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Archive for category: News

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Community Working Group – Meeting Update

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The next Community Working Group meeting will take place at Pilning Village Hall on Monday 24 August 2026, 6:30–8:00pm.

Representatives from Avon Wildlife Trust hope to attend to share their ecology report for Pilning Playing Field, including insights into local habitats and opportunities to enhance the flora and fauna on site. Their visit may also include a short show‑and‑tell session on the field’s wildlife and ecology.

Residents are warmly encouraged to come along.

Community event: Pizza nel Parco

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Severnside Events, an independent local group, is holding Pizza nel Parco at Severn Beach sea front on Saturday the 15th August 2026 – between 5pm and 9pm this Saturday.

It is great to see another community-led event taking place in the parish, bringing local people together and making use of our wonderful seafront.

Pilning & Severn Beach Parish Council is pleased to share the details as a community notice. The event is being organised by Severnside Events; the Parish Council is not connected with it and has no involvement in its organisation, management or delivery.

All enquiries relating to the event should be directed to Severnside Events.

Further information and updates are available on the Pizza nel Parco Facebook event page Pizza nel Parco Event – Facebook

Near‑Threatened Damselfly Possibly Recorded at Severn Beach Ponds

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A short visit to the two wildlife ponds at Severn Beach has produced a potentially significant find: a Scarce Blue‑tailed Damselfly, a species classed as Near Threatened on the GB Red List. The sighting has been sent to an expert for confirmation, if verified, would join only a handful of entries at Bristol Regional Environmental Records Centre. It was previously noted at Severn Beach (around 2012) and Almondsbury.

Insect Highlights

Pond 1: Clouded Yellow, Common Blue, Gatekeeper, Large White, Small Heath; Common Darter, Emperor, possible Scarce Blue‑tailed Damselfly, Broad‑bodied Chaser, Migrant Hawker; Numerous Drone Flies.

Pond 2: Common Blue, Clouded Yellow, Gatekeeper; Common Darter, Blue‑tailed Damselfly, Emperor, Southern Migrant Hawker, Ruddy Darter.

Birds Visiting the Ponds

Canada Geese (28), Linnet (15), Chaffinch (4), Goldfinch (3), and Swallow (4) feeding low over the water.

Butterfly and dragonfly records will be submitted to BRERC. Photos taken include the suspected Scarce Blue‑tailed Damselfly, Southern Migrant Hawker, Common Darter and Emperor.

Severn Estuary Partnership – Severn Estuary Big Beach Clean 2026!

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Running from 18–27th September 2026, this annual event brings together local authorities, partner organisations, businesses, groups, schools, beach cleaning groups, and individuals from across the estuary to help clean up our coastline.

We’re proud to be partnering with the Marine Conservation Society once again on the Great British Beach Clean, ensuring that local action across the Severn Estuary contributes to a wider national effort to tackle marine litter and protect our coastal environment.

How can you get involved?
If you’d like to organise a litter pick, we’d love to hear from you. Please email severn@cardiff.ac.uk with the following details:
Location: Where will your beach clean take place? (Please include a postcode if possible.)
Date: Which day(s) will you be out cleaning?
Time: What time will you start, and how long do you expect to clean for?
Promotion: Are you planning to promote the event through social media, newsletters, emails, posters, local news outlets, or other channels? Let us know!
Support: Is there any support we can offer to help make your clean-up even more impactful?

See the link to the poster below for details and QR codes to sign up

SEBBC A4 Poster (ENG)

 

Wessex Water responds to Parish Council enquiries

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A Parish Councillor attended Wessex Water’s community drop-in session in Thornbury to raise two matters concerning its water recycling centre on New Passage Road.

The first related to the quality of the treated water discharged into Chessell Pill. Wessex Water subsequently provided its mean sampling results alongside the site’s permitted limits:

Measurement Mean result Permit limit
Ammonia as nitrogen 0.8 10
Biochemical Oxygen Demand 7.79 20
Chemical Oxygen Demand 26.45 125
pH 7.4 9
Suspended solids 9.57 40

The company stated that these are the substances it is required to monitor at the site and that the reported results are within the permitted limits. Phosphorus may also be present but is not currently included in the Environment Agency’s monitoring requirements for this facility.

The second matter concerned the potential conflict between Wessex Water’s HGV movements and pedestrians and cyclists using New Passage Road. The Parish Council asked the company to approach South Gloucestershire Council, support the prioritisation of an extension to the footway as far as the facility’s entrance and consider contributing towards the cost.

Wessex Water responded that it would not be able to provide funding for the road improvement, as it considers the work to be the responsibility of the local authority.

The Parish Council will consider both responses and any appropriate follow-up action at a forthcoming meeting.

Wessex Water – Community Drop in

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Do you have a query about your water bill, how to save water and prevent blockages, or your water and sewerage services?

@wessexwater will be holding a drop-in session in

Spitfire Hangar, Frise Street, Brabazon, Filton BS34 4AE on

Friday 28th August at 10-12 to answer all your water related questions.

To find out more, visit: https://www.wessexwater.co.uk/community-drop-ins

The Big Conversation on Care: Have Your Say

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Pilning & Severn Beach residents are invited to take part in the Big Conversation on Care, a national initiative launched by the Independent Commission on Adult Social Care. This is your opportunity to help shape what a future National Care Service for England could look like.

The Commission notes that councils “see the pressures on people who draw on care and support, families, and indeed your own staff” and that meaningful reform must start with listening to the public from the outset. The Big Conversation on Care provides a platform for everyone to share views, ideas, and experiences — whether you use care services, care for someone else, work in the sector, or simply want to influence how care should work in the future.

Why Your Voice Matters

The Commission highlights that adult social care has faced years of rising need, funding pressures, and stalled reform. To build a strong public mandate for change, they are asking communities across the country to get involved and help answer key questions about:

  • Who care should be for
  • How families should be supported
  • How a future system should be funded

Take Part Online

You can share your views and see what others are saying through the national online platform:

http://caseycommission.co.uk/bigconversation/

A Message from the Commission

Baroness Casey writes: “We want to hear from as many people as possible and councils will know best how to reach people in their communities.”

Bristol Water Priority Services Register – how to register

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Following the serious water leak which left many homes in Severn Beach and Pilning without water over the weekend, during exceptionally hot weather, residents may wish to check whether they or someone in their household is eligible to join Bristol Water’s Priority Services Register.

We recognise how difficult and distressing the prolonged loss of water was for affected residents, particularly those with medical conditions, disabilities, restricted mobility, young children or other additional needs.

The Priority Services Register does not guarantee an uninterrupted water supply or that an individual property’s supply will be restored first. However, it helps Bristol Water identify customers who may need additional communication and practical support during a disruption. Depending on individual circumstances, this can include updates about supply interruptions and the provision of emergency bottled water.

You may be eligible if you or someone in your household:

  • has a disability or medical condition;
  • has restricted mobility or a short-term injury;
  • has a mental health condition or is neurodivergent;
  • has a sight, hearing or speech condition;
  • is aged over 65; or
  • is aged five or younger.

How to register

Registration is free and takes only a few minutes.

Complete Bristol Water’s online registration form

Alternatively, telephone Bristol Water on 0345 600 3600:

  • Monday to Friday: 8.00 am–6.00 pm
  • Saturday: 9.00 am–1.00 pm
  • Closed on bank holidays

Residents who receive home dialysis should contact Bristol Water to make sure they are included on the register.

SGC DORIS Youth Bus Visiting Severn Beach – 11 August

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South Gloucestershire Council’s Young People’s Drug and Alcohol Service (YPDAS) will be visiting Severn Beach Village Hall Car Park on Tuesday 11 August between about 12:30pm and 4pm as part of a targeted outreach day, bringing the DORIS youth bus to support local young people.

YPDAS, part of the Council’s Public Health team, provides confidential advice, information and early intervention for young people who may be at risk of harm from drugs or alcohol. Outreach sessions are designed to reach those who may not attend schools, youth clubs or other formal settings, and who may be more vulnerable to exploitation or substance‑related risks.

The DORIS youth bus offers a safe, welcoming space with music, refreshments and interactive activities. Staff will be on hand to encourage open conversation, answer questions and provide harm‑reduction guidance. Visual learning tools, including the well‑known “drug box”, will be available to support discussion.

Specialist workers Esther and Toni will be leading the session and engaging with young people in the area throughout the day.

Residents are encouraged to share this information with families and young people who may benefit from informal support or advice.

Environment Agency Confirms Maintenance Arrangements for Riverside Park Sea Wall

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The Environment Agency (EA) has provided updated information on the maintenance of the Riverside Park sea‑wall embankment, following the Parish Council’s recent enquiry.

Annual Maintenance

The Environment Agency will cut the grassed embankment once per year between July and September, a schedule agreed with Natural England to balance flood‑risk inspection needs with environmental protection.

The embankment borders the Severn Estuary’s Ramsar, SPA, SAC and SSSI designations, requiring all works to be approved by Natural England.

Maintenance Activity

Draft maintenance plans confirm:

  • Annual cutting of the grass bank
  • Strimming or herbicide treatment of the masonry revetment

Vegetation clearance for 2026 has begun at Aust and will progress south to include Riverside Gardens.

Inspection and Condition

The defence is inspected under the EA’s T98 visual inspection process and is currently graded 3 – Fair, typical for its age. Clearance works will support full inspection and help prevent deeper root growth.

Responsibility

The EA confirmed it is responsible for maintaining this defence under a long‑term agreement with South Gloucestershire Council, running until 2085.

Reporting Issues

Environmental concerns can be reported via gov.uk/report‑environmental‑problem or the EA incident hotline: 0800 80 70 60.

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