The final part of a £400,000 pot of money ring-fenced for the community from a housing development in Peasedown St John is soon to be made available.
David Wilson Homes, who more than seven years ago announced plans to build 95 homes in Wellow Lane, have completed the new housing development with the showroom closing just a few weeks ago.
As with any large housing development, funding is always set aside for community services and amenities – often though with strict guidelines as to how it can be spent.
Peasedown St John councillor Nathan Hartley has led calls over the last two years for the funding to be spent as soon as it’s available, and has kept up the pressure on B&NES Council to meet its obligation to local people.
He commented: “It’s been a long, hard struggle to get the council to release and distribute the funding, but it’s been worth it.
“It’s always important that those living in a community can see how S106 money, that’s the money from housing developers, is spent.
“It’s hard to believe that this whole process started seven years ago. This gives us an idea of how long it could take to see funding from any future housing developments in the village.”
For Peasedown St John, the S106 money from the Wellow Lane housing development included:
- £91,000 – Peasedown St John Primary School, to cater for the rise in the number of school children.
- £224,000 – Parks and Open Spaces/Recreational use. Peasedown St John Parish Council have taken the lead on this funding. £90,000 is to be spent on a skate park on the Recreation Field, and £120,000 for a new play park in Beacon Field. (The remaining £14,000 is being held by B&NES Council as an administration fee).
- £35,000 for a roundabout at the southern end of the village. Cllr Nathan Hartley continues to lobby B&NES Council to make the extra funding available for this.
- £15,000 – Braysdown Lane traffic calming. After a recent consultation development works should start here soon.
This week, thanks to further lobbying from local councillors, the final £30,000 set aside for bus stop improvements in Wellow Lane and Wellow Mead has been released.
Community campaigner and parish councillor Karen Walker welcomed the news:
“I know this £30,000 will be well received by bus users, Somerbus and local school children who use these stops on a regular basis.
“I wrote to the transport department several weeks ago asking for investment and funding for new bus shelters. With this route being so well used, it’s certainly money put to good use.”
Karen and Nathan have been in regular contact with B&NES Council’s public transport department over when the funding can be spent.
Karen added: “Unfortunately, due to staff shortages and projects in Bath that have been prioritised, it could be another 12 months before works are carried out. It’s a wait, but we’ll ensure the local authority sticks to the timescale given to us. We’ll be writing to residents later this year with more details.”
