NAILSEA
PEOPLE
May Day park opening
Crown Glass Shopping Centre 'win a shop for a year' competition shortist is with the judging panel.
Crown Glass Shopping Centre manager Charlotte Jarrett said: "We have had an excellent response to the competition.
“We think that the success of last year’s competition has really inspired local entrepreneurs to enter as they can see that it is an ideal opportunity to gain real hands-on experience of running a shop in a busy shopping centre environment, get valuable mentoring, advice and guidance from experts – all with the added advantage of operating from a shop free of rent, rates and service charge.
“Entries this year, have come from businesses as diverse as electrical cycles to a sensory café; from printing and copying services to home décor and furnishings; from goods for geeks to pancakes and drinks and from flowers to play areas.
"Having looked at the submissions, the judges have a very difficult job on their hands as all the entries have come in from people passionate about their product and all have excellent criteria for winning the competition.”
The entries submitted include:
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Nailsea Electric Cycles – who not only retail electrical cycles but also offer a community workshop where members can get repairs done or undertake their own repairs if they want – wither with or without support;
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For those with an eye on healthy eating, Pancake Face offer tasty snacks - including gluten free - and freshly made drinks with all products sourced locally. It is also anticipated that Pancake Face will also offer part time and voluntary employment to local people;
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Complementing Ewe Knit and The Blue Room, Queenie’s Flower Shop offers fair traded and locally grown flowers alongside upcycled curiosities and one-off treasurers not normally seen on the High Street. More than a florist, Queenie’s also offer seasonal flower arrangement workshops;
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Young Possum’s Imaginarium is a play café – offers a safe environment for safe and stimulating play for children. Run by mums and teachers, who know the importance of play in the development of children, all the toys, play equipment and books have been chosen to stimulate young minds. The play café will also offer drinks and pre-prepared foods;
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Express Print specialise in print, design and promotion and will offer their services not only to the general community with t-shirt, mug and canvas printing but can also offer a local and valuable print and design service to local businesses at competitive prices;
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Retro, vintage and antique furniture, décor and collectables is growing in popularity and Retro Metro feel that with their local knowledge - having lived in Nailsea for nearly 30 years - will attract young professionals and people who want something unusual for their home and who do not want to travel to Clevedon, Backwell, Weston or Bristol;
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For local geeks and those for an eye for something different, Pixilation is the brainchild of a young entrepreneur – specialising in comic books, video games, memorabilia, local arts and crafts, Pixilation will appeal to those looking for fantasy seekers and gamers; and
Nailsea is a ‘no drone fly zone’, councillors decided at a meeting on Wednesday night.
Computer boss Bob Steadman had asked for permission to test fly wide angle camera drones from the Grove playing fields in a bid to expand his media and film business.
But both Nailsea town councillors and Nailsea Playing Fields Association who managed the ground were alarmed at the potential of the ‘spies in the sky’ and opposed the proposal.
Mr Steadman said: “The whole point of flying at the top end of the Grove is to be as far away from people and houses as possible – both to minimise noise and to reduce safety risks.”
In the end Mr Steadman withdrew his request having found a field near Kenn to trial the new venture but requested being told of council policy on drones so he could use the Grove as a ‘fall back’.
Although Mr Steadman maintained his drone made no more noise than ‘a chainsaw’ and wouldn’t be used to catch people in compromising situations the leisure facilities committee voted for a ban to ‘launch or land drones’ on council owned land.
The flying drones have a wingspan of one metre which is more than three feet wide, the meeting heard.
Councillor Mary Ponsonby said drones make an ‘irritating noise’ and could spy on sunbathers in their own back gardens.
Councillor Rod Lees said: “Young people have been flying radio controlled aeroplanes for years – what’s the difference – well these have a camera aboard.”
Councillors decided it was important to ‘protect public spaces and public privacy’.
And for good measure they also banned ‘sky lanterns’ on advice from Avon fire service being lit on council land.
Nailsea isn’t the only council to be asked for permission to fly drones.
Uncontrolled flying objects have been on council agendas up and down the country.
In Reading at Liberal Democrat councillor dubbed the drones ‘dangerous’ but feared a ban would be a ‘Canute-like gesture’.
According to a national newspaper the number of drones operating in British airspace has soared with defence contractors, surveillance specialists, police forces and infrastructure firms among more than 300 companies and public bodies with permission to operate the controversial unmanned aircraft.
Operators of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) must apply to the Civil
Aviation Authority to gain ‘permission for aerial work’ or face prosecution.
An analysis of the latest CAA figures shows that numbers of authorised drone operators in the UK has risen by a third in the past year.
This has prompted politicians and campaigners to call for a comprehensive review of civil drone use.
The majority of the 301 UAV operators in the UK are photography firms and production companies, which includes the BBC and ITV, as well as independent production firms working on television projects ranging from Top Gear to filming the cricket at Lords.
Devon and Cornwall police reported this month that two people have been convicted for flying drones over private areas and capturing landscape shots without consent.
Devon’s Civil Aviation Authority has begun licencing drones applying the same regulations as any other local airspace user.
Rachel Robinson, a policy officer for the human rights group Liberty, said: “As the use of domestic surveillance drones rapidly expands, public knowledge and understanding of this shadowy industry remains practically non-existent.
“Where was the public debate?
“The implications for our privacy are clear, the safeguards obscure.”
A Youtube video of Domino’s testing a prototype flying drone that can deliver pizzas can be viewed HERE.
The device carried two large pepperoni pizzas.
And in the US Amazon is exploring a new Prime Air a futuristic 21st century delivery system.
It wants approval to test commercial aerial vehicles which can travel at more than 50 miles per hour carrying packages weighing up to 5lb.
It says in the near future 86 per cent of its products could be delivered this way.
The tellytubbies aren’t on the guest list for the grand opening of the park built on top of the old Glassworks site.
Contractors, shopkeepers, schoolchildren, teachers and local historians will all get an invite to a display of maypole and Morris dancing on Monday, May 4, which is the same date as 1st Nailsea Scouts fundraising fair.
Nailsea Town Council chairman Clare Hunt has been delegated the task of putting together an official opening ceremony that could include closing the road for a day.
Voted the worse ‘grot spot’ in Nailsea and amid a deluge of vocal complaints at the 2014 annual town meeting the council has spent £250,000 improving the area which is an historical part of the town’s industrial past.
A Tesco sponsored Champagne reception greeted the unveiling of the bronze glassblower that sits at the edge of the High Street and Brockway and something similar should be considered, the leisure facilities committee decided at its meeting on Wednesday, March 4.
However, concern was voiced about hundreds of people traipsing all over the nearly laid grass when the fencing comes down within the next month.
It was stylists at SP hair company who dubbed the new park ‘Teletubbyland’.
For nearly a decade customers and staff at the High Street salon have had to gaze out on a deserted wasteland.
But then contractors Wick moved in and covered the muddy mould with grass.
Although people working in the rank of shops opposite the park will be invited don’t expect to see Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa and Po dancing along the hilltop.
Nailsea Town Council clerk Ian Morrell said: “The contractor is responsible for the grass for 12 months after ‘practical completion’ so understandably they don’t want to remove the fencing until they are confident it will not be damaged by people walking across it.”
Nailsea town councillors declare drone no fly zone
JUDGING PANEL: From left Mark Robinson, of Ellandi; Simon Brumby, of Waitrose; 2014 winner Emily Rickard, of Ewe Knit 20 and Nailsea Town Council clerk Ian Morrell
Dragons' Den test for 'win a shop' shortlist
THE online community newspaper for Nailsea people, their family and their friends
March 2015
Our town is a very nice town
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Sensory Space Nailsea is a retail café space for parents and carers to come with their children to relax - offering basic tea, coffee and snacks as well as locally made crafts, Sensory Space Nailsea, provides an unique environment to road test different sensory equipment and have access to peer support.
The judging panel, comprising of Mark Robinson, of Ellandi; Simon Brumby, of Waitrose; last year’s winner Emily Rickard, Ewe Knit 20; Vicky Angear, of North Somerset Times; Ian Morell, clerk Nailsea Town Council and Janet Hendey, Wards Solicitors, will now evaluate the submissions and hold interviews on Tuesday, March 17, prior to the announcement of the winner on Monday, March 23.
The new shop will then open at Easter.
Charlotte added: "Having experienced the submission, shortlisting and interview stages, the 2013 winner - Emily Rickard of Ewe Knit 20 will know exactly what the shortlisted candidates will be going through.
"However, it does mean that she also knows that for the successful applicant, the rewards can be huge as she has had a successful year trading and amongst Emily’s success in 2014 was shortlisted for national and local awards and has become a staple part of the local community.
"We wish all the candidates the very best of luck.”
To tell the town centre company which shop you would like to win post your comments in box.
With a proliferation of Nailsea places selling food and drink people were surprised to see a mobile snack bar parked in the town centre this week.
Apart from lots of hairdressers and charity shops Nailsea has more than 20 pubs, shops, takeaways at Crown Glass Centre and the High Street and many people think ‘enough is enough’.
Within a short walking distance are:
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Cafe 119, 119 Station Road
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Domino's Pizza, 16 Crown Glass Place
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Gilly’s cafe and bistro, High Street
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Golden Horse, 5-6 Ivy Court
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Il Paradiso, Link Road
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Indian Open Kitchen, 7c Crown Glass Place
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Kebab Kitchen, 8 Crown Glass Place
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Ming's Kitchen, 84 High Street
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Nailsea Fish Bar, 128 High Street
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Posh Spice, 86 High Street
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The Great Wall Chinese, 112 High Street
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Queen's Head, 91 High Street
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Sawyers Arms, 3 High Street
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Royal Oak, 43 High Street
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The Glassmaker Wetherspoons, 12 Crown Glass Place
Then you have the two bakeries Greggs and Parsons as well as four supermarkets all selling food.
Apart from Iceland - Budgens, Tesco and Waitrose all have in-store cafes and Tesco petrol station also stocks snacks.
Tesco has Costa and Budgens has Subway.
On top of this North Somerset Council has given permission for a change of use for the Crown Glass Shopping Centre pharmacy to become a coffee shop.
While the Queen’s Head recently changed hands and 119 cafe is currently on the market the failed Farrells at the Courtyard is about to re-open after another refit and change of livery as The Atrium – a steak and seafood restaurant.
But since opening ‘selected’ evenings in the new year under the banner ‘real food by real cooks’ business has been booming at Gilly’s cafe and bistro.
Danny Chu, of Gilly’s, noticed the catering wagon on Wednesday at the same time Waitrose took in its outside table and chairs.
He said: “What’s happening?”
Centre manager Charlotte Jarrett said: “Crown Glass Shopping Centre rent out promotional space throughout the open ‘mall’ areas.
“The catering van at Somerset Square is Killins Kitchen which is a privately owned business that sells fresh food daily ranging from burgers to jacket potatoes.
“These spaces and bookings are flexible so can range from a day to a month.
“Killins Kitchen is currently ‘trialling Nailsea’, so no fixed period of renting this space has been finalised.
“I’m afraid I can’t comment on Waitrose, we have a very good working relationship with Waitrose and nobody has approached me about this.
“Killins Kitchen provides a takeaway service so wouldn’t impact on the café seating.”
Mr Chu added: “Just asked Waitrose and the outside furniture had been removed to stop it blowing around in the wind.”