NAILSEA
PEOPLE
CONTACT
comment, email and letters to community editor
www.nailseapeople.com is an online community newspaper for people living, working or going to school in Nailsea and its nearby villages. It is also a great way for holidaymakers, expats and students away at college or for work to keep in touch. We welcome news, previews, reviews, blogs, photographs and advertising. Use the box below to contact us. Our email address is nailseapeople@gmail.com but by using the box below this is sent automatically.
Dear Nailsea People, I’m delighted to share that the proposed bus lane along the A370 in Backwell has officially been scrapped—a major win for everyone who uses this road and for the residents of Nailsea and Backwell.
From the outset, I, alongside councillors Pryke, Smith, Burden, Blades, and Bird, supported by Backwell Parish Council, stood firmly against this scheme.
It would have cost taxpayers over £2 million and brought chaos, increased pollution, and greater danger to our roads.
I’m not anti-bus.
When roadworks led to the suspension of services in Nailsea West End, I worked alongside Nailsea and District Community Transport to arrange temporary buses, so residents weren’t left stranded.
I believe in practical, community-focused transport solutions—not expensive, disruptive projects that don’t serve the public interest.
This bus lane scheme should never have progressed as far as it did.
I, along with other Nailsea North Somerset councillors, members of Backwell Parish Council and Backwell Residents Association, voiced our opposition from the outset.
I made our position clear to the executive member for highways, but our concerns were ignored.
Even when North Somerset Council’s own scrutiny panel backed my motion to withdraw the scheme, it was ignored.
As a result, over £270,000 of public money has already been wasted, along with hundreds of officer hours that could have gone toward projects that genuinely improve people’s lives.
It’s deeply frustrating to see resources wasted in this way.
After this fiasco and the Clevedon sea front debacle, I’m urging the council to rethink its approach to car parking charges in Nailsea, Clevedon and Portishead, before irreversible damage is done to our high streets.
We need policies that support communities, not ones that undermine them.
I remain committed to standing up for local residents.
Ollie Ellis
Conservative Nailsea West End North Somerset councillor
by email Oliver.Ellis@n-somerset.gov.uk
Dear Nailsea People, I’d like to send a huge thank you to the Good Samaritans who rushed to the aid of my friend Mandy and I when she had a fall last Friday, January 2, at around 3pm.
It happened very close to the Station Road carpark and the Debra charity shop.
I was sat with Mandy and speaking to ambulance crew via one of these lovely people, everyone else kindly covered Mandy with their own jackets, car blankets, ran to Waitrose to get the defibrillator (just in case and as instructed by ambulance control) and borrowed more fleeces from the charity shop as it was a very cold day.
I’d like to mention Emma from Nailsea Physio and her team, she was so very professional and calming. Following her instructions, they managed to get Mandy onto a thick physio mat, and therefore off the very cold floor.
Within approximately 30mins, family and then the ambulance crew arrived.
The Good Samaritans who had been so wonderful melted away, but not without our heartfelt thanks
After a few hours in the BRI Mandy and her family returned home.
She was shaken and bruised and has a broken shoulder bless her.
I would like to add my thanks to Mandy’s and the family’s and say how very grateful I am to everyone who helped her.
Bless you and thank you xx,
from Bev Hirst
January 2026
Dear Nailsea People, I wanted to share this story with your readers to warn others of the reliance on Royal Mail .
I have always believed that if I put something in the post it will arrive within a reasonable time scale.
As you know this once truly great service has been subjected to significant fines in recent years for failing to meet the publics' expectations.
Sadly I have just found out that my expectation were certainly misjudged.
On 9th December I put 14 Christmas cards in the main post box outside Nailsea post office.
Like every year the card was special, made up by a nationwide print company.
This year the card featured a photo taken by the dog groomer of my lovely companion, Ruby, a very sweet Border Terrier.
Just before Christmas I was in contact with a friend who lives in Newport and asked if she likes the card to which she replied "it hasn't arrived".
I thought no more about it until I received a message from her on 19th January that my card had just arrived, some 40 days after posting.
Couple of days later I was talking to a friend in Fetcham, Surrey who also confirmed that my card had just arrived.
On following up on this I have now realised that all the cards I sent are now being delivered.
The destinations range from , Thetford, Leavenheath , Cambridge, Brentwood, Loughton and Chislehurst.
So what on earth has occurred?
When you post anything in Nailsea it is dispatched to the Bristol sorting office for sorting and dispatch.
What on earth is happening at the sorting office.
A sack of mail just left unattended waiting for delivery until someone decides it needs to be looked at.
There is no excuse for this and I wonder how many other people who put letter and correspondence in the post at a similar time.
Sending a condolence card to an old friend, a gift to a young child, paying a bill. It beggar belief that this once great organisation has fallen so far from grace.
I am now looking to register a complaint with Royal Mail but that is proving near impossible as the web site is structured in such a way that I would need to make 14 individual complaint.
Try phoning and the wait is 40 minutes.
So if you posted something in or around 9th December you may need to check it has arrived.
​
Pauline Tillett
by email
January 2026
Dear Nailsea People, as the tumbleweed begins to descend in Nailsea with the closure of yet another business The Original Factory Shop, is it time to look around for a town that is not dying.
According to some media outlets Nailsea is a Thriving Town, that’s a laugh.
The best card shop closes for good very soon as well, yet another loss.
The authorities both near and wide will blame each other, parking charges, business rates and I am sure there are other factors reducing this town to nothing, so thank you.
On a final comment I would like to thank the totally thoughtless members of the driving community, those of the ‘can't pay won’t pay’ brigade for parking in Scotch Horn Way, Nailsea at around 6 and 7 o’clock Monday to Friday sitting in their car, radio on, drinking their Costa coffee before walking off.
If you can afford to pay for coffee each day then pay for parking and stop waking me up.
Chris Gowler
by email
Dear readers, thank you to everyone who got back to us, and especially those who completed the google form indicating days which would work for an initial meeting.
We really wanted Nailsea Town Council to be a key part of this process, but sadly the original dates proposed were not viable. Instead, a different date for the meeting has been organised which is as follows:
​
Date: Monday 23rd February
Time: 7:30pm (doors open from 7pm)
Location: Grove Sport Centre (in the main function room)
​
We would be honoured if you can join us for this event which will take on the following format:
-
Introduce the competition- rules, conditions, benefits and key dates
-
Discuss and gather all the special aspects which contribute to the town’s culture
-
Discuss ideas on how (if successful) any money awarded can be used to preserve, advance or celebrate our culture both locally and to attract people to the town
-
Create a main committee to gather ideas and create a draft application to present back to everyone at the next meeting for confirmation
If you are unable to come but want to be involved, this is no problem, we simply ask that you let us know so we can share information and allow you to input your ideas.
If, as we hope, you can make it; please feel free to encourage other interested parties or people to come along to make this as inclusive as possible.
We would also ask that you let us know if and how many of you are coming in advance to ensure there is enough seating provided.
Finally, thank you for taking the time to read this email and engage in this process, as it is a great chance to come together and create a positive narrative around the amazing town we live in.
If you have any questions, please feel free to let us know.
Ian (on behalf of the Nailsea Playing Fields Association)
FRONT PAGE: February 2026 we announce Town of Culture bid
Dear readers, Nailsea Town Council needs to get its act together.
This town needs to get rid of it's derelict sites and empty shops and give over worrying about reducing carpark charges by 50p per hour.
The first thing that is needed is for the old Weston College to be deleted along with the locked up toilet block and do something to attract new business before the whole area becomes deserted.
Many of the people driving into Nailsea think nothing of paying anything up to £500.00 per month to purchase their vehicles so they can show off a new number plate.
Please have a word with developer Paul O'Brien and ask him when he plans to start, it's nearly four years now the site was purchased, maybe in the next four years.
Please advise when you have some news.
Neville Crewdson.
by email
Dear readers, as now one of the longest residents of Nailsea (since March 1977) parking charges were never even thought about until recently.
I would like to see the Business Case put forward by North Somerset Council that may have included the 50 to 100 vehicles that used to park in Station Road Car Park giving a daily income of up to £3,500 that never materialised.
This car park was never resurfaced nor proper lines put in so probably left out of the Business Plan.
I would also like to see the deal done with Wessex Water and the Telephone Exchange for Clevedon Road Car Park?
I saw the lads out measuring for yellow lines in Mizzymead Road so this means more cars will be looking for spaces in residential areas within 500m of the old Somerset CC signpost outside Coates House.
So were these costs plus the cost of policing the 30mph speed limit now in place along Queens Road and a traffic warden out issuing tickets or instead the dreaded CCTV with some nerd watching what good honest people are doing?
Oh dear, goodbye to Nailsea village; Parsons, John Browns, Poundland, Superdrug, Boots, Maynews, Pet Store, greengrocers and others that may go when leases come up for renewal.
Was the loss of business rates included in the Business Case?
Probably not.
What will be included is the gradual rise on hour rate charges for parking in year 2, 3, 4 you'll see.
Last thing, being old and wise don't you feel cheated having to pay to be sick when visiting a doctor or getting prescriptions, that is if you can get an appointment! Ah well c’est la vie, as the French would say.
And another last thing, I’ve recently received my NSC council tax bill and it’s been raised by 9.3%,
I suppose this is to pay for Birnbeck Pier and Banwell bypass and other pet projects that NSC councillors have in mind – like fixing potholes, not!
Speakers Corner, Hyde Park corner, 1970s
Oh, but they can’t because that money must pay for council worker national insurance and private pensions and cars!
Does North Somerset Council add value to North Somerset residents, or could we do without them by outsourcing all activities??
Now there is a thought!
​
Nailsea resident by email
Eirik Bird, owner of Sam Bird TV, has lodged a formal objection to the proposed one-way system for Link Road. Sent to North Somerset Council environment, assets and transport services directorate delivery manager Jackie Lower he has shared part of this correspondence and this email with Nailsea People and local councillors and other highway officers ref PSWLP/BSIP/NTH.
​
This is what Eirik said: I will try and keep this simple: I do believe the Link Road one-way scheme doesn’t make sense for Nailsea, and the basics haven’t been properly worked through for the following reasons.
​
1. Environmental damage
Your own data states that 47 cars an hour turn down the Link Road. They will now need to travel an extra one‑third of a mile. That’s 47×6 hours×â…“ mile — roughly 100 additional miles of traffic per day, adding up to around 36,500 unnecessary miles of COâ‚‚ emissions per year.
​
2. High Street road damage
The brick‑laid High Street road is already suffering, especially from heavy vehicles like double‑decker buses. Diverting buses away from the High Street would help reduce wear and avoid expensive repairs. Heavier electric buses exacerbating this issue. The Tesco junction is also unsuitable for handling this additional traffic, and any incident on this route would cause significant disruption on the High Street, leaving traffic with nowhere to go.
​
3. Consultation was inadequate
Most people in Nailsea didn’t know about this. Those who did were overwhelmingly against it. Your own documents say 56% strongly opposed the one‑way system, yet the summary claims the consultation was “receptive”. That isn’t accurate. Recent social media comments have also been overwhelmingly against the proposal.
4. Impact on businesses ignored
There’s no business impact assessment, no analysis of lost footfall, and no consideration of how reduced access will affect long‑standing High Street businesses. Less passing traffic is bad for High Street business - Waitrose customers will forced to go via Stockway South & North ignoring the High Street. Footfall is already down on our High St. At the very least, you should write to every business on the High Street to ensure they are fully informed about the proposed scheme and be able to voice any objection.
5. The current bus stop works
The shelter is fine, the pavement is wide enough, and there’s no justification for spending £330,000 to replace something that already works. What is the environmental damage to replacing this and all the road works?
Nailsea Link Road (hu)bus
​6. Better locations exist
A bus stop on Stockway North near the underpass - equally close to both Waitrose and Tesco supermarkets - makes far more sense. It also aligns better with the Clevedon‑bound stop, making it easier for passengers to understand where to catch buses. Crucially, this option doesn’t require turning Link Road one‑way and protects our High Street.
​
7. Cycle hub & parcel lockers
New cycle facilities would be better placed on the High Street or in the very under‑used Station Road car park. The parcel lockers would also be more accessible in Station Road car park - the proposed single parking bay to serve the parcel lockers on the link rd is not suitable.
8. Cars will still turn left into the Link Road causing danger
Cars are still likely to turn left into the Link Road, creating a potential safety hazard. Additionally, some drivers may inadvertently ignore the “No Entry” restriction due to unfamiliarity with the changes, increasing the risk of danger to other road users
After 40+ years working on Nailsea High Street, I can say confidently that this scheme will do more harm than good.
Please rethink it.
I’m happy to discuss this properly if needed, please ring me at the shop to arrange a convenient time. A face to face will help clarify all these issues.
​
Eirik Bird
Samuel Bird TV
118 High Street
Nailsea
Dear Nailsea People, I have put together and update on Nailsea parking after a six month review by North Somerset Council.
I’ve been campaigning to keep free parking in Nailsea for a long time.
Even up to weeks before the charging was forced on us, I was in conversation with officers - I had managed to stop charging on the High Street and was still pushing to retain free short term parking.
Unfortunately, in the end, the decision was not a vote by North Somerset district councillors, but a decision by eight executive members driven by a Weston member – even then it wasn’t unanimous.
Six weeks after the charges were introduced, I walked the High Street to talk to traders about how it had affected them and was shocked by the results.
Since then, I’ve been repeatedly asking for a full report by North Somerset on the economic effect of the parking charges on local business, but it has fallen on deaf ears, always saying they’d look at it after six months, not soon enough!
Six months down the line and it took Nailsea Town Council to carry out an economic review.
It also took my inviting Nailsea Town Council and Emma Lake, of Coates House to North Somerset scrutiny committee to talk about the detrimental effects parking charges had had, to get voices heard.
That and the closure of at least one shop, directly due to the charges,
at a loss of £23,000 in North Somerset business rates.
The review has happened, and we’ve seen a little progress.
It is only a little progress, not in any way what was wanted.
As a compromise, I would rather have seen simply £1 for up to three hours, and with the car park half empty, a halving of the long-term parking fee to try and double usage, taking parked cars off our side streets (at no loss of income to North Somerset).
We are told a permit scheme is being considered, but we’ve not seen any
evidence as yet.
Clevedon Road car park now has a permit agreement with Pelican, formerly Wessex Water.
This was originally 24 hours 7 days a week.
I managed to get this changed to at least allow free usage outside Pelican’s working hours of 6pm – 8am and Sundays, as per Station Road.Pelican employees pay just £10 a month to use the Clevedon Road car park, as opposed to £70 a month for any workers using Station Road car park.
Nailsea Town Council has made approaches to buy Station Road car park. North Somerset offer price was £3.5 million, based on what they thought they could get, with no room for negotiation.
No independent valuation has ever been done and £3.5 million is probably at least three times its worth, not a good deal for Nailsea residents!
The ultimate goal is to return to free short-term parking, whether via North Somerset or the town council purchasing at a sensible cost.
I will continue to work on behalf of our traders in the town centre.
Mike Bird
Nailsea town and North Somerset district councillor for Yeo Ward
​
NB: Unfortunately Nailsea has more than one online petition calling for the end of parking charges and on Wednesday, May 6, double yellow lines were painted along Mizzymead Road which will mean more congested parking in the side roads leading to Nailsea School and the shopping centre
Cllr Mike Bird gives update on car parking fees imposed on Nailsea by Weston councillors
This is the letter sent to Nailsea Town Council chairman Rod Lees which is part of the environment and leisure agenda for Wednesday, May 20, sent on April 8.
​
I am writing to let you know that our meeting with North Somerset Council (Edward McKay and Paul Hillman) on Tuesday 31 March 2026 went very well.
They were fully briefed on the club history, progress on the ground and infrastructure improvements together with the teams’ steep promotions up through the League’s leading to our playing in the Western Premier League.
We also covered our reasons for withdrawing from the League last November and the financial implications that underpinned our decision for this.
An important part of this meeting was to inform them of our aspirations to enable another team to use our excellent pitch and club facilities that we have built up over the years for the start of the 26/27 season.
This approach would ensure that football would continue to be played at Fryth Way, spectators could attend and watch a decent standard of football and new players could be accommodated from within our growing community.
This approach would also free Rob Gregory and me from our full-time commitments at the club and we can start enjoying our retirement spending more time with our grandchildren.
We would, however, continue to be involved with our successors helping them to manage the bar and site as well as looking after the pitches albeit at a reduced level.
We explained in detail the steps that we went through trying to find a club of a suitable pedigree that was financially stable with a robust management team in place to ensure the club could be effectively managed and thrive in the future. In essence this meant we had a number of meetings with the following football clubs:
-
Nailsea United Football Club
-
Weston-Super-Mare Football Club
-
Swiss Vally Rangers Football Club
-
Sporting Weston Football Club
For many different reasons, the only football club wishing to take up this opportunity was Swiss Valley Rangers Football Club.
Also, bearing in mind what you said at our meeting at the Tithe Barn on 27 March and just to be sure nothing had changed Rob Gregory (Nailsea and Tickenham chairman) spoke to Barry Maxted (Nailsea Utd chairman) on 2 April who confirmed again that they do not wish to be involved in taking over our ground and prefer to develop their own ground at the Grove to achieve Western League Football.
This information from Barry Maxted only serves to reinforce our decision to work with Swiss Valley Rangers (SVR) in the take-over of our ground for the start of the 26/27 season.
It should also be noted that SVR are currently top of their League and are well on target to gain promotion to the Somerset County League.
North Somerset Council had no objection to our plans but did request that the word ‘NAILSEA’ is retained in the name on the lease.
We provisionally agreed that the name of the club would be changed to NAILSEA AND SWISS VALLEY RANGERS FOOTBALL CLUB when the lease is amended and two new trustees appointed.
Of course, all of this is subject to formal approval by North Somerset Council and I will be writing to them within the next couple of weeks to initiate these changes.
Before I write to North Somerset Council, I would be grateful if you could inform Nailsea Town Council (NTC) of our plans and seek their acknowledgement to this course of action.
If there is an objection, please provide me with full details together with any viable alternative course of action they may wish us to explore.
Please also be advised that our contract with Swiss Valley Rangers has been structured to cover a milestone for the early release of funding so our existing loan with NTC can be settled in one single lump sum.
This of course will be contingent on NTC giving written notification that they have no objections to our stated course of action.
I look forward to receiving your reply as soon as possible but no later than 5 working days from the date of this letter.
​
John Murray MBE Nailsea and Tickenham FC
Nailsea Juniors FC chairman Ben Watts has shared an open letter addressed to Nailsea Town Council environment and leisure committee chair Karen Bird regarding the proposed sale of the lease of Fryth Way to Swiss Valley FC based in Clevedon.
On behalf of Nailsea Junior FC , its 400 plus children who play for the club currently and for the many who will play their sport in Nailsea in the future we are asking yourself and the rest of the environment and leisure committee to raise an objection to the proposed sale of the lease at Fryth Way by Nailsea and Tickenham FC to Clevedon based football club Swiss Valley.
We note with disappointment, that despite Nailsea Juniors Football Club being the biggest football club in the town and with the deepest pockets and multiple FA grant opportunities we were not included or invited for direct discussions with N&T regarding the future handover of this important community asset.
As a club, we continue to operate under significant facility constraints within Nailsea.
Our ability to provide football for local children is heavily reliant on the support of the Nailsea Playing Field Association (NPFA), including the security of tenure at The Grove and the subsidised use of pitches at Greenfield Crescent.
Across all age groups, we are required to use multiple venues to fulfil our fixtures and training commitments, with matches played at Backwell School (including the new Astro and grass pitches), Scotch Horn, and Greenfield Crescent.
In addition, we utilise both Nailsea School and Backwell School for training purposes.
However, we are unable to host FA matches at Nailsea School, as the pitch is not deemed suitable for insurance purposes. At Greenfield Crescent, we do not have access to a functional clubhouse and instead rely on the original supporter-built structure, which is now in a poor and deteriorating condition.
Nailsea is a growing town, and demand for youth football continues to increase.
However, due to the limitations in available facilities, we are currently unable to meet that demand. This week, we have taken the difficult step of closing waiting lists across nearly all age groups, as we have reached capacity.
In this context, it is particularly concerning that a club based outside of Nailsea, which already operates its own junior section, may be permitted to establish itself at this facility.
We are concerned that this could limit opportunities for children within Nailsea to access football provision within their own community.
Nailsea Juniors Football Club remains committed to working constructively with all stakeholders to support the development of accessible, sustainable facilities that best serve the needs of Nailsea residents, both now and in the future.
In direct response to the letter supplied to Nailsea Town Council by John Murray MBE (Nailsea and Tickenham FC ) it’s a clear that it’s nothing short of a sweetener, incentive or inducement offer regards the financial repayment of a loan to be repaid in full in one lump sum payment to Nailsea Town Council on the basis there are no objections!
That is completely unacceptable to the inhabitants of Nailsea.
Secondly, North Somerset Council asking for the word ‘Nailsea ‘ to remain in the naming of the new Clevedon based team using the site is a loophole and doesn’t pull the wool over the eyes of Nailsea Junior FC.
There is a clear responsibility of Nailsea Town Council to raise an objection to this sale as it is not in the interests of Nailsea and at a time where sports facilities are at a premium and run by volunteers like Nailsea Junior FC, we should at least be supported by our town council in help
Acquiring new facilities within the town, Fryth Way would be a prime example and benefit the whole of Nailsea if kept in local hands.
Unfortunately, due to holding coaching sessions and games on Wednesday night and being the lead adult (with correct DBS/ safeguarding/ first aid training) if I attend the meeting it would mean 45 kids not getting their weekly session, so I’m writing to you instead.
By email benwattscwu@gmail.com
Future of Fryth Way football ground
-
North Somerset Council (NSC) own the Freehold of the Fryth Way Ground;
-
NSC lease the site to Nailsea & Tickenham FC (N&TFC);
-
Nailsea Town Council (NTC) has no direct involvement in that we are not the landowner, we are not party to the lease, nor involved in the running of the N&TFC;
-
NTC has maintained dialogue with NSC regarding N&TFC sub-letting the ground during the 2025-26 season;
-
N&TFC wish for Swiss Valley Rangers (SVR) to take over the ground for the start of the 2026/27 season;
-
N&TFC wrote to NTC to ask us if we support SVR taking on the ground;
-
NTC acknowledges the acute lack of available pitches in Nailsea and has advised NSC of its wish to ensure that the Fryth Way ground stays available to Nailsea football teams;
-
NTC’s Environment & Leisure Committee will discuss the letter from N&TFC at tonight’s meeting on Wednesday, May 20, at 7.30pm and the Tithe Barn. There will be the ability for a member of public to speak for three minutes up to a maximum of 15 minutes in total for all public speakers;;
-
NTC role is to represent the voice and interests of Nailsea as a community; and
-
NTC will report our response to both N&TFC and NSC.
​
Issued on Wednesday, May 20, 2026
Statement from Nailsea Town Council
KICKED INTO PLAY: The land is owned by North Somerset Council and leased to N&T via three trustees. There is approximately 12/13 years left on the lease. A housing developer has had an option on the land for 20 years but it is unclear whether that is still valid. Planning permission was muted for new homes with an option to rehouse the football club elsewhere
Wednesday, November 20, 2026
Fryth Way - Nailsea & Tickenham FC
Chairman Rob Gregory response statement.
​
Ahead of tonight’s Nailsea Town Council meeting and the aftermath of yesterday’s initial and ongoing tirade of social media posts, I wanted to outline some facts that I am sure, a large proportion of the public respondents were unaware of before doing so.
For the record, I am a born and bred local who has been involved in football all of my life and played for Nailsea United youth back in the mid 70’s before the Nailsea Junior club was formed and then progressed onto the Nailsea United senior club and 1st team from the age of 15.
Like many other youngsters in Nailsea, I left the club to pursue a higher standard of football which was not available in Nailsea at the time and played Southern and Western League Football before returning back to Nailsea in the late 80’s to finish my playing career.
At this time, there were now two senior clubs in Nailsea, the newly formed Nailsea Town and the longer established Nailsea United.
For my own reasons, I made the choice to go and play for the newly formed Nailsea Town who at the time were playing at various locations, in Nailsea, Backwell and even Farleigh. In the late 80’s however, a new permanent home was found and this was Fryth Way, a lease was signed with North Somerset Council. I would add at this point, Nailsea United had been offered this site which was the Old Sewage Works, but they declined.
A new changing room block was built with the help of funding from local businesses and a football pitch was built with drainage and the club then set out on a journey with the end goal and ambition in delivering at least, Western League Football to a town that was fast growing and deserved, of a higher standard of football.
In 1999, I finally hung up my boots at the age of 49 and took over as Chairman of Nailsea Town who had now progressed from the Weston Super mare and District league to compete in the Somerset County Premier League, alongside Nailsea United.
The vision of Western League football was now clearly attainable but there was still much to do to expand our facilities over a number of years that would be compliant, these included a Clubhouse and Bar, Floodlights, Covered seating for a minimum of 50 people, hard spectator standing around a minimum of two sides of the pitch and refreshments/food for the opposing players and club officials.
We were approached in 2014 by Tickenham United who were looking for a pitch having been turfed off the hand stadium in Clevedon and a merger occurred to benefit both clubs with personnel and local players, Nailsea & Tickenham FC was born!
The club was now really cementing itself as part of both the local community and close surrounding towns in North Somerset and providing senior football at a good level and alternative to Nailsea United and other new Nailsea Football clubs that had emerged.
The success of Frythtival, the local community music festival at Fryth Way ,grew each year as did our magnificent team of volunteers and ground works were underway through grants and fantastic, very generous sponsors.
In 2022, we finally realised the clubs dream and brought Western League Football to the Town of Nailsea, creating history.
Promotion then in our first season to the top Premier division was nothing less than remarkable and we then brought FA Cup and FA Vase football to Nailsea for the first time, in the preliminary rounds.
All of this was down to the fantastic team of volunteers who worked tirelessly to help get us there. You cannot do this without a football team and management team who are worthy of competing at this level, but this also brings with it financial pressures and challenges, in terms of player wages and travel.What happened at the end of the 2024/25 season, was something that no small club could bounce back from with our
management team moving on to pastures new and a mass exodus of our Western League players and also some club officials.
This resulted in having to rebuild the club personnel both on and off the pitch in less than 6 weeks before the start of the new season.
We achieved it and gave it our best shot, starting the 2025/26 season with our first team still in the Premier division and our under 18’s competing in the South West Counties Floodlight youth league.
However, poor results due to a very limited squad of new players, including some of our young under 18’s, attendances dropped and this had the knock on effect of reduced revenue. We sadly had to resign from the Western League in November 2025 to avoid running the club into debt.
Having entered into my 38th year at Fryth Way this was the hardest decision I have ever had to make in what is over half a lifetime of dedicated hard work with so many great and hard working volunteers over that time.
Our goal on the back of all of this was to maintain senior football at Fryth Way and a merger with another local club, no different to that of Tickenham United merging with Nailsea Town, Swiss Valley Rangers were the best fit when all other avenues that we had explored were exhausted.
The primary avenue was our approach to Nailsea United in May 2025 where a possible future merger was discussed and left for future consideration by both parties. There then followed 2 other meetings with senior club officials from Nailsea United in November and December 2025. At no time during these meetings, was the Junior Football club brought up by Nailsea United officials, nor were they involved. It was after these meetings and then another phone call to Nailsea United in April that it became clear that Nailsea United wanted to remain at the Grove and achieve Western League Football there and develop their ground, a decision that we respected.
Important, and for the record however, we were approached by the chairman of the Nailsea Junior club in 2022 and met, to discuss the possibility of a mini soccer pitch being provided on our training area, located adjacent to the main senior pitch behind the stand. Measurements were taken and a scaled drawing was submitted to the Junior Club by us. The pitch would have been provided at no cost to help the junior club but this was declined, and this will be outlined in tonight’s council meeting by our club representative.
To summarise, the merger with SVR is to maintain continuity of Senior and U18 youth football at Fryth Way involving players from Nailsea and North Somerset,who are already part of the Swiss Valley Rangers set up and will provide another avenue and opportunity for other Nailsea based players who choose not to be at Nailsea United or other Nailsea Clubs
Nailsea and Swiss Valley Rangers FC should be seen as a positive and not a negative and Fryth Way is the perfect proven facility to house this.
DAYS GONE BY: Nailsea & Tickenham FC in FA cup run, pictured in happier times while Nailsea People remember the Rex Baker days and the many rabbit holes on the pitches
Nailsea Town Council leisure and environment committee was packed on Wednesday evening, May 20, to hear what local councillors had to say about the future of Fryth Way.
Nailsea United chairman Barry Maxted said: "The next steps are that after the meeting NTC has written to North Somerset Council to say they would like it to remain in use for the people of Nailsea."
Nailsea councillor Ollie Ellis, pictured, who sits on both the town and district council proposed that the lease should not go to anyone outside our town.
The Conservative Party ward councillor for Nailsea West End who is a local fireman lives near the pitch in Worcester Gardens.
It was Ollie who single-handedly organised replacement community buses for stranded elderly and disabled residents when roadworks closed part of the bus route along Hannah More Road.
And it was confirmed 'he's got a seat at the table for any lease negotiations by NSC on behalf of Nailsea residents'.
With the exception of two abstentions it was passed by eight votes.
Barry added: "We still have lots to do however the cross community support has been amazing and gave this the coverage and exposure it needed."
Nailsea Junior FC chairman Ben Watts said: "At the meeting NSC gave a statement to say they understand our concerns."
