Terry Yarwood was welcomed as a new member of the Council following his co-option at the Parish Council Meeting on Monday 17 April. The Council are grateful to Stephen for volunteering. He brings a wealth of experience and skills that will be very useful to the parish.

The contract was signed at a ceremony hosted by Strongvox and attended by Bill Revans, Leader of Somerset Council and members of Nether Stowey Parish Council.

“John Roberts, Chairman of Nether Stowey Parish Councils said: ‘We are delighted that the contract for these affordable homes has now been completed and the homes will be available to the community. The Parish Council were determined that the village should have these homes, and all our hard work and persistence have been rewarded.’”

The first four houses will be available in the next few weeks, and priority will be given to those with a close connection to Nether Stowey. Details of how to apply are available here.

Strongvox Homes released the following Press Statement:

SOMERSET COUNCIL AND STRONGVOX PARTNER ON AFFORDABLE NEW HOMES IN NETHER STOWEY
Strongvox Homes are delighted to be partnering with Somerset Council to provide 16 much needed affordable new homes at the Cricketer Farm development, in the idyllic village of Nether Stowey.

Whilst there have been reports that there would be no affordable housing at Cricketer Farm, both Strongvox and Somerset Council have worked hard together behind the scenes to make these affordable homes available. Eligible local people with a connection to Nether Stowey will have the highest priority for the new homes, which will all have either two or three bedrooms.

There are also some other benefits to the wider local community, including a £1.3 million upgrade to the A39 as it passes through Nether Stowey, funded by Strongvox, which was historically an accident blackspot. There is also a corresponding lowering of the speed limit and a signal-controlled junction with a pedestrian crossing which now links the rest of the village with the church, as well as the new homes.

Believed to be the first transaction of its type achieved under the new unitary Somerset Council, an event was held on site at Cricketer Farm on Friday April 24th, to celebrate this milestone for the local community. Leader of the new Somerset Council, Councillor Bill Revans said: “We are delighted that with funding from Homes England and the EDF Housing Mitigation Fund, Somerset Council has been able to secure 16 affordable homes in a rural location with local people having the highest priority. Whilst affordable housing at Cricketer Farm was initially deemed to be unviable financially, it’s great that all parties have come together to make this happen, with Strongvox selling the homes to the Council at a price which was viable.”

Duncan Harvey, Development Manager at Homes in Sedgemoor, said: “We’re delighted to mark this event seeing the handover of these 16 new homes. We worked hard with Strongvox and we trusted one another to deliver our promise to bring new affordable homes to Nether Stowey. Homes in Sedgemoor are looking forward to managing these homes and building a strong relationship with the local community”.

Managing Director at Strongvox, Toby Ballard, added: “We’re really pleased that these affordable homes will be going to eligible local people who need them the most. Whilst Strongvox has seen a lot of adverse comment about its commitment to providing affordable housing at Cricketer Farm, with Somerset Council’s help, we have been able to stick to our original plan to provide 16 affordable new homes in a fantastic village location, in addition to significant road works to improve pedestrian safety already provided by Strongvox.”

For more information on Strongvox Homes visit www.strongvox.co.uk or call 01823 444055.

The recent Housing Needs Assessment has now been published and is available to read here.

The meeting will be held at the Church Centre and will start at 7pm. Everyone is welcome. There is a public session at the beginning of the meeting when members of the public are welcome to address the Council on any matter relating to the agenda or on any other matter that they would like the Parish Council to consider at a future date. It is helpful if you inform the Chairman or the Clerk beforehand of any matter you wish to raise, so that the Clerk can have to hand any necessary information.

The agenda is available here

Draft minutes: Minutes from the most recent meeting(s) are posted here : Draft Minutes from the meeting on 13 March are here.
Minutes for previous Parish Council meeting are here: Previous minutes

Planning applications: Links to planning applications on the agenda are below (opens the  application in the Somerset Planning website):

• 36/23/00006 – New Stowey Farm, Nether Stowey – Erection of 4no. dwellings.  (See also previous application at Somerset Council  ref 36/22/00005)
• 36/23/00007 – 7 Wilsons Close, Nether Stowey
  Approval of reserved matters, for the erection of 2no. dwellings with parking and garages. (See also previous application at Somerset Council ref 36/21/00019)

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Parish Council meetings are open for the public to attend but are not public meetings. In order to facilitate contributions by members of the public there is a public session at the beginning of the formal meeting. 
During the public session, members of the public are welcome to address the Council on any matter relating to the agenda or on any other matter that they would like the Parish Council to consider at a future date. It is helpful if you inform the Chairman or the Clerk beforehand of any matter you wish to raise. This is so that the Clerk can have to hand any necessary information. Further details are available on page 2 of the agenda. The Council is not required to give a response to a matter raised during the public session but may do so. Alternatively, the Chairman may direct the Clerk to follow the matter up or give a written response at a later date. Please note that no decisions can be made and no expenditure approved on any item raised during the public session unless the matter has been legally notified on the agenda in advance.

At the end of the public participation session, the Chairman will resume the formal meeting under standing orders. Members of the public are asked to respect the fact that this is a meeting of the Council to conduct Council business. They are not permitted to enter into the debate of agenda items unless invited to do so by the Chairman. In this case, he will temporarily adjourn the meeting to allow that person (only) to speak.

The conduct of Parish Council meetings are governed by the Code of Conduct (adopted 16 May 2022) and the Parish Council’s Standing Orders (reviewed and re-adopted on 16 May 2022). These are available from the Clerk (collect from the office or by e-mail on request) or on the Council’s website by clicking the document name above.