Portishead Independents

28/08/2026

Sadly, Portishead isn't the only part of the country where the Green Belt is under threat. Channel 4 News is apparently featuring some other campaigns to save it around the country. Could be interesting. It's on at 7pm this evening (28th August).

17/08/2026

Tower Farm and “Black Rock” Developments – an update

Portishead Town Council's presentation to the Planning Inspectorate is starting to take shape. This will be crucial to our bid to make sure that Tower Farm and “Black Rock” remain within the Green Belt and therefore continue to be protected from development.

The Planning Inspectors’ role is to assess North Somerset Council's Local Plan for soundness and legal compliance, and they have the power to order amendments or even to reject it completely. Our task is to convince them that development of the two sites by Weston Big Wood would not be sound or legally compliant, that they are both unsuitable for development and that they should therefore remain in the Green Belt / be removed from the Plan.

We have been building a large body of evidence to support our case since these sites first appeared on NSC’s Draft Plan, based on our own research (some of which formed the basis of PTC’s response to NSC’s Plan consultations) and the invaluable input of local residents and groups such as Wild Portishead.

We are also being advised on the presentation of our case by a former Planning Inspector to ensure that we put our arguments across in the most effective way possible.

We know the hearings will begin on 9th November and are scheduled to run until 11th December, but the exact day that Portishead will be discussed has not yet been decided. We will let you know as soon as the dates have been agreed.

In the meantime, please keep signing and sharing the petitions (https://c.org/YQQZk5JFwC & https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/777301 ) , sharing updates from https://www.facebook.com/swbwportishead/ and this page, and let’s throw everything we can at stopping these dreadful proposals.

15/08/2026

What does Portishead mean to you?

Is it spending time at the Lake Grounds, skateboarding at the Wheels & Skate Park or swimming at the Open Air Pool?

Is it watching your children playing at one of the town’s playgrounds or getting back to nature at Weston Big Wood or Eastwood?

Perhaps it's shopping on the High Street, strolling around the Marina or eating out at a cafe, restaurant or pub?

Is it getting involved with local teams, clubs, societies, attending events at Somerset Hall or making use of the facilities at the Youth & Community Centre?

Or maybe you love the amazing community spirit, annual events like the Carnival, the Christmas Lights switch-on, Portishead Show and Art Port, and the brilliant work that volunteers do around the town?

If any (or all) of the above are special to you, how do we continue to support them, make them even better and ensure that our children and grandchildren also get to enjoy the best of our town?

That’s exactly what Portishead Independents are committed to doing, and if you feel the same we’d love you to help us achieve it. There are lots of ways to get involved, from sharing our social media posts with your friends/followers to helping to deliver leaflets or standing as a candidate to become a councillor in the next election. You don’t need any previous political experience to get involved.

It’s not always easy, and there are always challenges along the way such as parking, public transport, development proposals and funding, but we are committed to listening to residents and always doing what they think is best for the town.

If you share our love of Portishead and want to find out more, visit our website or email [email protected] .

07/08/2026

Have Your Say on Tower Farm

If you would like support with the Tower Farm Petition, councillors will be on hand to help and answer any questions.

Drop-in sessions:

Monday 10 August from 12pm to 2pm

Monday 17 August from 12pm to 2pm

In the Fedden Room at the Folk Hall. Please use the side entrance on the right.

Everyone is welcome to come along and speak with your local councillors.

06/08/2026

The next Resident drop-in session is taking place at Portishead Eat Festival, Portishead Marina on Saturday 8 August from 10am - 4pm.

Come along and chat with your local councillors about anything Portishead!

Whether you have questions, ideas, or concerns, we're here to listen.

27/07/2026

Save Portishead Down and Weston Big Wood

There will be a public meeting at Somerset Hall on Wednesday 21 October 2026 from 7.30pm - 9pm.

The meeting will be an opportunity to discuss the community response to the proposed Tower Farm and "Black Rock" developments.

25/07/2026

Please sign the petition to save Weston Big Wood from development.

https://c.org/jtSDcnf5nT

Did you know a Government policy meant for scrubland and old car parks is being used to threaten an irreplaceable ancient woodland.

Weston Big Wood is irreplaceable — a Site of Special Scientific Interest, ancient woodland and the anchor of a wildlife corridor linking the 3 SSSIs across the Gordano Valley

Now, North Somerset Council proposes to close the wood in from both sides. It has allocated 28 hectares of long-established Green Belt pasture immediately beside the wood — Tower Farm, on Portishead Down — for up to 400 homes. And on the wood's far side, it has allocated Black Rock, a working arable field, for around 100 more. Some 500 new households would press in on a woodland already in decline.

The policy is being misapplied. A woodland that has stood here since the Ice Age is being placed at severe risk. If grey belt can be misused here, it can be misused anywhere.

The petition calls on the Prime Minister to intervene to save Weston Big Wood by ensuring that the Tower Farm and Black Rock allocations are removed from the North Somerset Local Plan.

*Please include your postcode when you sign — every Portishead and North Somerset postcode we can count strengthens the case for when the petition is taken to No 10 Downing Street.

Please share widely! Thank you

Save Weston Big Wood from development

24/07/2026

Some disappointing news regarding the fight to save Tower Farm - North Somerset Council Planners have decided that an Environmental Impact Assessment will not be required as part of the developer's planning application when they submit it.

Portishead Town Council had pushed for the EIA to be required, as had others including North Somerset Levels Drainage Board and the owner of the high pressure oil pipeline that runs beneath Tower Farm, but the Planning Team concluded that the project is not likely to have a significant effect on the environment. To say that it is hard to understand the logic in that would be a gross understatement.

The developer will be required to submit a number of other assessments as follows, but we strongly believe that the full EIA should have been required:
- Hydrogeological Assessment
- Archaeological Desk-based Assessment with Geophysical Survey
- Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment
- Ecological Assessment and Surveys
- Biodiversity Net Gain Assessment
- Noise Assessment
- Transport Assessment and Travel Plan
- Arboricultural Impact Assessment
- Habitat Regulations Assessment

Although this is a set-back this is still far from over, and we will continue working alongside residents to fight both developments that threaten Weston Big Wood, to persuade the Planning Inspectorate that the decisions that NSC are making here are ill-founded and that the land should remain in the Green Belt and be removed from their list of development sites.

20/07/2026

You have until Friday (24th July) to tell the developer what you think about their plans for Tower Farm.

You can just click "Strongly oppose" to "the question Do you support our plans for the site?" & ignore the other questions:

https://www.towerfarmportishead.co.uk/have-your-say

Even though it's clearly a token effort at consultation on their behalf let's give them as much opposition as we can.