90 Static and Touring Caravans at Purn/Riverside Village

We have a concern that residents' views as indicated in Bleadon's adopted 2009 Bleadon Parish Plan (BPP) are not being properly represented and, at a time when the green rural status of our community is under threat, Bleadon Parish Council (BPC) have not stated their 'vision' for its future. This coupled with BPCs miscommunication over how the public can interact with the planning process, and statements that there is not currently a settlement boundary/village fence, we feel has led to confusion, a false sense of security and/or resigned apathy amongst residents. The full Questionnaire, associated results and draft Parish Plan can be found at www.bleadon.org.uk/parishplan which will be easier to read there but as this plan is only 8 years into the 20 year plan we have submitted a few BPP questionnaire replies for your consideration. It seems the broad opinion is that residents are not in favour of increased large scale tourism and highly value Bleadon's environment and associated wildlife. The responses show that residents (and no doubt tourists) highly value the quality of the surrounding countryside as a 'place of scenery and the natural world' including its 'tranquility', 'openness', and a 'place for walking or rambling'. This application will affect the open green environment with views across the levels, West Mendip Way, Crooks Peak and Brent Knoll as well as the associated public rights of way and Site of Nature Conservation Interest and associated wildlife in the area e.g. bats, swans, otters, kingfishers, etc. People move to and visit Bleadon for its rural green environment which these types of application threaten. There is also a concern that these non-residential dwellings will be/are used as permanent accommodation yet will not contribute to local taxes or residential housing numbers. There is concern over increasing urbanisation of Bleadon with its associated traffic, light and evironmental pollution.

------TOURISM------Residents' response to Bleadon's Parish Plan Questionnaire Question 14 'Should Tourism development/attractions be encouraged in and around Bleadon?' Out of 461 responses only 22% were in favour. [Strongly in favour 8.242% (38), In Favour 13.88% (64), No strong opinion 14.09% (65), Have Reservations 26.24% (121), Definitely Not 37.52% (173)]. We feel that this clearly shows a lack of public support for any expansion

------ OUR ENVIRONMENT
------ Q44:'How important is it to you that countryside is maintained between Weston and Bleadon? Out of 572 responses 97% thought it was highly significant to maintain the countryside (Very important 87.06% (498) Important 10.31% (59) Not important 1.048% (6) No opinion 1.573% (9)).
------ Q45: Our local environment is under threat, with economic and development pressures possible accelerating future change, yet it is generally accepted that a high quality built and natural environment provides the foundation for a healthy local economy and a basis for a good quality of life. Some features of the built environment are protected by law, others rely on individuals accepting responsibility for the impact of their actions. How important are the following to you? 'Impact of development on the visible landscape? Out of 476 replies residents stated that it was Very Important = 83.82% (399), Important = 14.49% (69) Not important = 1.680% (8); 'A place of scenery and the natural world?' (484 replies) V Important 80.37% (389) Important 17.76% (86) Not important 1.859% (9); 'Design, scale and 'fit' of new developments?' (461 replies) V Important 79.39% (366), Important 18.00% (83) Not important 2.603% (12);
------ Q46: The parish is largely rural with most of the land in agricultural use. Changing agricultural policies and practices, illustrated by the trend away from pasture to arable farming and farm diversification initiatives, will affect the natural environment. How crucial are the following issues to you? 1-Most 5-Least, 6-No Opinion. 'Conservation of the parish landscape character (514 replies) 1 = 85.60% (440) 2 = 9.533% (49) 3 = 3.307% (17) 4 = 0.389% (2) 5 = 0% (0) 6 = 1.167% (6); 'Woodland retention & replanting?' (502 replies) 1 = 79.28% (398) 2 = 13.94% (70) 3 = 3.187% (16) 4 = 2.390% (12) 5 = 0% (0) 6 = 1.195% (6); 'Preservation of hedges and trees?' (504 replies) 1 = 80.95% (408) 2 = 12.10% (61) 3 = 4.563% (23) 4 = 1.190% (6) 5 = 0.595% (3) 6 = 0.595% (3); 'Wildlife conservation?' (488 replies) 1 = 84.63% (413) 2 = 9.221% (45) 3 = 2.868% (14) 4 = 1.434% (7) 5 = 1.229% (6) 6 = 0.614% (3);
------ Q47 'How important is the quality of the countryside around Bleadon to you?' (550 replies) Very important = 87.81% (483) Important = 10.54% (58) Not very important = 0.909% (5) No opinion = 0.727% (4).
(Continued below)

(Continued from above) ------ Q48: 'Which elements of the countryside around Bleadon do you value?' Tranquility = 77.18% (494 replies) Openness = 67.5% (432) A place which provides my living = 10.93% (70) A place for walking or rambling = 55.46% (355) A place to ride or walk the dog = 39.68% (254) A place for fishing or shooting = 11.25% (72) A place of scenery and the natural world = 68.59% (439).
------ Q49: What do you think could be done to improve the environment of Bleadon? 1-Very Important, 2-Worth Doing, 3-Not Necessary, 4-Dont Know. 'Plant more trees?' (412) 1 = 26.21% (108) 2 = 47.57% (196) 3 = 22.33% (92) 4 = 3.883% (16); 'Cut down some trees?' (367) 1 = 1.907% (7) 2 = 10.08% (37) 3 = 81.19% (298) 4 = 6.811% (25); 'Look after woodlands (437) 1 = 55.14% (241) 2 = 41.87% (183) 3 = 0.228% (1) 4 = 2.745% (12); 'Keep hedges short and tidy on footpaths (463) 1 = 48.38% (224) 2 = 39.95% 185) 3 = 9.935% (46) 4 = 1.727% (8); 'Let hedges in fields grow naturally (394) 1 = 26.64% (105) 2 = 37.05% (146) 3 = 26.90% (106) 4 = 9.390% (37); Develop the river for leisure activities (421) 1 = 7.363% (31) 2 = 42.99% (181) 3 = 41.80% (176) 4 = 7.838% (33); 'Develop the river and Levels as a wildlife sanctuary?' (453) 1 = 32.89% (149) 2 = 55.40% (251) 3 = 7.947% (36) 4 = 3.752% (17); 'Develop the Coombe quarry as a wildlife sanctuary?' (465 replies) 1 = 21.07% (98) 2 = 57.20% (266) 3 = 14.62% (68) 4 = 7.096% (33).
------ Q50: 'Does Bleadon suffer from any of the following types of disturbance?' Traffic noise = 31.25% (200) Farm animals in gardens/on roads = 3.593% (23) Noisy visitors / residents = 10% (64) Low-flying aircraft = 17.81% (114) Noise pollution = 8.281% (53) Light pollution = 7.656% (49); 'Street Lighting outside residential areas?' (384) 1 = 26.30% (101) 2 = 16.14% (62) 3 = 15.88% (61) 4 = 7.031% (27) 5 = 34.63% (133).
------ Question: 57 Artificial lighting of premises and recreation facilities allows for increasing hours of use and improved night-time security, yet it contributes to 'light pollution'. How concerned are you about these lighting issues? Rate as 1 = most concerned to 5 = least concerned. 'Street Lighting outside residential areas?' (384) 1 = 26.30% (101) 2 = 16.14% (62) 3 = 15.88% (61) 4 = 7.031% (27) 5 = 34.63% (133); 'Urbanisation of rural areas?' (350) 1 = 53.14% (186) 2 = 16.57% (58) 3 = 16% (56) 4 = 4.285% (15) 5 = 10% (35); 'Security lighting?' (361) 1 = 26.31% (95) 2 = 13.29% (48) 3 = 29.08% (105) 4 = 10.52% (38) 5 = 20.77%; 'Light pollution (glare/flow)?' (358) 1 = 36.87% (132) 2 = 20.39% (73) 3 = 18.43% (66) 4 = 8.938% (32) 5 = 15.36% (55); 'Night working under lights?' (328) 1 = 25.91% (85) 2 = 11.89% (39) 3 = 21.95% (72) 4 = 6.402% (21) 5 = 33.84% (111); 'Illuminated signs?' (342) 1 = 24.85% (85) 2 = 16.66% (57) 3 = 28.36% (97) 4 = 7.017% (24) 5 = 23.09% (79); 'Impacts on wildlife?' (365) 1 = 54.79% (200) 2 = 15.89% (58) 3 = 15.06% (55) 4 = 6.301% (23) 5 = 7.945% (29);

------ SERVICES ------ Question: 60 Parish residents are supported by a limited range of local services, increasing the need to look further afield for supplies, service ond support. Are you satisfied with the accessibility of services?' (514 responses) Satisfied = 57.78% (297) No opinion = 31.51% (162) Dissatisfied = 10.70% (55). Apologies for submitting today but the system was down yesterday when we tried to submit this.

As you may have already seen, BOB's general observations for this application are on the post above.

Considering Bleadon's 20 year Parish Plan (adopted 2009), approximately 64% of residents who replied to the original questionnaires stated they had 'reservations' or 'definitely' did not want tourism encouraged. As the SNCI (Site of Nature and Conservation Interest) was also destroyed, which Bleadon Parish Council (BPC) complained to NSC about, it's hard to understand why BPC would have 'no objection' to this application. As Bleadon is an 'infill' development only village, hopefully NSC will be more protective of our rural environment especially as "
From NSC Corporate Plan (2015-19) "This plan is about making North Somerset an even better place by enabling people, businesses and communities to flourish. To do that we need to promote growth without compromising the things that we, and our millions of visitors, love about North Somerset: our beautiful countryside, stunning coast and distinctive towns and villages, each with their own unique character."

This site is outside the Bleadon settlement boundary and if approved will bring the total number of caravans/units in the Accommodation Road area to 310 compared to only 530 dwellings in the whole of Bleadon Parish (2011 Census) i.e. this area will be 60% as big as Bleadon's existing permanent residencies. If approved and successful this holiday park area will effectively act as an all year round residential village whose residents do not pay any local taxes, nor offer additional income to our Parish Precept (one of the highest in the area), but their visitors/residents will expect to use local services. Also with the other developments planned, this will potentially add several hundred more cars a day to the various dangerous Bleadon A370 junctions that are already being protested by Bleadon and Bleadon Hill residents .

As the caravan park has recently enlarged and enhanced its clubhouse facilities, residents may actually stay on site and may not patronise local business as frequently as implied, but the green fields will be taken away forever. It seems that tourists can already come and camp in that green field but having concrete and gravel bases for static and touring caravans and cars certainly will not improve the environmental vista for them, nor the public right of way footpath that goes through the site, which seems at odds with the park's own online brochure. The extensive landworks as part of their expansion, have already destroyed the natural and ancient wildlife SNCI habitat yet NSC seems not to have responded to the complaints made in late 2016. It's also not clear how many local residents will be employed , as opposed to those that travel to the area to work.

How does all of this fit with Brownfield sites and the national register due in December 2017? http://www.bleadon.org.uk/majordevelopments.html#LiamFoxHousing

So in our opinion, this is not only potentially bad for Bleadon residents but for all existing residents in the surrounding area who currently try to access public services, use our roads and enjoy our natural environment using picturesque footpaths. Hopefully NSC planning authorities will look at the holistic sustainable rural environmental picture and not just economic development 'tourism'.

May I ask your thoughts on the Riverside Holiday Park please?

Do you agree or disagree with the application?
What are your thoughts about the plan?
How do you think it will impact Bleadon?
Do you think it will promote tourism in the area?