The Chew Valley Forum comprises the parished areas of Chelwood, Chew Magna, Chew Stoke, Clutton, Compton Martin, East Harptree, Hinton Blewett, Nempnett Thrubwell, Norton Malreward, Publow and Pensford, Stanton Drew, Stowey Sutton, Temple Cloud and Cameley, Ubley, West Harptree, Whitchurch (dual membership with Keynsham Area Forum)View a map of the Forum Area.  The corresponding members are Winford and Dundry (North Somerset).

The Chew Valley Area Forum is one of five Connecting Communities Forums within Bath and North East Somerset (the others are Bath Area ForumBathavon Area ForumKeynsham Area Forum and Somer Valley Forum).  All the Forum meetings are open to the public and community group representatives as well Ward and Parish Councillors.

Bath and North East Somerset is a diverse area with differing needs and priorities.  The Council and its partners recognise this and value the local information and feedback the Forums provide as these help to shape local services.   The items discussed at Forum meetings include those the Council and its partners need to share or would like feedback on; items the Forum members themselves wish to discuss and opportunities for local organisations to share information and best practice.

The 'Connecting Communities' approach has been built around five key principles:

  • listen
  • prioritise
  • join-up
  • work with you
  • share ideas

Next Meeting

The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday 20 June 2024, 6pm.  However, we may need to move this to Tuesday 25 June.  We will post details as soon as possible

Future Meetings

Tuesday 24 September, 6pm - 8pm - Location TBC

Recent Past Meetings (Click on the date to view online meetings on the Council's YouTube Channel)

22 February 2024

The Forum received a verbal update from the Chair on the Somer Valley Links scheme, which includes the A37 into Bristol.  A fuller written update on the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement was then made available.  The Police were unable to attend but provided two written updates - one for North Mendip Beat and one for Pensford and Chew Valley Beat.  There was a discussion on Flooding, to which the Fire Service contributed.  It was agreed that the Forum would establish a working group to look at opportunities to involve more volunteers in monitoring water levels and clearing drains.  Also to find a solution to quickly sharing information about affected or closed roads and subsequent diversion routes.  If anyone would be interested in finding out more, or joining this group contact the Community Engagement Team by email.  The main Agenda Item was Climate and Nature updates.  The Forum received presentations from Stuart Gardner - Nature Recovery Manager with B&NES on Local Nature Action Plans.   Also from Dave Wood - Chief Executive of Avon Needs Trees on Lower Chew Forest.  Simon Hunter - Chief Executive of Bristol Avon Rivers Trust (BART) gave an update on the River Chew.  The Forum also heard from members of the former Chew Valley Area Forum Climate and Nature Emergency Working Group who have now moved onwards and upwards to establish groups in their own right.  Firstly, Guy Norfolk gave an update on progress with the Chew Valley Nature Recovery Network and then Jackie Head on the work of the Chew Valley Sustainable Transport Group.  It was a very interesting meeting and we thank all those that attended and contributed.

27 September 2023

The Forum moved their planned in-person meeting online due to a weather warning.  The Police were unable to attend but did provide an update report.  The Forum welcomed Andy Mears from Wessex Water to speak about the recent media coverage on dry spills which focussed on the River Chew in particular.  Unfortunately, he experienced some technical difficulties but did send a link to further information.  He has also offered to attend a further meeting if there would be interest in this.  The Community Showcase came from Peter Smith, Director and DJ with Keynsham Town Community Radio, KTCR FM, which broadcasts in the Chew Valley area.  They are keen to attract more volunteers, local news stories and radio advertising - find out more.  The Council's Place Lead for the Chew Valley Area, Jackie Clayton, gave an update, highlighting some of the priorities for the area Forum members had raised over the past year.  The main theme of the meeting was Health and Wellbeing.  The Forum received a presentation from Helen Harris, Network Manager with Three Valleys Health Primary Care Network.  They also heard from Chew Valley Village Agents, Aly Ackroyd and Debbie Dufour.  Locality Manager with the Council, Sara Dixon, gave a presentation on the Community Wellbeing Hub.

It was also the Forum's AGM and we are delighted that Cllr Heather Clewett was voted back in as Chair and Cllr Lynne Easton as Vice Chair.  The Forum also took the opportunity to acknowledge the work undertaken by its Climate and Nature Emergency Working Group which had been operating for three years.  The Terms of Reference for this group required updating as it had, in fact, developed into three, separate groups (Home Energy; Nature and Transport).  Prior to the AGM the Chairs of the Working Group were asked to consider whether the various groups established now needed to be constituted in their own right in order to develop their work and attract funding to support their activities.  The Home Energy Group decided to stop operating; the Nature Group has now constituted as the Chew Valley Nature Recovery Network and became members of the Forum in their own right.  The Transport Group does wish to establish as a community interest group but requires more members in order to do so.  A final report from the Working Group was provided by Jackie Head.  If you want to find out more about the Transport Group or feed back to them about WESTlink, get in touch with her by email. 

12 July 2023 - Chew Valley School

The Forum met in person for the first time since February 2020.  It gave people a chance to reconnect or meet some new attendees, including recently elected Ward, Parish and Town Councillors.  The first presentation was from Cllr David Wood - Bath & North East Somerset Council's Deputy Leader (Council Priorities & Delivery) with an overview of the Cabinet Priorities.  This was followed by an update from the Police with a chance to ask questions.  They also provided written reports relating to the Pensford and Chew Valley and North Mendip beats.  The Community Showcase came from Alex Easton of the Community First Responders.  They now have four volunteers supporting emergency medical services in the area.  The Forum then received updates on the Local Plan from Richard Daone - Deputy Head of Planning Policy, B&NES along with an update on the Joint Health & Wellbeing Strategy from Becky Reynolds - Director of Public Health.  The Forum received an update from the Chew Valley Area Climate and Nature Emergency Working Group.   Their Nature Recovery sub-group have now agreed to become an autonomous constituted group and will be linking with the Chew Valley Reconnected Project.  There was an update on this from Project Manager, Victoria Prescott.  She is already working with Bristol Avon Rivers Trust (BART) and introduced Amy Wade from BART who gave a presentation on their Water Resources and Community Resilience Project.  The final presentation was on the Somer Valley Links and Bristol - Bath Corridor Projects from  Nik Bowyer - Strategic Transport Projects Manager with B&NES.  These aim to make using buses an easier and more pleasant experience as well as changes to walking and cycling routes.  Somer Valley Link relates to the A367; A362 and A37 - major routes into Bath and Bristol.  The consultation launched on 26 June and runs until 6 August 2023.  The associated interactive map is useful for seeing the proposals by location.  The main consultation page can be found here.  The Bristol Bath Corridor consultation is due to launch on 14 August.

Key positions and people involved with Chew Valley Forum:

Forum Chair:  Cllr Heather Clewett (Stowey Sutton Parish Council)

Forum Vice Chair:  Cllr Lynne Easton (Chew Magna Parish Council)

Lead Officers:  Sara Dixon and Alison Wells - Bath & North East Somerset Council

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