Local Community Groups Being Offered Advice To Thrive

Residents living in Peasedown St John are being offered advice if they would like to set up their own Residents’ Association, or work closely together as a community group.

Cllr Sarah Bevan (Independent) has represented the village on Bath and North East Somerset Council since 2003, and as a result has been a part of many successful projects over the years.

She said: “Change can really happen in any community when local people work together. Especially the type of change that is brought about organically, from the grassroots, rather than from decision makers stuck in an office somewhere far removed from a community.

“Just recently I met up with residents in Hillside View, Peasedown St John, who wanted to discuss a wide range of issues with me.

“By working together they have developed a strong voice which is now starting to see results.”

The residents group, along with their spokesperson James Burton, raised the following issues:

• Wessex water’s handling of the recent sewerage leak in their street;
• Protruding pipe leading straight on to their street;
• Grit bin in wrong place and never refilled;
• Potholes along and down Hillside View with unactioned white markings several months old;
• Sagging road surface worsening with time;
• Hillside View street nameplate sited wrongly half way down Greenlands Road;
• Flooding drain too far away from flood site on Keels Hill at the junction with Hillside View;
• Sub station kerb stones broken/missing;

All of these issues were taken away and actioned.

Sarah added: “Thanks to these residents agreeing on what issues affect them all, rather than just a few, I’ve had a much stronger mandate to seek action on those issues raised.

“The first one in particular, Wessex Water’s handling of the recent sewerage leak, has led to the Highways Department stepping in to clean the sewerage system and removing blockages, despite the responsibility being clearly that of Wessex Waters.

“For this, the residents and I are grateful. I’m determined not to allow Wessex Water off the hook though!” 

Encouraged by their desire to make a change in their neighbourhood, Cllr Sarah Bevan is now offering support and advice to any residents who want to work more closely together as an organised group. 

For information call Sarah via 07792 379850 or email: [email protected].