Long Ashton Parish Council Opposes Local Plan Sites to Protect Green Belt and Village Identity

Long Ashton Parish Council has issued a formal response to North Somerset Council's Local Plan 2040 (reg 19) consultation, voicing strong opposition to proposed developments on Green Belt land. We highlight the ecological richness and landscape importance of Woodspring Golf Course ('South West Bristol' - yellow site), calling for the preservation of key habitats and the integration of nature recovery principles if development proceeds. We emphasise the importance of maintaining Long Ashton as a distinct settlement with a clear rural identity, advocating for a significant strategic gap between the village, Bristol, and any major developments beyond the Yanley ridge. Furthermore, the Parish Council has expressed firm opposition to all the proposed Long Ashton sites identified in the consultation, emphasising the village's inability to accommodate further expansion without overwhelming infrastructure and negatively impacting its character. Particular attention is given to the ecological and logistical concerns surrounding the site north of Short Lane, which is deemed undevelopable due to its steep gradients, mature woodland, and its status as a Local Wildlife Site.