AS councillors some of the things we deal with are complicated.

We must work across council borders, with the West of England Combined Authority, and agencies such as the police, health and social care services. Each body has its own remit, agenda, funding streams, rules and processes which can make getting some things done tricky, slow and frustrating.

We are receiving more complaints about airport parking. This is lucrative business. While many operators are professional and have insurance, others do not and use muddy fields for which they do not have the necessary permissions. You can temporarily change the use of agricultural fields to parking for up to 28 days per year without requiring permission. Enforcing this involves complicated legal work and council can't always get a quick fix.

We are now working with enforcement, both in B&NES and North Somerset Council who have huge experience in this problem. We are pushing the Council for an Article 4 provision for our affected Parishes. This would mean planning permission would be needed before any parking could legally occur and earlier enforcement. If you have concerns about such sites, please report them to us, your Parish Council or at www.bathnes.gov.uk/report-something-planning-enforcement.

On the topic of health, the Integrated Care Board (ICB) for our area are looking at providing better access to dentists with a dental bus. Extra clinics are also being set up for blood pressure checks. David is pushing the ICB to ensure we get a fair shout in the rural areas. After a recent committee meeting, the ICB are going to do more consultation as they are considering shutting the area’s Long Covid Clinic.

The dangerous driving and anti-social behaviour caused by speeding motorbikes and cars using the valley as a race track is another problem that as we as Councillors can influence a little. Our consistent efforts urging the Police and Crime Commissioner and the service to become more proactive have paid off. We are now seeing more recruitment and training, the use of wider powers, and cars and motorcycle police working in groups in the valley. Getting a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) is still in progress but the legal work and consultation procedures take time. This will allow the police to be even more proactive. The B&NES Highways team also have some funding this year to look at engineering designs on Chapel Lane (B3114) to help in addressing this problem.

As WECA fund our buses, alongside the Chew Valley Sustainable Transport Group we attended the WECA Joint Committee meeting to present statements and speak to the WECA mayor in support of buses in the Chew Valley. We heard last week that the X91 will continue this year, and that two more new routes including a Bristol-Chew-Bath journey have been designed and funded after discussions with B&NES. Great news for the Valley. We are also pushing the authorities to get the work done to allow the X91 stop in Chew Magna again.