The 1998 Congresbury Character Statement

The 1998 Congresbury Character Statement

What is a Character Statement?

A village is a live community Like a living organism, it can grow or shrink, It responds to Its outside environment and has an effect on it. Growth can be the result of economic pressure, population increase or regional migration. People often come to live in a village because they like its 'character'. By coming to the village, they inevitably change and mould that character. Many would like their village to stay as they remember it from their childhood, or when they first came to the village, but we know that only change is constant.

A character statement is first of all a 'snapshot'. It says: this is our village today, at the end of the twentieth century. It gives a brief description of how we got here over the past decades and centuries, but it concentrates on what we have now. The village is its streets, houses, shops, churches, schools, farms, pubs, workplaces; its lanes, open spaces, playing fields; its river and surrounding fields, orchards and hills. It is also the roads and the buses to towns, the cars and lorries thundering through, the planes taking off overhead. Most importantly, the village is its people, from the youngest to the oldest, and their daily lives.

Status

A character statement goes beyond mere description. It says what it is we specially value and wish to preserve. It also says what we wish to change. It helps to remind us all that we are trustees of a precious inheritance: a good place to live. It helps us in our planning, so we do not spoil what we value for short term gain, but invest in a healthy and vibrant community. It also helps the planning authority (North Somerset Council in our case) to judge planning applications for future development. All development should enhance the positive aspects of the character of our village.

The character study is written in the context of the current Woodspring Local Plan which when adopted will be the statutory development plan.

Many recommendations supplement and support the policies, proposals and objectives of the Local Plan and may therefore require to be revised at the same time as the Local Plan. Of particular importance are policies CON/1 "design of new development" and CON/7 "environmental improvements".

A small number of recommendations are not planning related but are included in order to ensure that all the issues are viewed in the same context.

Implementation

By no means all of the measures recommended are within the gift of North Somerset Council. The onus will equally be on the local community to work up projects and find resources for implementation. The document therefore provides the basis for working in partnership.

The recommendations in bold type are implementation projects which will require local groups and North Somerset Council to agree responsibilities for progressing the ideas, resources permitting, and to liaise with relevant organisations

How has it come about?

The year 1996 saw three major initiatives in our village

Congresbury Village Appraisal

This carefully prepared survey yielded results based on replies from over half the households in the village. It gave a unique glimpse of how we live and how we view our life in Congresbury. It has helped us understand the concerns of villagers for safeguarding and improving our environment.

The Parish Map

The first panel of the embroidered tapestry project was completed and plans for the other four panels were unveiled. This community project has helped to focus, not only on our prominent buildings and village features, but also on the variety of businesses, organisations and societies which feature on the map.

The 'Vision 21' Initiative

'Our village at the crossroads' was the theme of a community conference which looked at our hopes and fears for the future of the village in the next century in the context of what we value and what we wish to change. The follow-up groups looked specifically at planning, transport, environmental and community issues.

The group which embarked on the character statement has drawn on all these initiatives. A day work shop included a walk round the village, discussing important features, and a photographic survey of the village and its surroundings.

Evolution of the village

Few parishes are named after a Saint which makes Congresbury unusual. St Congar, possibly the first British saint, was a Celtic missionary. It is believed that he built a church in the village and with others preached and ministered to the local population, perhaps as early as the late 5th century. Legend says that he planted his walking stick which took root and flourished into a tree providing shade inthe churchyard.

Almost the whole of the parish was until the mid-16th century owned either by the Crown or the Church. At the end of the 16th century that land was given to help found Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Bristol, whose trustees were Bristol's Mayor and Council.

Over the years, at different times, parcels of land were sold to private individuals, culminating in 1921 with the 'great sale' of over 2000 acres, an area less than half the parish. Even then not all the property was sold and not until 1975 was the village cross given to the Parish Council.

The physical development of the village has been constrained and affected by the river, the moors and the roads.

The parish boundary, now clearly shown on the Ordnance Survey map, was originally marked by stones, most of which still stand. One missing for over 100 years was replaced, following a public appeal, as part of the Parish Council Centenary celebrations.

Located between Bristol and Weston-super-Mare, the parish has always been close to an urban area, but far enough away to have its own identity. The building of the Bristol to Weston railway improved communications which were further enhanced in 1869 when the line from Cheddar to Yatton was opened with a station in Congresbury. The railway brought new markets for the farmers' produce and opened up work opportunities. Until that time most of the population had both lived and worked in this predominantly agricultural parish.

Two mills in Congresbury are mentioned in the Domesday Book and certainly from the 13th century a water mill at Iwood and another in the village made flour. When Iwood mill burnt down in 1892, the business was moved into the village. Both mills continued producing flour into the 20th century, when cattlefeed was introduced. The railway closed in 1963 and the mills ceased trading in1964 and 1966.

With the improved transport residents were able to seek work outside of the parish and this trend has continued. Congresbury's population grew from 1,167 in 1901 to 1,572 in 1961 and in the following ten years more than doubled to 3,397. The population at the last census in 1991 was 3,435 (1,257 households).

There has been, therefore, much new development, almost all of which is in and around the existing village. The majority of residents now work in Bristol or other nearby towns. The village caters for all ages, lifestyles, backgrounds, education, cultures, income and family life and provides a wide variety of housetypes and sizes. Future housing development should continue to meet the needs of the whole community.

The Memorial Hall, opened in 1920 to commemorate Congresbury men who fought and died in World War 1, has been used continuously since then by numerous clubs and associations. Thereare currently over 80 such organisations in the village, of which the oldest is the cricket club founded in 1844.

Details of all these are included in the village welcome booklet.

Situated in a beautiful part of the country, close to the Mendip Hills and surrounded by open countryside the village has gained a reputation for being friendly and 'special'. Newcomers have integrated into the community and enriched it. Indeed, those who come to the village soon settle and put down roots.

The ever growing volume of traffic on both the A370 and the B3133 bring constant problems and pollution. Large scale development on the moors has so far been resisted but there have been proposals for a holiday village at nearby Puxton and for an landfill site close to the A370.

Despite the changes, Congresbury is still a very good place to live with the parishioners passionately concerned that the quality of life in the village and parish must be maintained and enhanced.

Village Life - Protecting the character

Employment

From being the main source of employment in the village in the past, agriculture and horticulture now employonly 6% of those working. The cattlefeed mills have long since closed andthere are only a few farms that still milkcows. By far the majority of those employed travel to Bristol or elsewhere to work although a significant proportionare self-employed. New employment opportunities should be encouraged within the village where appropriate.

The largest employer in the village is the Cadbury Garden Centre which employs 150 people. Round Trees Garden Centre is also continuing to expand. The Elliott Group which manufacture mobile classrooms employ 70 people but most other employers in the village employ only a few staff in garages, shops and professional services. There is also a golf course at Brinsea and a large equestrian centre at Urchinwood Manor.

Shopping

Before the expansion of the village in the 1960s, most of the shops were located in Broad Street and on the A370. As more people came to live in the village new shops were built adjacent to the Memorial Hall and a new shopping precinct on the corner of Stonewell Lane.There has been some turnover of shops and a few have closed. At the present time the village is well served with all the basic commodities available locally.

The main shops are: chemist, post office, butchers, two grocery shops with off licence, newsagents, ironmongers, and bakers. There are also two estate agents, four hairdressers, two double glazing suppliers, an art shop, craft shop and sports shop. In addition there is a takeaway food shop, fish and chip shop and a small cafe. There are eight public houses in the parish which also serve food. Both banks have closed. Most people currently travel to Weston-super-Mare or Bristol for their main shopping trips. It is therefore important to maintain and enhance facilities within the village which may encourage more people to shop locally.

Schools

There are two schools in the village. The Glebe Infants school admits children from the age of four and at seven they transfer to the adjoining St Andrew's Junior school. Both schools have been built in the last twenty-five years and offer excellent facilities although the accommodation is in need of repair. They are both located in their own landscaped grounds which have wildlife areas and the Junior school also has a playing field. The North Somerset Music Service base is in the Junior School grounds and it operates across North Somerset, providing music support for schools, and arranging concerts in the village. The community pre-school playgroup is housed in the grounds of the Junior School and a playgroup operates at the Methodist Church. There is also a private playgroup and child care establishment, the Secret Orchard. At the age of 11 most children attend Churchill Community School which is developing community facilities for surrounding villages. Because of the distance they are taken by coaches from Congresbury.

Community Facilities

Two Doctors and the District Nurse service operate from the medical centre on Station Road. A nursing home provides care for 40 people on the outskirts of the village. Anyone requiring hospital attention has to travel to Weston-Super-Mare, Bristol or to the cottage hospital at Clevedon.

Meeting space is available at the Old School Rooms, Memorial Hall and the Methodist Church Hall. There are numerous clubs and organisations including art classes, the village choir, History Group, WI and Ladies Friendly which provide for a wealth of interests and activities, catering for all tastes. There is a very enthusiastic Horticultural Society who organise a spring, summer and autumn show.

North Somerset Council runs the library which has recently moved to the Old School Rooms. Recycling facilities are located in the riverside car park and there are well used allotments between Woodhill and the A370.

Youth Facilities

There are very successful Scout and Guide troops in the village with their own headquarters. The local Wildlife Watch group hold regular meetings and manage the Hannah Marshman field as a wildlife meadow. St Andrew's church is also hoping to expand its youth based activities.

A Youth Club is run by North Somerset Council in a temporary building in the riverside car park. A Youth Council, along the lines of the Parish Council, has recently been set up. Other initiatives being considered to improve youth facilities in the village are a basket ballcourt, a meeting place, and the provision of computer facilities.

Sports and Leisure Facilities

The King George V playing field was given to the village by the late Donald Harvey in 1936. It is administered by the Recreation Club on behalf of the National Playing Fields Association. There is a cricket pitch, hard tennis courts, a football practice pitch and a children's play area. The Parish Council purchased additional land to the west of the King George V playing field in 1980 which is known as the Broadstone Playing Field. The field provides two football pitches and a third eleven cricket pitch.

The Recreation Club is keen to obtain more land for team games such as rugby and hockey and for a variety of other sports. Options for suitable land which might offer the potential of consolidating the sporting provision in the village should be explored. There is a well used bowling green and the Club hope to build a new clubhouse.

Congresbury has never had a village green. The area behind the library, adjacent to the river provides an opportunity to create a natural centre to the village. Negotiations are on-going with the landowner, North Somerset Council and the Countryside Commission to develop this land as a Millennium Village Green, for the benefit of the village. The village lacks a children's play area to the north of the river and oneis planned to be incorporated as part of this scheme.

Land has been donated to the village behind the High Street. A community orchard may be an appropriate use of the site and if villagers agree, it is hoped the site could be planted in time for the Millennium.

River Yeo

Being low lying with a river running through the middle of the village, floods have always been a threat. The last great flood occurred in 1968 when the whole of the centre of the village was submerged up to 6 feet deep. Flood defences in the village have been improved since that date (to a 1 in 50 year event) and the water quality of the river has also improved.

Despite flooding being a threat to property and lives, the river considerably enhances the village providing visual aswell as recreational benefits. There is a very successful fly fishing club which has made considerable improvements to the river and its banks. Tree planting is on-going and the river is stocked with brown and rainbow trout.

Drainage

All of the sewage from the village is collected into three pumping stations and discharged to the treatment works at Wick St Lawrence. Wessex Water has responsibility for the disposal of sewage and a new system was installed some 25 years ago. There have been problems with the mains bursting on occasions and the village depends on pumps. In the event of a serious breakdown, there maybe considerable local pollution and flooding. The pumps and the mains serving the installation are nearing capacity.

Most of the surface water drainage is to soakaways and the network of rhynes and ditches that serve the area. These are maintained by the West Mendip Internal Drainage Board. Surface water is a matter of great concern to the village and the farmers who farm the moors. Any major increase in the volume of water that eventually drains onto the moors has to be carefully controlled.

Electricity to the village is supplied from the main sub-station at Langford. The appearance of the village in places (particularly within the Conservation Area) is marred by the overhead cables and large metal pylons.

Recommendations

• Development which is inappropriate by way of scale and/or character should be resisted.

• New residential development within the settlement boundary should meet the housing needs of the whole community; including affordable housing provision for young people ,single people, families, the elderly and the disabled

• New employment opportnnities for local people should be investigated.

• The former Library site should be redeveloped for community uses, including a basketball court.

• Local shops, community facilities and businesses should be supported and changes of use from existing employment sites to residential should be resisted.

• Further recreational facilities should be explored to consolidate sporting provision in the village.

• A new children's play area should be developed north of the river.

• Youth facilities should be improved.

• A Millenium village green is proposed on land behind the car park, adjacent to the river. It is hoped to incorporate a children's play area and to link this land, via a new footbridge, to land behind the High Street which is hoped to be planted as a community orchard.

The landscape and countryside

Congresbury lies in the North Somerset Levels and Moors, an area known locally as the Northmarsh. It is a unique region of countryside north of the Mendip Hills which forms part of the wider Somerset Levels and Moors, being predominately low lying marsh and moorland. Congresbury itself nestles on the edge of the levels with the nearby wooded hills providing good vantage points.

The settlement is split by the most important river of the area, the Congresbury Yeo, which used to be tidal as far as the village. To the west thecountryside is characterised by a networkof rhynes and ditches across the low lying land, some of which existed as early as the 14th century but were greatly enhanced in the 19th century to reduce the risk of flooding and improve agriculture. Looking across to the east the land is slightly drier with a pattern of smaller fields and meadows that are regularly grazed.

A majority of the trees in the area are willow, growing along the rhynes, with the local hedges rich in hawthorn. There are still a handful of orchards left although there were dozens within the parish a century ago when cider making was a major local trade. There is even avariety of apple named after the village,the 'Congresbury Beauty'!

There are, neverthless, substantial groupings of trees in and around the village which, together with the informal pattern of buildings, soften the edge of the settlement. A good vantage point to view the village is to the north from Cadbury Hill, an important Iron Age fort, and also now designated as a Local Nature Reserve. From here Congresbury can be seen to comprise two different halves, one to the north and one to the south of the river.

A great majority of the buildings blend in well with the surroundings, most with reddish! brown and grey tiles. Looking across the rooftops and the liberally interspersed trees, the colours easily blend into the surrounding countryside which stretches away into the distance.

Congresbury is indeed situated in a beautiful part of the country with a great variety of colour and life both in the village and in the surrounding landscape.

Wildlife

The area is rich in wildlife with many species that, although common here, are rare elsewhere in Britain. The management of the network of rhynes and ditches which drain the Levels and Moors has varied over the centuries and has led to the particularly interesting and varied plantand animal communities.

The rhynes support wetland vegetation and provide habitats for high numbers of invertebrates. For example, there are 37 species of water beetle, two of which are nationally rare and three of which are scarce, and 20 species of water snails. Indeed, in view of the national importance of many of these rhynes, the watercourses and their banks between Congresbury and Yatton (Biddle Street) have been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

The richness of invertebrates, in turn, feeds good fish populations. A great variety of birds, both resident and migratory, such as heron, kingfisher, redwing and snipe are attracted to the area. Amphibians and reptiles are also well represented with frogs, toads and newts all breeding in significant numbers. The grass snake and slow worm are relatively common creatures here. Mammals are also strongly in evidence, with a badger sett in the village itself and brown hare recorded across the Levels and Moors.

The water courses and other linear features of the hedgerows and the disused Cheddar Valley Railway line (designated a Local Nature Reserve) act as wildlife corridors providing routes for animals to travel and plants to disperse.

Woodlands in the parish are also important for wildlife with King's Woodand Urchin Wood designated a SSSI.

The Hannah Marshman field is managed as a wildlife meadow and the wetland area behind Well Park is also being managed for wildlife.

Recommendations

• The landscape, hydrology and ecology of the Levels and Moors is too fragile to sustain any significant development. Thus, any large scale development which would harm this important area should be opposed.

• An appropriate protective designation for the North Somerset Levels and Moors should be considered

• The open vistas of the Levels and Moors and important views of the village should be preserved.

• All development should respect the character of the landscape.

• Any new development on the village edge should be in keeping with both the surrounding properties and the countryside and give high priority to landscape design, to protect and enhance the external view of the village.

• Particular attention should be paid to maintaining backs of gardens and buildings on the edges of the village. Where possible, native tree and hedge species for shelter and screening should be planted.

• All trees which contribute to the character of the village and the surrounding landscape should be safeguarded.

• Water quality of the rivershould be protected.

• Additional planting along the river bank should be considered.

• The use of Leylandi and other non-native species should be discouraged.

• Wildlife should be protectedand enhanced. In particular:-

• The wildlife corridor network should be maintained and enhanced with the sympathetic management of rhynes and the restoration of historic hedgerows.

• Habitat creation should form part of farm diversification schemes.

• Local landowners should be made aware of the opportunities available for grant aid that could assist the sympathetic management of key areas for wildlife.

• Developers, landowners and householders can protect existing wildlife environments and help create new habitats in the form of copses, hedgerows, ditches and ponds and open spaces of rough grassland.

• Landowners, community groups and individuals, should plant native. species to retain landscape character and to benefit wildlife within the parish.Woodlands should be actively managed.

• Roadside planting should been couraged and hedgerows adjacent to highways sensitively managed.

• Orchards are part of the village heritage. They should be retained and if possible enhanced. The planting of new orchards should been couraged.

Map of the Village

Due to Copyright restrictions it is not possible to present the map on this site, however a map can be viewed by clicking here

Built Environment

The river Yeo and its flood plain divide the village into two distinct areas. To the north of the river the land slopes down from Cadbury Hill with development located to the east of the A370, north of the flood plain. The majority of the built-up part of the village is located on the level ground to the south of the river.

The historic core of Congresbury lies close to the road bridge (A370) over the river. The character of the village is very diverse with a mixture of old buildings and more recent development of varying design and materials. Stone boundary walls are a common unifying feature. Buildings are interspersed by three main areas of open space: adjacent to the river, surrounding the Church and the KingGeorge V playing fields

The parish can be broadly divided intofour areas:

i) historic core;

ii) south of the river;

iii) north of the river;

iv) remainder of the parish

Historic Core The village grew up around the church, with the historic core based around the Churchyard, Broad Street, High Street, Paul's Causeway and Mill Lane. In view of its importance in historic and architectural terms, this area was designated a Conservation Area in 1990. St Andrew's Church is a grade 1 Listed Building of 13th century origin which was built on the site of an earlier, possibly 7th century, Minster. Its prominent spire is visible for miles around. The open space surrounding the church makes a significant contribution to the character of this part of the village.

Other particularly important buildings are the Refectory (also listed Grade 1), the Court House, the Old Rectory, the Birches and the Ship and Castle pub. The village (market) cross at the junction of Broad Street and High Street is an important local landmark. This and the cross in the churchyard are both designated as Scheduled Ancient Monuments. Indeed, the village has a very high archaeological importance, being perhaps one of the most significant areas in North Somerset.

Many of the village facilities, including several shops, pubs, the car park and public toilets, schools, meeting rooms and the garage are located within this part of the village. Several shop fronts in Broad Street are of traditional design with stallrisers. In other parts of the village shop fronts are generally of modern design. Street furniture and lighting is also of generally good quality in this part of the village although elsewhere it is of standard design. There is an unfortunate proliferation of signs, particularly on the A370 and in Broad Street.

The site of the old mill is now the Elliott Medway factory which could benefit from additional tree planting where it adjoins the river. Mill Leg is an attractive narrow footpath which links Weir Road, the weir and Mill Lane.

This part of the village is characterised by a mixture of building types, ages and styles. The traditional cottages are constructed from local random limestone or render with small gabled roofs, chimneys, and red/brown tiles. Windows are generally small paned, sometimes with brick surrounds. More recent development comprises largely rendered two storey dwellings although there is some brick and a few modern bungalows including two areas of sheltered accommodation.

Boundary walls have traditionally used the same local stone as the buildings, often with cock and hen cappings (alternating tall and small randomstones). Many of the stone walls remain, especially in High Street, Station Road and Paul's Causeway.

On Station Road, there is a mix of uses including the schools, garage and car showrooms. Between some attractive stone cottages and the Prince of Wales pub is a new housing association development which is some what isolated from the rest of the village and uses materials which are out of keeping.

South of the river

To the south of the Conservation Area residential development on TheCauseway is mostly two storey and of a wide mix of age, scale and style. Density is relatively low but there is little relationship between individual properties. This part of the village is dominated by the King George V Playing fields which is an important focal point for the community.

Stonewell

Stonewell Lane, with its grass verges, instead of pavements, stone walls and several attractive old properties (including Stonewell Farm) has a strong rural feel. It leads down to Rookery Farmwhere several barns have been converted to residential use. Off Stonewell Lane is the Stonewell estate, a 1960's fairly low density development of two storey dwellings, constructed of brick and render with open plan front gardens.

The Precinct

Between the Stonewell estate and Brinsea Road, is the shopping precinct, car park and Tincknells, the local agricultural suppliers. There are a few pleasant trees but the precinct and car park suffer problems of litter and neglect and would greatly benefit from an enhancement scheme to improve the landscaping, pedestrian access and surfacing and repair the stone walls.

Silver Street & Silverstone Way

To the south, Silverstone Way, is a 1960's built estate of two storey dwellings on its east side and bungalows on its west side. Yew Tree Park is a small open plan estate of 1960's chalet houses and bungalows, built almost entirely gable end to road.

At the western end of Silver Street, SilverStreet House is a converted 17th century farmhouse. Most of the remainder of Silver Street is made up of a mix of houses and bungalows built between 1950-1990, some set far back from the road. Silver Mead (1984) is a small group of large properties, built in a reddish brick, acolour not in keeping with materials usedelsewhere in the village.

Brinsea Road and Park Road

Brinsea Road, which joins High Street at the Plough pub, is bordered mainly by houses of various periods and designs, some close to the road, others set well back in front gardens. The Spotted Horse pub is a red brick 1930's building whose looks do not sit comfortably with the local village environment. Next to it Waverley Court is a small, unsympathetic infill development of densely packed 1990's mock-Tudor houses.

To the east of Brinsea Road, Park Road sweeps round in a long curve to join Venus Street to the south, with several cul-de-sacs (Weir Road, Homefield, Mulberry Road) off it. The estate, built in the early 1960's comprises various house types semi-detached, detached, chalet-bungalows and bungalows. Most are set well back from the road, with open plan front gardens, or have very low walls or timber rails. There is some use of grey reconstituted stone, as well as render, tile-hanging and timber-clad facades.

Off Park Road, The Lyes is a small 1980's development of executive houses, with open plan front gardens. There is also a recent development of four brick dwellings. The Housing Association development of Cadbury and Bramley Squares was built in the late 1970's. It represents an efficient use of space but suffers from large expanses of brick wall and monopitched roofs. There is a small play area in need of enhancement. Beyond the 1960's houses on Mulberry Road, there is a recent development of small detached houses of varying designs, built on an old orchard.

Venus Street

Venus Street is an area comprised entirely of housing of extraordinary variation. At its west end are six semi-detached council houses. Opposite are 1960's houses and there are bungalows on Nomis Park. Farther along there is, at fairly low density, a wide mix of house types and sizes. Yeoman's Orchard (the only thatched property in the village), and Pineapple Farm are listed buildings, Yew Tree Farm is another fine old farmhouse.

Stone walls, hedges, fences, mature trees and verges combine to give this part of the village a rural feel and there is a footpath to the river. This area is archeologically important with a group of Romano-British pottery kilns which possess substantial remains of national importance.

North of the River

Pasture land adjoins the river on both sides of the A370 and divides the village into its northern and southern parts. It is particularly important that this land, which makes a significant contribution to the rural character of the village, is kept open.

Kent Road / Wrington Lane

Several interesting old buildings are clustered along Kent Road (the old Bristol Road) together with the art shop(the old Temperance House) and the Bell Inn. Some of the old houses have stone cheeses to keep vehicles from damaging the walls. There are some large individual properties off Wrington Lane, of varying age, types and materials. Both Kent Road and Wrington Lane, with their attractive stone walls, mature trees, hedges and hedge banks, retain the feel of country lanes.

The remainder of this part of the village is characterised by 1950's, 1960's and 1970's estate development and some recent infill development. Off Wrington Lane, Wrington Mead (1966) is a fairly high density brick open plan development, making good use of the hill on which it is sited.

Cobthorn/ Weetwood/ Verlands is a estate of largely two storey dwellings built during the 1960's and 1970's in a variety of materials. The development is mainly open plan with mature landscaping although many properties are enclosed by white corral style fences. Between Kent Road and the A370, Sheppy's Mill is a modern high density development of brick and reconstituted stone houses.

Southlands

Southlands Way/ Hill Park is a local-authority built estate of, mostly two storey housing, constructed between 1949 and 1968 in a variety of materials. The estate is some what isolated from the rest of the village, and could benefit from additional landscaping. The development falls from Hill Park, one of the few hills in the village, towards the river. On the southern side of the estate are the 1970'sand 1980's brick built bungalows on Well Park.

A few older properties front onto Bristol Road and there are a cluster of houses on Smallway, close to the garden centres.

Remainder of the parish

There is a cluster of farms and cottages at Brinsea and Honey Hall to the south of the village. Elsewhere, there is a mixture of farm buildings, in agricultural or light industrial use, farmhouses, converted barns and purpose built dwellings. Numerous temporary or equestrian buildings have been constructed on the Levels and Moors, many out of place in the Levels landscape. The unsightly car breakers yards on the A370 could benefit from screening.

Iwood Manor, with the remains of the old water mill, is the only original manor house in the parish and dates from the 13th century. Urchinwood Manor, now an equestrian centre, was originally Urchinwood Farm. Over the river Yeo sit three old stone bridges. In the most northerly part of the parish is Cadbury Country Club, a blend of Victorian with later additions, Hillcourt which stands on Frost Hill, and a number of large properties in the woods.

Recommendations

• In order to protect the character of the village residential development should not be permitted outside the settlement boundary as defined in the Woodspring Local Plan.

• The character, appearance and setting of the Conservation Area should be preserved and enhanced.

• Scheduled Ancient Monuments and Listed Buildings must be protected and preserved.

• Cables should be placed underground wherever possible, especially within the Conservation Area.

• Open spaces within the village should be retained.

• Important views into and out of the village should be protected.

• All traditional stone boundary walls should be retained and repaired where necessary. Where new developmentad joins existing stone walls, it should incorporate matching stone boundary walls.

• Original features such as windows, doors and railings which contribute to the character of the building / area should be retained. Replacement windows and doors should match the original in terms of size, design, colour and materials.

• The scale, design and materials of any redevelopment or new development (including extensions) must be appropriate to the area in which it is located.

• New dwellings should not generally be above two storeys in height. Roofs should be in proportion to the bulk of the building. Roofs should usually be gabled. Flat roofs should be replaced by pitch roofs where appropriate.

• Any new dwellings should be of simple, unfussy design and proportions, be appropriate to the village setting and pay careful attention to detail. Standard designs should be avoided. Durable materials should be used.

• Red or dark coloured brick and bright red roof tiles should be avoided.

• Shop fronts, street furniture and lighting should be appropriate in design and materials to the village setting.

• The proliferation of signs should be avoided.

• An environmental enhancement scheme should be implemented to improve the Shopping Precinct / carpark.

• The public toilets should be improved.

• Developers and landowners should be aware of the possible archaeological importance of their sites. Anyground breaking activity with in the historic village core may have an impact on areas of great archaeological importance and this should be taken into account when development is proposed.

• The historic fabric and archaeology of Congresbury has great potential for educational and recreational use. Local access should be encouraged where appropriate.

• The proliferation of new buildings, particularly equestrian related buildings, on the Levels and Moors should be strictly controlled in relation to their impact on this important landscape.

• Additional native tree and hedge planting should be used to screen unsightly areas such as the rear of the Elliott Medway site and the car breakers yards on the A370.

• The stone bridges over the river Yeo should be retained and repaired where necessary.

Traffic and transport

Access to the nearby towns from if, Congresbury by road is good with Weston-super-Mare only 8 miles away. The busy A370 Bristol to Weston-super-Mare Road passes through the village where it is joined by the B3133 Brinsea Road, which connects the A370 to the A38, at a signal controlled junction near to the village cross.

Despite a 40 mph speed restriction on the A370 approach to the village and a 30mph limit through the village itself and on the B3133, the speed and volume of traffic remains a major concern to villagers. Parts of the village, especially Brinsea Road, lack footways, making walking around the village hazardous and intimidating at busy times. There are no designated cycleways in the village and cycling along the main roads is unpleasant.

With the majority of those working travelling by car to their places of work and parents driving their children to the local schools, traffic problems through the village are exacerbated during peaktimes.

Congresbury is on the main Bristol to Weston-super-Mare bus route and services to these destinations are adequate. Access to other towns such as Clevedon and to Yatton railway station by bus is, however, poor.

The increasing air traffic at Bristol airport is aggravating problems of noise pollution and traffic in the village, particularly at night.

In order to alleviate some of the traffic problems experienced by the village, various initiatives are proposed. It is considered particularly important to attempt to reduce the amount and speed of vehicular traffic movement through the village, reduce pollution and improvefacilities for walking and cycling. Indeed, a recent pavement audit identified a number of areas for improvement. Further work is in progress to determine whether there are safe routes for cyclists.

Rights of Way

The parish is well served with a network of public footpaths both within the built-up area of the village and throughout the surrounding countryside. These footpaths have been established over the centuries. The Footpaths Group help ensure the footpaths are kept open and are properly maintained. There are only a limited number of bridleways in the parish with horse riders unfortunately having to use the roads.

One of the most attractive walks in the village is the Cheddar Valley Railway. This old railway line was acquired by the former Woodspring District Council in 1980. Responsibility for much of its maintenance was passed to the Cheddar Valley Railway Walk Society who look after the fences, gates and bridges. In partnership with the Society, North Somerset Council aim to create a cycleway along the route and, possibly, give access to horse riders. The construction of a footbridge over the Yeo would enable the disused railway to fulfil its original objective of providing a link between Congresbury, Yatton and Churchill.

Another popular route is the Two Rivers Walk which links Congresbury to Keynsham, following the Yeo through the parish to Wrington. It is hoped to possibly extend this to the coast in due course.

Congresbury is badly served with footbridges over the River Yeo. The main crossing is the road bridge on the A370. The width of the footway is restricted and the volume of traffic makes this a dangerous route. It is suggested that another bridge be constructed from the proposed village green to the land behind the High Street. This would establish a direct and safe route between the north and south parts of the village and open up areas of great visual value.

Recommendations

• A 50 mph speed restriction should be re-considered on the A370 between the village and Junction 21 of the M5. Consideration should also begiven to an extension of the speed restrictions beyond the current 30 mph limit on Brinsea road.

• Traffic calming measures should be considered to reduce the impact of traffic on the community. Priority should be given to Brinsea Road and Kent Road (which should be considered for declassification as a 'B'road).

• Pedestrian Priority Areas, where priority is given to pedestrians in preference to cars, should be considered, initially in Broad Street but in other residential areas if appropriate.

• Pedestrian crossing facilities should be reviewed on Brinsea Road, opposite the Precinct.

• A footway should be considered along Brinsea Road and Kent Road. New footways should, if practical, be provided in other areas where there is no existing provision.

• Existing footways contiguous with carriageways should be upgraded for width (where feasible) and surface condition in order to be accessible to all.

• Direct footpaths to and from village facilities should be upgraded where feasible.

• Public Rights of Way and permissive paths throughout the parish should be maintained, and where possible, improved. Open access to woodlands should be sought.

• New bridleways should be created without encroaching on existing footpaths.

• New footbridges should be constructed over the Congresbury Yeo to link the northern and southern parts of the village and provide a link to the Cheddar Valley Railway Walk.

• Sound absorbent road surfaces should be considered when Brinsea Road, High Street and Station Road are resurfaced.

• Cycle tracks should be investigated. Priority should be given to establishing a route from the village to Churchill School and to the creation of a cycle path along the Cheddar Valley Railway.

• Secure cycle parking facilities should be provided at appropriate locations.

• Children should be encouraged to walk to the village schools.

• Bus services should be protected and, if possible, enhanced. Priority should begiven to improving the link to Yatton Railway Station. Facilities (such as bus shelters and timetables) should be provided to enhance bus use.

• The effects of any further expansion at Bristol airport on the village should be carefully examined.

• Interest in a car share scheme for the village has been sought. The main aim is to encourage car sharing for regular commuting journeys to work but journeys for shopping, recreation and hospitals may also be shared.

• It is planned to make available for general use vehicles such as the proposed Scout bus. In the longer term money may be raised to purchase a community minibus.

A tool for the future

This character statement has attempted to draw out some of the more prominent threads which make up the rich tapestry of a living village. Inevitably, such a process involves being selective and making judgements. A document of this nature cannot fully reflect every facet of our community or environment. The group involved in drawing up the document tried to come to a consensus where there were divergent views. It also attempted to ensure that its own judgements and recommendations are broadly in line with the views expressed through the Village Appraisal, the Community Conference and the series of follow up meetings held throughout the autumn and winter of 1996/7.

Consultation with the wider community was carried out during the autumn of 1997. The draft Character Statement was made widely available following the successful Congresbury Villagers Day. The response has been positive with only minor changes made to the document to fully reflect local resident's views. The document now sets out a broad consensus of opinion about the future of Congresbury for the next ten years or so.

Essentially, what we are offering is a tool for the future. Whenever changes are proposed from within our without our community, some might see benefit and some might see harm coming from it. We hope that the character statement can act as a basis for informed debate and sound decision making for the good of the whole village.

The adoption of the village character statement by North Somerset Council demonstrates the Council's intention to 'listen' to the community's interpretation of the local issues whilst maintaining the integrity of the planning policies in a plan-led process.

The span of this document which encompasses a wider number of issues than would normally be the case in a planning document and the style and ownership which the writers have brought to the report reinforces the intention of the Council to see local communities amplify their priorities both in terms of Local Agenda 21 and local needs.

The character statement provides the basis for working in partnership.

The local community will implement many of the recommendations in the document. Prioritisation and implementation of those recommendations to be implemented wholly or partly by North Somerset Council will need to be viewed and reviewed in relation to available resources and realistic timetables set.

The Council has also protected its statutory position in adopting a document which takes account of the Council's statutory duty as a local planning authority. Accordingly, the document complies with the guidance given by the Countryside Commission and National Planning Guidance in PPG 1 and PPG7. The Woodspring Local Plan is the extant development plan and the recommendations comply with the policies in the Local Plan.

May 1998