This Statement has been compiled to act as a Supplementary Planning Guidance to the relevant policies in the Local Plan. It cannot change these policies, but if adopted by North Somerset Council, this Statement will elaborate on them and relate them to our community.

Recommendations

There are two types in the document: those which relate to Local Plan policies are in bold type and those which are based on residents aspirations are in italics.

Although linked to Yatton through a joint Parish Council, Claverham has its own unique identity which villagers wish to preserve and enhance.

The village is now centred on the High Street where there is a Post Office, Claverham Stores and Melanie’s Hairdressers; and the adjoining Bishops Road where there is a modern Primary School and a new village hall. St Barnabas Church is at the top of the High Street and the Free Church is situated in Claverham Road, a few hundred yards from the Post Office

This cross road, formed by the High Street, Chapel Lane, Bishops Road and Claverham Road is believed to be the site of the ancient Stalling’s Cross - the market cross for Court de Wyck. (The former Chapel is thought to stand on the original site). (Stalling’s Cross may have been corrupted to Stream Cross).

Originally a farming hamlet, the village now acts as a home to many commuters. However it still retains its rural heritage and is surrounded by around ten farms, two horticultural businesses, a thriving organic market garden and a small riding school.

It is this patchwork of farms, fields, footpaths, and winding lanes which gives Claverham its character and which the majority of residents wish to preserve.

As with many villages in North Somerset, Claverham has a mixture of old local families and new arrivals. However, all have a unique insight into what makes their village special and this character statement provides a ‘slice in time’, showing what Claverham is like in the year 2001.

While villagers know that time cannot stand still - and some changes are both inevitable and essential to the life of the community - it is hoped that this document will provide the framework in which the village can move forward in a structured way, retaining all that is best from the past, while enhancing the village for the future.

"There’s no where like it in the world" Josephine Richards (nee White)

SURVEYING THE VILLAGE

To ensure that the statement properly reflects the views of all the residents there has been a comprehensive process of consultation with plenty of publicity both in the village and in the local press.

The well-supported first public meeting in October 2000 showed that residents cared about the village and were concerned for its future development. Out of that meeting a committee was formed which started the task of looking at Claverham from all angles.

A photographic exhibition in the village hall on 23^rd February 2001, which included both recent and old photographs of the area, again drew an excellent response.

A draft questionnaire at that meeting was completed by the majority of those who attended and the results of that enabled the committee to formulate a more comprehensive questionnaire which was delivered to virtually every house in the village. Over a third – 153 – were returned to the Post Office. The results of this questionnaire have formed the basis of the recommendations included in the Statement.

A further public meeting was held in July 2001 where the Draft Character Statement was on display. Again this drew a good response and the statement was well received.

As well as the committee, many other people have been involved in the research from working out employment patterns to counting the number of ponds in the village. The local scouts took responsibility for delivering the questionnaire.

The pupils at Court de Wyck primary school not only produced some colourful pictures of the village, but, as the future guardians of Claverham, have said what they like about it. The teenagers have shown us that the village must serve all sectors of the community and ensure everyone’s needs are met. The elderly have drawn on their memories of Claverham and reminded us of what the village was like in the past.

Naturally, in any undertaking like this there will be differing points of viewpoints. However the answers to the questionnaire showed there was broad agreement on the main issues, and the committee has tried to reflect this consensus, while taking note of differing opinions.

HISTORY

Claverham is probably named after the clover fields, which surrounded the village. In the West Country, the word ‘ham’ does not refer to a village or settlement, but is a contraction of the word ‘hamm’ meaning meadow.

It is situated roughly half way between Weston-s-Mare and Bristol on the plain between the rivers Kenn, to the north, and Congresbury Yeo, to the south, and is roughly five miles from the Bristol Channel as the crow flies.

The village has two distinct geological sections. To the south Cadbury Hill, a limestone ridge, partly overlaid with clay, rises to some 250 feet. The rest of the area is a mixture of peat, estuarine alluvium and low hills of sand and gravel.

Earliest settlements followed the line of firm ground running round the base of Cadbury Hill. Claverham Court is built on a finger protruding out across the moors to the west.

The former swampy areas between Hillsea, Claverham Court and Claverham Road were drained by an interconnecting series of rhynes in the 1700s.

The underlying geological structure has determined the development pattern of the village – but it is the impact of man, allied to the natural environment, which has given the surrounding countryside its distinctive and attractive patchwork of fields, hedges, walls and rhynes.

FORMATION OF THE VILLAGE

Claverham has probably been inhabited from Stone Age times when the moors would have been used for fishing and wild fowling. Trenches cut in the 1970s at Kenn revealed pieces of wood thought to have come from a trackway across the swamp. A Romano-British pot was found south of the railway line at Hillsea and Saxon pottery has also been found in the area.

Although not strictly speaking in Claverham, there was a Roman Temple and an Iron Age Fort on Cadbury. Prior to the Roman period (around 45AD) the area was mainly used for grazing, fishing and hunting. Drainage systems put in by the Romans, however, established a suitable environment for agriculture.

Early history is sketchy. Before 1066 Claverham was held by Gunhilda; after the Norman Conquest it was held by the Bishop of Bath and Wells. At the time of the Domesday survey, ‘Claverham’ was home to one Lord, one slave, three villagers and twelve smallholders. By 1450 there were 14 farms.

The village was originally in two hamlets or tithings. The tithing of ‘Claverham’ was the area now known as Lower Claverham and centred round Claverham Court, while the High Street area was called ‘Week’ and centred round Court de Wyck. More recently, a third hamlet has grown up in Stream Cross area.

Claverham Court, now a farm, was built in the 15^th century or possibly even earlier. A medieval two-light stone window still exists at the back of the hall. A Grade 11 Listed Building, it also has historic 17^th century park and gardens. To the east of the house stands the original 15/16^th century Tythe Barn, also a Grade 11 Listed Building, with its central cart entry and weathered buttresses. Nearby is a purpose built sheep wash.

The original Court de Wyck was built before 1338. Between 1660 and 1670 it was enlarged and at the beginning of the 18^th century it was considered one of the most magnificent properties in the area. However by 1814 it was virtually uninhabitable and was pulled down leaving only the 12^th century chapel and the tithe barn intact.

The present building, constructed on roughly the site of the original courtyard, was completed by 1819.

The tithe barn was converted into a tannery in 1840. In 1970 it was taken over by Imperial Tobacco and its trademark tall chimney, a landmark for miles around, was demolished in the mid-1970s. The barn was twice gutted by fire – in 1898 and 1928. After the latter fire the south fascia was reconstructed from the original stone. It is now used by the current owners, Claverham Group, as an engineering design office. The chapel has also been refurbished by the company and is used as a conference room.

Over the next 200 years farm houses and cottages were slowly added, but the next major change came with the drainage of the low lying, peaty land between Claverham Court and Little River. In 1750/1 a private agreement led to the early enclosure of some 200 acres at Claverham Common. The enclosure was allocated to people in proportion to the number of shares (or grazing rights) they held on the Common. The area known as Hare Mead, some 32 acres, was made into a Decoy Pool. The land was divided into fields enclosed by rhynes, which act as boundaries, watering for livestock and a drainage system.

The Parliamentary Enclosure Act caused further drainage to take place. During 1810-1815 Kenn Moor was drained to the west of Kenn Moor Gate (there literally was a gate here). It was at this time that the droves, including Claverham Drove (originally called Claverham Road) were laid out across the moors. Because of the peat foundation, the roads are laid on faggots, which gives them their characteristic springy feel.

The census of 1851 shows there were 71 dwellings in the village and 14 farms. Out of 476 inhabitants a quarter were employed in farming. A few were coal miners and may have worked down the Claverham mine. There were two shops – a butchers and a general store. Although there was no inn there was a beerhouse keeper near Claverham Green Farm and a ciderhouse keeper at Mead Mills at the end of Hunt’s Lane.

Eighteen properties were situated between Cottage Farm at the top of the High Street and Streamcross Villa. Several remain including Court de Wyck Cottages (No 2 has recently been renovated)

THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT

Buildings define the character of the village.

HISTORIC PROPERTIES

Claverham is richly endowed with historic properties. Claverham Court is believed to be the earliest building still existing, but that and some of the other farms were probably built on the sites of older properties. They include:

Home Farm (formerly Foord Farm), Lower Claverham: Originally a 15^th century single storey open hall house, with the smoke escaping through a hole in the thatched roof. The blackened roof timbers still remain, but the thatched roof was replaced in the mid 20^th century. Ceiling, fireplaces and stairs were added in the 16^th century. It has an interesting door frame cut back to allow barrels to be taken into the house. Listed Grade 11

Rose Farm, Stream Cross, is a medieval house with an open hearth. The ceiling, fire place and stairs were probably added in the 16^th century.

Lower Farm (formerly Old Farm), Jasmine Lane, is built on the same plan and construction as Home Farm and Rose Farm. Jasmine Lane was originally called Old Farm Lane.

Grove Farm, Brockley Way, is late 16^th/early 17^th century with later alterations and additions. It is built of stone and has two large, external chimney stacks. The gable porch has a very old studded front door with raised hinges and the door frame has been cut to allow barrels to be taken into the house. Listed Grade 11.

Claverham Green Farm, Brockley Way: The date on the chimney is 1721, but it is probably of an earlier construction with 19^th century alterations. Built of stone and rendered, the roof is pantiled with brick chimneys. Listed Grade 11

Claverham House, Stream Cross: Built in 1744 with mid 19^th century alterations, it is built with stone with a limestone dressing,. It has an interesting 19^th century porch with pilasters on pedestals. Listed Grade 11. In the 18^th century gardens there is a ha-ha.

Chestnut Farm, Lower Claverham: The earliest part is mid 17^th century. It was refronted in the 18^th century and has early 19^th century alterations. Built of stone and rendered, it has a pantiled roof and a fine studded door with hinge straps. Listed Grade 11. In the gardens there is a ha-ha.

Manor Farm, Stream Cross, appears to be early 17^th century, but the hall and stairs in a turret could mean an earlier date. Built of stone and rendered, with a pantiled roof and gabled chimney stacks, it has 18^th century alterations. Listed Grade 11. In the gardens there is a ha-ha

Oakfield, Meeting House Lane: Built in the early 17^th century, it was remodelled in the 18^th century and the rear wing was added in the early 19^th century. Construction is stone and render. Listed Grade 11. Has a ha-ha

Cottage Farm, Brockley Way: Built before 1800 of stone and rendered, the front has recently been cleared of render and re-pointed. In the 19^th century there was a coal mine behind the house. The shaft reappeared during the last war but was filled in to prevent accidents. Originally a single building which was thatched, it has been added to at front and rear

White Cottage, Jasmine Lane: An early 19^th century front, probably of a much older building, with 20^th century alterations. Attached at an angle and incorporated into the house is a former pigsty. The house is stone, rendered and painted white with a pantiled roof. Listed Grade 11.

Post Office, High Street: 19^th century with the main door originally opening at the side onto the road. Stone and rendered.

Sweet Briar Cottages, Lower Claverham: Older that 1650, when the deeds show they changed hands. Stone and rendered. Listed Grade 11.

Streamcross Villa, Claverham Road: Probably late 18th century (it is shown on a survey map of 1799). It is the oldest property in Claverham Road. Until fairly recently it was a general shop. Stone and rendered.

Churches

The earliest known church (or free chapel) which was dedicated to St Swithin, was built near Claverham Court before 1326. All traces of the building disappeared in the 1600s, but it is thought to have been built on the field called Chapple Hays which is now an orchard between Claverham Court and the egg farm.

The Friends Meeting House, in Meeting House Lane, was built on a half acre plot given to the Friends by Richard Dawson in 1673. This was at a time when persecution of the Quakers was intense. After the Act of Toleration the Friends obtained a licence to hold meetings in a named Meeting House. By 1729 the numbers had grown and the House was rebuilt and extended to create an attractive natural stone property. (In that same year one of the Friends, Richard Durban left a bequest in trust for a school in Yatton for poor children).

In 1932 the property was given to the Friends Historical Society to administer. In 1991 a Claverham Trust was set up to buy back the property and undertake major building project including re-rendering the outside. Behind the property is burial ground.

The Methodist Church at the end of Chapel Lane was built in 1867 It was closed in 1972 and converted into two properties in 1978.

The Free Evangelical Church at the corner of Streamcross was built in 1927 – only eight months after parishioners, who did not agree with the Minister at the Methodist Church, decided to form their own. A club room was later added at the rear.

St Barnabas Church, which was originally called the Mission Room and Busy Bee, was built in 1879 on land donated by John Cox and family. A daughter church of St Mary’s, Yatton, it was opened to counter the three ‘public houses’ in the remoter parts of Claverham.

Barns and Walls

The village is also rich in old farm buildings, barns and walls made of local stone. Mellowed over the centuries, they add to the texture of the village.

The tithe barn at Claverham Court, a listed Grade 11 building, is of 15^th/16^th century construction and is 17 metre long and 7 metres high.

A variety of buildings at Rose Farm show the transition from local stone used in the 18^th and 19^th centuries to the brick ones of the early part of the 20^th century. At Chestnut Farm, the range of natural stone buildings, which include a cider house, run along the side of the road for 80 metres.

Several redundant barns have been converted to attractive homes, thus preserving them.

The new village hall has been built in the style of a Somerset barn to ensure it blends in with the adjacent historic buildings.

There are also many ‘stand alone’ stone walls, the most important being those at Claverham House, Court de Wyck, Walnut Bank and ‘Parman’. The curved garden wall at Walnut Bank is probably the highest at three metres while the boundary wall at ‘Parman’ is the longest at 60 metres and two metres high.

The walls adjoining the chapel at Court de Wyck are probably the oldest in the village.

Although the garden wall at Green Farm has been demolished, the wall outside the refurbished Yew Tree Cottages has been rebuilt using the original stone.

Up until 1900 the majority of properties in the village were built of dressed stone or limestone rubble and render, with gables. Recently the render has been removed from some properties and the stonework re-pointed.

The modern development in the village started in 1920 with local authority housing along Claverham Road. These followed the traditional style of render and gables.

Further local authority housing followed in the 1930s in Broadcroft Avenue and twenty years later in Claverham Park. Again they followed the village style. The last local authority homes to be added were the retirement bungalows in 1984, but this time they were brick built.

The first private housing developments started in the 1960s. Over the next ten years, Whitehouse Road, Hollowmead Close, Franklin’s Way, Chestnut Drive, Dunsters Road and Anvil Road were built.

These have followed a variety of styles and are mainly of brick or imitation natural stone.

None of these estates exceeded 35 in number and the ten-year time scale allowed them to be absorbed into the village.

The last development was in 1997 when five dark red brick houses in Orchard Court were built. This is a sensitive site right in the heart of the village.

Originally the developers wanted to pull down the three derelict cottages known as Yew Tree House. However villagers felt that this would destroy the character of the High Street and after a sustained campaign the planners agreed they should be retained and renovated.

Strikingly, individual houses, which have been built over the past five years, have stuck to the village style of rendered cottage.

There are a wide variety of properties along Claverham Road and the High Street, all built at different times and with varying styles, however, several incorporate gables.

Although the village has suffered some unsuitable housing as regards architectural design and construction, by and large it is an attractive village.

Over the years several cottages have been renovated and improved and local authority housing has upgraded.

Recommendations

Policy CON/1, 10, 11. Policy HOU/1.

• The existing settlement boundary should be strictly maintained.

• Any new housing should take place within the current village fence as infill.

• Any new housing should be designed and built in keeping with its immediate neighbours in size, construction and building materials.

• Any extension to a property should be in similar style and period as the original.

• Important views both of the village and from it should be preserved.

• All natural stone structures, including barns, agricultural buildings and boundary walls should be preserved. Where a new development adjoins an existing wall it should incorporate matching stone boundary walls.

• Original features such as doors, windows and railings, which contribute to the visual character of the building, should wherever possible be retained.

• Listed buildings should be preserved and protected.

• Any development should be small enough so as not to swamp the village.

NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

The attractive network of lanes, bridleways and footpaths, which allows access to the countryside surrounding the village, is one of the reasons why so many people like living in Claverham. Most properties either look out onto fields or are within easy reach of them. Apart from Claverham Road, all access roads to the village are through farm land.

SSIs

The moors are more than an attractive place to walk - they are a vital conservation area on our doorstep. The importance of the natural flora and fauna of the moors was recognised in 1995 when a large area - from Nailsea Wall across Kenn Moor to the railway line - was designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

The area has undergone many changes since the end of the last ice age. Changes in sea levels have laid down layers of silt and peat. Clay occurs to the west of the area and in some places has become mixed with the peat.

The varying soil types and farming practices, along with the drainage systems, have resulted in a wide range rhynes and ditches, each supporting exceptionally rich plant communities such as Frogbit and Unbranched Bur-reed as well as the nationally scarce Hairlike and Fern Pondweed and Whorled Water-milfoil. Many emergent species are also present such as Tubular Water-dropwort and the Flowering Rush. In some places the brackish nature of the area, before drainage, is still reflected in some of the plants such as Club-rush and Grey Club-rush.

Some of the less frequently dredged ditches are dominated by extensive stands of yellow Iris, Reed Sweet Grass and Common Reed while the banks support Ragged Robin, Marsh Marigolds and Creeping Jenny.

There is an equally diverse invertebrate fauna, many of them now nationally rare, including the Hairy Dragonfly and the Variable Damselfly, Britain’s largest Water Beetle - the Great Silver Water Beetle - the Pea Mussel and the Soldier Fly.

Amphibians such as frogs, toads and newts all breed in the area along with reptiles such as grass snakes and slow worms.

Of the bird population, the Bewick Swans and herons predominate, but curlews, skylarks, lapwings, kestrels, buzzards, mallards, moor hens and the occasional kingfisher can all be seen as well as sea birds, woodpeckers, blackbirds and song thrushes (though these are sadly in decline).

Mammals include foxes, badgers, rabbits, hares, grey squirrels, roe deer, and bats.

The complex web of ditches drain into the Little River, Westmead Rhyne, Blackditch Rhyne and Claverham Rhyne (Tan Ditch). These are connected to the River Kenn and Blind Yeo via Claverham Drove Rhyne and Decoy Pool Rhyne.

The management of this diverse habitat is finely balanced and current practice has evolved over several generations of drainage engineers, farmers and, more recently, conservationists (the water-logged structure of the Inner Moors is of archaeological interest as these conditions preserve organic remains of wood and leather). In the past, those holding rights of common on Kenn Moor were obliged to maintain the rhynes and rivers and they could be fined for neglecting their duties or damaging the banks.

Alterations to the water table can have extreme effects such as in the summer of 1896 when between 200 and 300 acres of land, including Green Farm, part of Grove Farm and land at Claverham Court sank. Cracks 20-30 yard long and holes 3-4ft deep and 7ft across appeared. This was blamed on Chelvey Pumping Station abstracting too much water. To counteract this a dam was built on the River Yeo at Wemberham to hold back the water on the moors.

Conversely, with the current trend towards wetter winters and the consequent high water table, anything which would add to the potential for flooding should be avoided.

Farms

It must not be forgotten that the fields are a green factory.

Cattle and sheep predominate in the area. There are two dairy farm and several beef and sheep rearing ones and an egg farm. Some cereal crops are grown, but fields are mainly cut for hay and silage.

There are also agricultural contractors some of whom farm as well.

There are concerns that if farms cease to remain viable there will be increased pressure to allow building or further industrial development.

Orchards have also been diminishing. Some have been removed including one at Court de Wyck, others have died off and not been replaced.

One remains near Oakfield, which is still managed for apple and provides a habitat for the Green and Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers as well as owls.

New orchards are being planted. A cider apple orchard has been replanted on land at Brockley Way where the old cottage stood, and a small orchard has been planted at Walnut Bank.

Ponds

Ponds provide an important habitat for flora and fauna as well as acting as natural reservoirs for excess water.

There are more than 15 ponds and pools in Claverham. Many are natural but several have been man-made either to provide drinking water for livestock, a habitat for wildlife or as a water feature. These include one created ten years ago by Clevedon Gun Club on marshland between Walnut Bank and the railway line.

More recently a wildlife pond has been created at Court de Wyck School. There are two ponds at Hillsea one of which is a dew pond.

Ponds at Claverham Green Farm were used by drovers who stayed overnight to rest and water their animals and also for washing purposes – hence the name ‘washing pound’.

everal ponds have been filled in, some deliberately others by natural processes. The decoy pool near Little River which was created in 1750 is not shown on the 1841 Tythe Map, but five fields have the word Decoy Pool in their names. The duck pond in the High Street is now covered by bungalows.

The bog and adjacent marsh land in Chapel Lane have also been filled in.

The loss of these natural reservoirs, which allow excess rain water to seep away slowly, could be a contributory cause of flooding such as that seen at the end of Chapel Lane this year (2001).

The loss of the only bog area in Claverham has also denuded the village of important wildlife.

Trees

Nothing enhances a landscape more than trees.

Although there is no large area of woodland in the village it is rich in trees – not only in hedgerows and fields, but in private gardens as well.

One of the major changes to the look of the landscape has been the loss of thousands of majestic Elms due to Dutch Elm disease. Semi-mature elms are still being lost today.

However Claverham still has many native trees, with ash and oak predominating on the higher ground, while pollarded willows line the rhynes on the moors.

Several specimen trees already have Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) on them. These include 13 trees at Court de Wyck (Claverham Ltd) namely a lime (which replaced a pine), Scots Pines, Sycamores, Horse Chestnuts (two of which were planted by the daughters of the Millwards 90 years ago) and a Holm Oak. The land also supports Copper Beech, Walnuts, Somerset Firs, a 30 year old Magnolia, 60-year-old Mulberry and a Ginkgo Tree as well as the usual Ash etc.

In the High Street, a Willow and Silver Birch have TPOs, and a Lime is included in a landscape order at Ivy Cottage. There is also a TPO on a Walnut Tree in Claverham Park.

Other trees have been identified within the village which warrant TPOs. These include the Chestnut at the end of Chestnut Drive.

Other important trees include eleven Walnut trees at Claverham Court and the Chestnut tree at Grove Farm, which is a third generation from a specimen tree between Henley Lane and Cadbury Country Club.

Hedges

Hedges not only act as boundaries to fields and form wildlife habitats but they are living connections to the past.

To former generations, hedges were of great importance as a source of food, fuel and medicine as well as acting as a shelter to livestock and crops, a soil stabiliser and a windbreak.

Forming a complete wild life eco-system, half of our native mammals, all of our reptiles and a fifth of the bird population can be found in the hedgerows. Over a thousand species of wild flowers can also be found there – more varieties than woods or heathlands.

Hedges still predominate in Claverham as boundaries to fields and farms as well as edges to lanes. Remnants of these field hedges can also be found in some of the residential areas.

Once a hedge has been created it is totally sustainable, enduring year after year and increasing in diversity, and it is this diversity which provides a clue to its origins. It has been calculated that the number of shrub species per 30 yard hedge is roughly equal to its age in hundreds of years.

The hedge alongside the road at Walnut Bank has been verified as having Tudor origins from the number of species in it.

Many of the other hedges date back to the time of the Enclosure Acts of the 18^th and 19^th centuries.

Part of the hedge in Meeting House Lane contains small leaf Lime which is a living link with Mesolithic times. A sticky, woodland tree, which is not normally used in hedges, it is an indicator of a ‘woodland ghost’ hedge where the hedge has been formed from trees growing in the original forest which covered the area.

At one time hedges were closely protected and raids on them by parishioners were severely punished and could carry the penalty of transportation.

Until 20 years ago, hedges were managed in a sustainable way by hand. Cutting and laying ensuring strong new growths. However, modern practices of annual flaying by mechanical cutters can kill a hedge. Disease can enter through the jagged tears and the mulch of debris at the base of the hedge can stop new growth.

Open Spaces

The only open space in the centre of the village is the Broadcroft Playing Field. Currently the subject of much discussion, it suffers from vandalism, which has resulted in the removal of the play equipment. However, the parish council has plans to replace the young children’s play equipment and the youth group have plans to improve facilities there for the older children.

Just outside the village fence is Cadbury Hill, part of which is jointly managed by Yatton and Congresbury Parish Councils.

The nearest large open spaces are at Hangstones, Yatton and Cleeve playing Fields.

Claverham enjoys a diversity of scenic views both from Cadbury Hill and across the moors. With its mixture of lanes, footpaths and the bridleway, there are many attractive corners and vistas to delight walkers, cyclists and horse riders.

It is important that all aspects of the local environment should be maintained and enhanced.

Recommendations

Policies NE/2,3,4,5,6,7and LSC

• The essential character of the moors should be preserved and large-scale and inappropriate development resisted.

• The unique and fragile nature of the landscape, hydrology and ecology of the moors should be recognised and an appropriate protective designation considered.

• All development should respect the character of the landscape.

• Wherever possible, native species trees and hedges should be planted for shelter and screening and to provide wildlife habitats.

• Existing hedgerows should be preserved and maintained in a sustainable way.

• Ponds should be maintained and where possible new ones created.

• When granting planning permission special consideration should be given to preserving existing trees on the site.

• Farming should be practised in a way, which is sympathetic to flora and fauna.

• Tree Preservations Orders should be made on specimen trees.

• The village fence should be maintained to ensure the viability of surrounding farms.

Transport and Travel

There is easy access, by car, to Bristol and Weston via the A370 and the M5 motorway.

The area is also served by buses to Bristol, Weston, Yatton and Clevedon.

There is a train station in Yatton with services to Bristol, Weston and beyond.

Five miles away is Bristol International Airport.

However, less than half the villagers used the buses and only a minority used the trains. The bus and train services were felt to be no more than average.

Many said they would use buses and trains if they were cheaper, more frequent and more reliable.

There are also concerns over the expansion of Bristol Airport with the consequent increase in road traffic, air pollution, noise and night flying.

Of more concern is the increase in the number of vehicles in the area and the speed of traffic in the village and round the lanes.

Claverham Road is becoming increasingly dangerous for parents walking their children to school.

On Claverham Road two pedestrians have suffered accidents and 19 have had near misses. Cyclists and horse riders are also vulnerable. One cyclist has had an accident and 11 had near misses while five horse riders have had near misses.

There is also concern about parking outside Court de Wyck School when dropping off or collecting children despite the availability of the village hall car park.

Recommendations

Policy T/2v

• The car park at Yatton must be retained.

• There should be better bus and train services. However these need to be supported, otherwise they will be withdrawn.

• There should be a shoppers’ bus between Claverham and Yatton.

• The expansion of Bristol Airport should be monitored and night flights withdrawn.

• There should be a lower speed limit and traffic calming measures (not sleeping policeman) through Claverham (particularly Claverham Road) and round the lanes

• Double-decker buses should not be used on routes through village because of narrow roads.

• Parents should use the hall car park when dropping off or collecting children at Court de Wyck School.

Employment

Local employment can be important in a village. It reduces the need to travel by car or public transport, thereby cutting down on pollution and congestion. It can also provide opportunities for part-time work for those with family commitments.

However, against that, businesses pull employees into the village from outside the area, increasing local traffic. Delivery lorries on narrow country lanes can cause damage to the infrastructure. Certain types of businesses can cause both noise and environmental pollution.

Our survey showed that a large majority were against further employment in the village.

As well as Claverham Ltd at Court de Wyck, the village has several other businesses including two small industrial estates, two engineering companies, six builders and four car restoration/repair businesses. There are also ten farms and three horticultural establishments.

Apart from agriculture, the major employer in Claverham in the 1851 census was the Court de Wyck Tannery, which employed seven local people. Today out of a workforce of 380, Claverham Group, on the same site, only employs five local people!

As in 1851, the highest local workforce is still in agriculture and horticulture, with some 34 people involved. The other major employers are the three shops and the six building firms. Court de Wyck Primary School employs 12 local people but a further 17 come from outside the village.

The 35 business surveyed in the village showed that out of a combined workforce of 547 employees, only 101 come from the village. Interestingly, the 1851 census showed that there were 39 different occupations in the village at that time involving 143 people!

Recommendations

Policy DCS/3 and E/3,4 and 5

• Redundant farm buildings should not be converted to employment use if the use is inappropriate to the area and generates an unacceptable amount of traffic

There should be restrictions on

• 1.The size and type of vehicle using industrial and commercial sites. (Vehicles over 35 tonnes should be restricted if routes are narrow to prevent further damage to ditches and verges).

• 2. The type of activity.

• 3. The hours of operation.

• 4. The size of units

• 5. The noise.

• 6. Possible pollution.

• A request for planning permission for further industrial units in redundant farm buildings should take into account the numbers of vehicles going to the site.

• There should be better sign posting to industrial sites to ensure vehicles do not get lost and have to turn round in narrow lanes with the consequent danger to other road users and to avoid damage to ditches and verges.

• Before planning permission is granted, any new industrial concern should be assessed as to whether it will employ local people.

• There should be no further extension of existing industrial sites into agricultural land.

Leisure

Leisure facilities in the village have improved since the opening of the new Village Hall in 1999. (Prior to that most village events were held in the Church Room, adjacent to St Barnabas Church - a second-hand wooden hut which was opened in 1920, closed in 1986 and has since been demolished - however this was not suitable for the majority of indoor games).

As well as providing a venue for various exercise classes, the new hall is marked out for badminton and could be available for table tennis etc if the appropriate clubs are started.

However, in the village there is limited scope for outdoor games, such as football, and villagers have to travel to Cleeve or Yatton for such activities.

Claverham Cricket Club, which draws members from a wide area, is situated outside the village boundary in Yatton.

The other popular activities are walking, cycling and horse riding. As well as the lanes round lower Claverham, the area is richly served with footpaths. However there is only one bridleway, which leads from Chapel Lane to Cadbury Hill and Cleeve.

Although the survey showed that many people wanted more footpaths, in light of the above perhaps what is needed is better sign posting of those we already have and a map of local public rights of way.

There was also a call for more bridleways and cycle routes.

Recommendations

Policy R/9

• Existing footpaths and bridleways should by improved, maintained and kept clear from undergrowth and overgrowth.

• More footpaths, cycle routes and bridleways should be created.

• There should be better sign posting and marking of existing footpaths.

• A map of local public rights of way could be published.

• A permanent map of village on a stand showing public rights of way, parish boundary and village fence could be erected, possibly at the hall.

• Styles should be easy to use and constructed so that dogs can get through them.

• More use should be made of village hall for sports.

Youth facilities

Most people agree there should be more facilities for the youth of the village, however, there are a variety of views as to what form these should take and where these facilities should be. Some people feel, that because of the vandalism, no more facilities should be provided at all.

There were also fears that extra facilities would attract teenagers from outside the village.

Because the equipment has been largely removed from Broadcroft Playing Fields the younger age group needs a safe play area with swings etc. The parish council has money earmarked for this. However, the older teenagers need more space for ball games etc.

Currently many teenagers attend the Yatton Youth Club in Rock Road. And it has been suggested that the Lion’s minibus could be used to take those who cannot get there.

Claverham Youth Project, which was set up in December, 2000, is trying to raise money for an all weather sports court, which could possibly be put on Broadcroft Playing Fields.

The group has been busy fundraising and has collected over £200 from discos and car washing. They have also secured £1,000 of funding from the Police. Now they need an area of land on which to build the sports court.

The survey showed that many people felt the village hall should be available for more use by the youth, with possibly a purpose-built annexe at the rear.

Other suggestions include a purpose-built centre next to the school, well away from residential areas and more use of school playing fields.

The survey also showed that no one wanted a new play area if it meant additional housing outside the village fence.

Other youth groups such as Scouts, Cubs, Guides and Brownies, are well supported and have their own hall.

A survey among the scouts showed how much they enjoyed the facilities in Claverham.

Recommendations

Policy CF/4

• More use of school playing fields for games.

• A youth leader for the village.

• More use of village hall or a purpose built youth centre.

• New equipment in the Broadcroft play area for younger children.

• An all-weather multi-games area in Broadcroft Playing Fields.

• Transport to Rock Road Youth Club.

Facilities for the elderly and disabled

All the public places, such as the shops, hall and churches are accessible to the disabled, but the narrow pavements with their habit of changing from one side of the road to the other, make it difficult for wheelchair access both round the village and between Claverham and Yatton.

With no doctor or dentist in the village it is often difficult for the elderly to get to these facilities, the nearest being in Yatton.

There is a Community Bus service run by the Lions which takes people from Claverham to Yatton on a Thursday. Perhaps this needs more advertising. Yatton Carers also provide transport to local hospitals, doctors, etc.

It was also felt that there were not enough activities provided in the village for the elderly.

Recommendations

• Lunch club, bingo and other entertainment should be provided in the hall.

• Dial a ride transport.

• Better advertising of Lions Minibus service.

• Continuous pavement along Claverham High Street and from Claverham to Yatton, which is wide enough to take a wheel chair.

"Claverham has always been a happy friendly little village" Alan Young, who was born at Cottage Farm.

Most of us think Claverham is a good place to live. There is a thriving community spirit, which enabled a new village hall to be built.

This in turn has brought back many of the village activities, which were lost when the Church Room was condemned. These include the Harvest Supper, the Senior Citizens tea party, the country market and various other entertainment.

We still have our Post Office, which is very highly thought of, as well as Claverham Stores and Melanies the hairdressers. There is a good primary school and pre-school playgroups.

However, if we are to keep these facilities we must support and use them.

Parish Council - nearly two thirds of those who completed the survey wanted the village to have its own council and more than 23 people said they would serve on it.

There were also suggestions, that parts of Claverham, such as around the Post Office, should become a conservation area. This would give more protection to the buildings.

What people don’t like about Claverham is the lack of public maintenance of roads, hedges and ditches, dog mess, litter and no village centre.

Recommendations

PPG6 Importance of retaining village shops

• To ensure their continued viability, all local shops need to be supported.

• Other facilities, such as the school, etc, should be supported

• Litter and dog mess should be taken home.

• The practicalities of having our own Parish Council should be looked at.

• The practicalities of having a conservation area should be looked at.

THE END