsea we experienced waterlogged sports pitches and overspill at Backwell lake with residents wondering with hundreds of more houses planned would the situation get even worse in the coming years?
The pothole situation grew worse with the rain and road safety barriers fell down in the wind.
There are more photos of Backwell lake in the gallery HERE.
A big thank you to all who contributed to the photo slideshow.
According to North Somerset Recycling & Waste nets are available to buy at local libraries to stop rubbish blowing away.
SAD DAY: Thursday, January 5 and full updated report and photos from crash outside Co-op supermarkets on Wednesday evening, January 4 here https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-news/clear-up-underway-after-car-7996905 we understand the shop will reopen on Friday, January 6
New year crash man serious
POLICE INCIDENT STATEMENT (in full)
Dear All, I am sure this evening, Wednesday, January 4, many of you will have heard about the car incident at the Co-op in Hannah More Road.
Whilst this is an active police investigation so there is a limit to what I can at this time say, I like to make sure I update you all as soon as I can to firstly give you what information I can and secondly ensure I can open these communication channels in case you have any further questions.
The incident this evening has involved a car leaving the road, colliding with the wall outside the Co-op, travelling through the wall and into the entrance of the Co-op on its roof.
The driver is currently in hospital with serious injuries and our primary objective this evening is the safety and welfare of everyone involved and the location.
Officers and medics at scene had to manage the male, extracting him from the vehicle and stabilising him prior to going to hospital with serious injuries.
Officers closed the road and an investigation immediately commenced.
Property has been damaged and other individuals in the shop and immediate area received minor injuries.
My team were on earlies today so were not on scene however I have discussed with the sergeant on duty at Weston as soon as I heard of this incident.
Specialist traffic units were deployed in addition to patrol units and they remain dedicated to investigating this as I write.
I am acutely aware of the passionate advocates for road safety in Nailsea and recognise, like every town and area across the country, we have an issue with cars travelling in excess of the speed limit.
On talking to the on duty supervisors this evening the matters in this case is not a case of simple speeding causing this accident, so I would advise against pushing out part-information in social media channels.
As I am able to disclose any further details, I will.
I am sure such incidents, as many things of this nature in Nailsea, will cause a passionate debate on our town’s various social media channels.
Healthy debate is often a positive thing, however my plea is to be mindful of the fact we have someone seriously injured with family and friends obviously in a state of concern.
Where possible please do all you can to support your fellow community members and be cautious in the conclusions drawn and shared about the situation and individuals involved without having all the facts.
Even those residents and employees at scene who may have their views will not have all the information available to them.
If you need facts and I have them, I will give them to you.Having read the latest comments just before sending this I see a comment around this being a fatality.
At the time of writing (an hour after that comment) this is not the case and
causes me concern these sorts of comments may reach family when they are not correct, such that I felt the need to correct this.
The individuals injuries are stable at this time though still life threatening, which means such comments on social media really could have a significant impact on those who will be concerned.
We are here to support you as a local community team. I am not in tomorrow however my team is from the afternoon.
Please feel free to contact either A/PS Paul Lewis on 3467@avonandsomerset.police.uk or PCSO Chea Scandrett on 7280@avonandsomerset.police.uk should you need us to talk to any groups or people tomorrow (Thursday).
I will be asking my team to be present in the area tomorrow afternoon onwards to handle any concerns.
I am back in on Friday (technically from 2pm however I am in from around 9.30am) where I can manage anything beyond tomorrow.
The team will be out in the community on lates and will be available to discuss.
We are absolutely committed to supporting you and helping wherever we can.
I’ll provide further updates whenever I can. I am aware that some will wish to discuss road safety in Nailsea and I am always willing to hold those discussions, but they will be for another day in the very near future. For now we wish all affected by this incident our best wishes and thoughts.
Regards
Lee Kerslake (2781)
Neighbourhood Sergeant
POTHOLE PEEPS: Nailsea resident Emma Longstaff reported to North Somerset Council the massive pothole on Southfield Road, near to the bungalows at the end of the road. She said: “Be careful driving along this road.” Richard Billows said: “I have reported the two along Silver Street. If someone on a push or motor bike hits them there could be a fatality. I believe three people have blown their tyres on these two monsters, the one opposite Whitesfield Road I reported two years ago and it was obviously repaired badly.” North Somerset Council say on its website ‘For us to repair a pothole must be more than 4cm deep and 30cm across in the road, or deeper than 2cm and more than 15cm across on a pavement. A dangerous pothole is one in the road that exceeds these dimensions and is in a location likely to cause a vehicle to lose control’. More information here https://www.n-somerset.gov.uk/my-services/parking-travel-roads/roads-streets/road-repairs/road-pavement-repairs. The huge hole picture by Rachel is part of our Winter Walks slideshow on the Gallery 2023 page HERE. We believe it is on the public right of way farmland track at The Drove?
Improving our green access spaces costs
Improvements have been carried out to a shared bridleway in Nailsea to make is a safer for its users.
Work has been carried out to the Golden Valley Bridleway, which leads from Nailsea Park to Trendlewood Way.
The work, funded and organised by Nailsea Town Council, cost £1,485.60 and includes the filling in of pot holes and other surface repairs.
Five new posts have also been installed and new ‘shared bridleway’ signage has been put in place. It is hoped the new signage reminding users that the pathway is used by pedestrians, horse riders, runners and dog walkers, will help to make it a more pleasant space for all.
The path leads to Golden Valley Vets and it used by parents and children on route to Golden Valley Primary School.
Nailsea Town Council has also allotted £1,500 for the regeneration of Spilsbury Wood which had overgrowth problems.
The council owns an acre of the Tickenham Ridge land.
The woodland is home to lots of local wildlife, and although no established setts there is evidence of visiting badgers.
Sadly, the effects of ash dieback has claimed many of the trees within the wood.
However, this has provided us with an opportunity to replant the area with mixed native species to complement the existing young hazel, yew, beech, sycamore, and spindle that are doing well there.
Any trees that are felled will be left as deadwood habitats.
WHAT A LOAD OF RUBBISH
All we can say is thank goodness North Somerset Council did a U-turn and decided against closing Backwell Recycling Centre
This therefore leaves no excuse for this pile of rubbish dumped in Youngwood Lane.
Simon Tibbo took the photo.
He said: “The rubbish has labels from Curry Station at Kingswood.”
This appears currently not to be trading.
Simon added: “The rubbish is deposited just north of the little horse dressage/jumping arena, in a small passing bay.”
ANOTHER ROAD CLOSURE
Ash Hayes Road closed just after Mayfair Avenue, Nailsea for three days. We try to include roadworks and closures on our Nailsea On The Road page especially those which will affect commuters. However, for more information go on the council site here
Three men have been jailed after police officers discovered a 'large and sophisticated' cannabis factory in a rundown unit on an industrial site in Nailsea.
Gerald Dosku, aged 26 of Kettlethorpe Road, Wakefield; Keli Bicaku, 35, and Bledar Bardhi, 32, both of no fixed address, appeared at Bristol Crown Court on Tuesday, March 7.
The trio faced a charge of being concerned in the production of cannabis, for which they pleaded guilty.
They were sentenced to one and a half years each.
The court heard how, on Friday 2 December, police officers discovered a cannabis factory within a warehouse at the Coates Industrial Estate, in Southfield Road.
The cannabis found had an estimated street value of almost £200,000.
Police acted after a call from members of the public, with the force's specialist drone unit being the first on the scene.
The offenders fled onto the roof of the building in an attempt to evade capture, however the building was quickly surrounded.
They subsequently came down and were arrested. They were then charged the following day.
Officer in the case, Michael Clarke, said: "This was a large and sophisticated set up.
"Drugs, and the crimes affiliated with them, have the ability to cause a great deal of harm and even ruin lives.
"It is great to have been able to disrupt their criminal operation, thanks to the sharp eyes of the community.
"We would like to thank our colleagues in the drone unit, as well as support from the neighbourhood policing team, for their support during the operation.
"We hope this sentence will serve as a warning to anyone involved in drug production and drug dealing."
Trio jailed for setting up Nailsea cannabis factory
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At the time of the incident it was reported that the men were from Albania and the property which had been set up with cooking equipment and contained sleeping bags is owned by a Nailsea landowner who rented it to the trio on a monthly basis.
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People living or working in the area had complained for some time about the 'smell' which had been attributed to blackcurrent berries growing in the area. The strong odors produced by growing cannabis are often described as pungent, skunky, floral, fruity, or even 'sewer-like'. Created by the plant's essential oils (terpenes), odors are strongest when the flower is budding. Some odors from cannabis farms have been detected more than a mile from their source!
GOOD NEWS WEEK: Rotary Nailsea and Backwell hosted a quiz on On Saturday, March 4, at Backwell WI Hall. It attracted 105 players and raised a staggering £1,100 for the Nailsea Food Bank (The Trussell Trust). The quiz was organised by Rotarian Roger Smith and the quizmasters were Sue and Ray Griffiths. Rotary’s thanks go to them and all the local ‘quizzers’ who filled the hall to capacity - see photo below. To learn more about how Nailsea Foodbank go to its Facebook page here https://www.facebook.com/nailseafoodbank/
The dog warden has been contacted after a lurcher was attacked by another pet while walking on open space at The Grove.
Dog owner Samantha Leonard posted this in our community section of our Nailsea People Facebook page.
She said: "Dangerous dog!
"My lurcher has just been attacked by an out of control black and white French bulldog type dog in the Uplands park area.
"An Asian couple were with it but no collar or lead and no control.
"I lifted my dog up but they took ages to catch their dog who was busy biting at my dog.
"Does anyone know who they are please?
"My dog now needs stitches in her front leg and also a bite on back leg."
After a trip to the vets Samantha added: "Her wound has been stapled because it was the cheaper option at £165 versus operating to stitch up at £450
"That was an expensive dog walk!"
She traced the culprit to a home at Netherton Grange and took this photo but as yet has been unable to talk to the owners of the French bulldog.
Graphic photos supplied
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And news of another injured animal had lots of Nailsea people looking for two-year-old Storm who ran off after being hit by a car in the Queen’s Road area of Nailsea. The dog, pictured in the collage, was found some hours later on Tuesday, March 14. She had a nasty gash on her side and spent the night at Watkins & Tasker vets. The vehicle it is reported there was ‘quite substantial damage.
CAR OWNERS BEWARE
A van driver using stolen number plates has been filling up with fuel at North Somerset petrol stations then driving off without paying. Several vehicles parked in Lodge Lane, Nailsea, have had their registration plates taken which are then fitted to the culprit’s van and used for the thefts. Nailsea people are warned to be on the alert.
SPENDING POWER
Former Nailsea town councillor John Phillips who now lives in Weston-super-Mare said: "Having just undertaken a quick population assessment of the four North Somerset towns, as a percentage of North Somerset population it is not surprising that Nailsea ends up at the bottom of the pile. On a per capita spend Weston would receive 38%, Portishead 12%, Clevedon 9.7% and Nailsea just 7%."
NEW HEADTEACHER
Golden Valley Primary School is looking for a new headteacher. Current head Kevin Lynch has decided to leave this summer. Applicants have until 9am on Monday, March 27, to apply for the role which pays up to £80k per annum.
Injured animals
STUDENT WORK PLACEMENTS
Nailsea School students in Year 10 are looking for work experience in June. Placements of between one and five days are sought by the young people aged 14-15. Businesses can email gbennett@nailseaschool.com for more information.
VOLUNTEERING
Step Forward Voluntary Action North Somerset is running two more information sessions in Nailsea. From 10am-noon on Mondays, April 3 and June 5, people can call in to 65 High Street to learn more or book an appointment by emailing debbie.evans@vansmail.org.uk.
Sadly, there will be no coming-of-age Nailsea Skatefest for 2023 as not enough volunteers could be recruited in the planning stage.
That led the organisers of the annual competition at the Millennium Park for scooters, skateboards, BMX and rollerblades competitors hitting a brick wall trying to put the 21st event together for this summer.
In the past it has been the weather and then the pandemic that thwarted plans for an afternoon of thrills and spills on the swish concrete course which is usually surrounded by community stalls and some cool chill-out zones.
Timetabled for June and targeted mostly at young people it also offers lots to see and do for spectators.
While the tots to teenagers performed a refreshment tent, barbecue and crepe stall on the field gave sustenance to the hungry onlookers.
For 2022 Nailsea Active guru Glenn Schmidt sporting as usual a great jacket acted as roving reporter interviewing the crowd, stallholders and competitors.
Nailsea Skatefest director Phil Williams said: “After much consideration and discussion with everyone involved, it has been decided we will not be holding the event in 2023.
“The event which last year celebrated its 20th anniversary was originally set up by Holy Trinity and Trendlewood churches, Christian Surfers UK and community groups including Nailsea Town Council and Nailsea Community Trust.
“During the past few years, it has been more difficult to get a team who would be involved in planning months ahead in order to make it a real success.
“As always there was a fantastic team from the church and community who show up on the day, set up the site, help run the event, and then clear up.
“However, what it needs at this stage is a team that are prepared to put time and effort in months in advance to further develop the day, which has been hugely appreciated by not only the skate park users but also families and the wider community.
“On a personal level making this decision was tough, as it has been part of my life for the past 20 years, but with some of the key personnel and youth workers moving on, the amount of time it takes to organise the event has increased considerably.
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“We are very much hoping that during the course of this next year we can find a team that are prepared to commit to develop this fantastic event in 2024 and beyond.”
The new skate park was completed five years ago and more recently has added floodlights thanks to the support of town councillors and the police.
If you can help in any way for 2024 email Phil at phil@christiansurfers.co.uk.
But no worries be happy as we still have the coronation, fun fair, Frythival, carnival, beer & cider fest, bike fest and more – details here on our What’s On page.
As well as the aforementioned the skatefest has had onboard since its conception sponsorship and support from Christians Together in Nailsea, Crucial BMX, Shiner Skateboards, North Somerset Council for the use of the park and the cooperation of Scotch Horn Centre.
And new last year it added to its sponsors Hewes Recruitment, The Old Farmhouse, Barratt Homes, Bakers the butchers, Wraxall and Tickenham churches, Tesco Nailsea, Skate Or Die skate shop, Nailsea Baptist Church and graphic artist Jules Richardson for help on the design of the poster and the programme.
No skatefest for 2023
MAIN ATTRACTION: The summer skatefest at Millennium Park
UPDATE 2 midday on Wednesday, April 19: Nailsea People received this: 'This email is on behalf of Posh Spice. Just thought I'd let you know that we will be appealing the decision within 21 days and we will be open for business as usual including selling alcohol until the matter is resolved in court, Jasmine Miah.'
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An attempt by immigration enforcement to strip an Indian restaurant of its licence almost fell apart after they did not send anyone to the hearing.
Immigration enforcement called a review of Posh Spice in Nailsea’s licence to sell alcohol and late night food, after an immigration raid in February found three individuals who had been found working there illegally in June 2022 still working at the restaurant.
But the hearing before North Somerset Council ’s licensing sub-committee on Monday, April 17, quickly descended into chaos when nobody from immigration enforcement was sent to attend.
The restaurant’s licence was eventually revoked — but only after the meeting was suspended for over an hour while council staff tried to get in touch with immigration.
Jasmine Miah, daughter of premises licence holder Golap Miah, said that the long wait in the corridor left her father, who has high blood pressure, recently had a minor stroke, and was fasting for Ramadan, feeling 'anxious'.
Speaking while waiting for the meeting to resume, she said: “I don’t want any pressure on him, whatever the outcome.”
At the start of the meeting, a statement from immigration enforcement had been read out, but when Ms Miah challenged their claims and presented what she said was evidence of the individuals’ right to work, she was told those were issues to raise with immigration enforcement, not the licensing subcommittee.
Ms Miah said: “We were expecting the immigration officers to attend.”
Chair of the licensing sub-committee Andy Coles said: “But surely the home office immigration will know all this information you have passed on and they don’t accept it?”
But turning to Mr Coles, sub-committee member Mike Solomon told him: “There’s a lot we don’t know because we don’t have immigration here. That’s what worries me.”
After the chaotic start, and the more than hour-long suspension, the meeting continued with Jonathan Watson of immigration enforcement joining by video link.Mr Watson had not attended the raid of the restaurant, but said he had access to all the information.
Mr Watson confirmed that none of the three individuals had the right to
work at the restaurant at the time of the February 2023 raid — although one had been granted it three weeks later.
The individual had attended a hearing earlier in February, where he had
been successful in getting leave to remain in the UK, but this was not officially issued until March — after he had already been found working at the restaurant.
Ms Miah said that he had been told at the hearing he could work.
Another individual had previously been allowed to work for 20 hours a week as a student, but this had been revoked as he was not enrolled to study, and the other had the right to work in some professions, where there are shortages of workers, but not at a restaurant.
After a five minute break to make their decision, Mr Coles said: “The committee has decided to revoke your licence based on the evidence we have heard from immigration.”
By local democracy reporter John Wimperis
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Nailsea People contacted Yasmine Miah after the meeting and asked if there was likely to be an appeal. She said: "We're currently looking into it but it's nothing to worry about."
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Original story on our food and drink page in the Market Place section HERE
Posh Spice liquor licence revoked
The second death in as many days has occured on roads near Nailsea.
Police are appealing for witnesses after a man sadly died in a collision in North Somerset.
Emergency services were called to Naish Hill, in Clapton-in-Gordano, at around 1.15pm on Monday, April 17, following reports of a collision involving a car and a motorcycle.
The motorcyclist was in the process of being taken to hospital by ambulance when he sadly died from his injuries.
A police spokesman said: "Our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time, and they are being offered support from a specially-trained family liaison officer."
If you were in the area and saw the incident, or have dashcam or video footage, please call 101 and quote reference 5223088525.
Previously we reported another fatal accident on Tuesday.
Dalby James supplied us with the facts.
He said; "A person has died following a three-vehicle crash near Bristol Airport on April 18.
"Emergency services were called to the A38 Bridgwater Road, in Barrow Gurney, at around 7.35am.
"The vehicles caught on fire in the collision, and one person lost their life.
"A second person is being treated for injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening or life-changing.
"The road remains closed with a diversion in place via the A370, and motorists have been urged to avoid the area amid long delays."
Police added a third vehicle involved in the collision was parked and unattended at the time.
All three vehicles were damaged by fire.
The road was closed between the Airport Tavern and Dial Lane until about
Police appeal for witnesses
5.30pm while collision investigators examined the scene, for recovery of the vehicles and making the road safe.
There have been no arrests and the investigation continues.
If you were travelling on that stretch of the A38 between 7am and 7.35am on Tuesday, or have any dashcam footage or other information and have yet to speak with officers, please contact us.
If you have any information or dashcam footage which could help the investigation please call 101 and give the reference 5223089046.
Officer in the case Tony Hall said: "We're aware that distressing footage of this tragic incident is being shared on social media. We do have this footage and it does form part of our investigation.
"We are concerned about the impact such footage could have on the families involved and, potentially, on any future court case.
"I'd ask people to think twice before sharing it, and to report it to the social media platform as appropriate."
PHOTO: Bristol Traffic and Travel Group
By Heather Pickstock
Somerset Live reporter
An historic Somerset pub is being used as a location for a new drama series based on a best selling Jilly Cooper novel.
ITV Studios is using The Battleaxes in Wraxall - which closed at the start of lockdown and has not re-opened since - for filming of a new drama, Rivals.
Based on the best selling novel of the same name, Rivals is a drama set in the mid 1980s in the fictional county of Rutshire in the Cotswolds and is set amongst the lives of rich, upper class British people vying for the franchise of the local television station.
Within the story, staff and friends of the television franchise meet to socialise and network in a local Rutshire restaurant - aka The Battleaxes.
Filming for the new series is expected to take place at the redundant pub between April and September.
The eight episode drama has been commissioned by Disney+ and will be produced by Happy Prince which is part of ITV Studios.
Rivals dives head first into the cutthroat world of independent television in 1986, where the shoulder pads are big and ambitions even bigger.
In the fictional upper-class county of Rutshire, a long-standing rivalry between two powerful men is about to boil over: ex-Olympian, member of parliament, and notorious womaniser Rupert Campbell-Black, and his Rutshire neighbour Tony Baddingham, controller of the independent TV franchise Corinium Television.
As tensions rise and rivalries deepen, there are spilled secrets, forged alliances, and snatched liaisons that draw wives, lovers, colleagues, friends, and families into their battle.
Rivals is a joyously mischievous rollercoaster ride, steamy in its love stories and packed with larger-than-life characters.
Yet beneath the spectacle and fun, the series brings a 2020s lens to the 1980s, offering a raw exploration of a complicated moment in British history when class, race, sex, wealth, and sexual liberation meant that, for the very privileged few, there were no limits to what they could achieve.
Rivals author Jilly Cooper said: “I am so, so excited.
"Throughout my childhood, my favourite word was ‘Disney’, and by a miraculous coincidence, greater-than-ever Disney are joining forces with an utterly brilliant drama company, Happy Prince, to turn my novel into a TV series.
"I know they will bring the boardroom battles and love triangles of my characters to life – particularly those of my devastatingly handsome hero.”
The use of the site for filming comes at the same time as plans are being drawn up to redevelop the pub site.
Development company Studio Hive - also behind plans to build a new medical centre on the grounds of Weston-super-Mare Rugby Club - want to
