Dispute over parish border

TWO parish councils are at loggerheads over the second part of a review of parish boundaries being carried out in North Somerset.

North Somerset Council has been carrying out community governance reviews under the Local Government and Public Involvement Health Act 2007, since February last year.

Parish boundaries in Backwell, Easton-in-Gordano, Portbury, Wrington and Yatton could change within 18 months.

Many of the proposed changes have been accepted by neighbouring parish councils, but the parish councils in Backwell and Wrington are in disagreement with one another over what to do.

The review looks at parish boundaries and parish council electoral arrangements, in addition to the provision of parish council wards and allocated parish councillor numbers, and wants to know what people think.

The majority of the second part of the review is looking at Weston and its surrounding areas, including Congresbury.

Backwell's boundary with Wrington has been earmarked for change, but the parish councils disagree on whether those boundary changes are justified.

The current boundary on Downside Road does not consistently follow the centre of the road, running to the rear of some properties on the north side of the road, leading to what has been described as "an anomalous position".

Backwell Parish Council feels that Bristol International Airport's perimeter fence should form the boundary, running from the south of Downside Road from the A38 westwards to its junction with Hyatts Wood Road.

But Wrington Parish Council says its boundary with Backwell in the Downside Road area should stay unchanged.

Backwell parish and district councillor Tom Collinson abstained from voting on the issue at the last meeting of the council, saying the decision should only be made after speaking to all the residents directly affected.

He said: "I take the view that boundary negotiations have to be done amicably. I'm very keen that the local people on the spot have their say in what they individually require."

There is more agreement on what should happen on the other side of Backwell at its border with Winford.

Ten houses would be transferred to Backwell parish under the proposals due to its currently "confusing" boundary with the parish of Winford.

Those properties located on the west side of the A38 Potters Hill would transfer from the Felton Ward of the parish of Winford to the parish of Backwell.

North Somerset Council's executive member Tony Lake, whose portfolio includes community partnership, said: "We want to hear from people with suggestions for changes or improvements to the current arrangements."

Draft recommendations from the first part of the review, along with maps of existing and proposed parish boundaries, can be seen at libraries in Nailsea, Weston and Worle.