Latest news with #NorthSomerset
BBC News
18 hours ago
- BBC News
Man, 19, arrested after woman and baby attacked at Portishead Marina
A teenager has been arrested after a woman and child were targeted in an unprovoked attack. Police were called to Portishead Marina, in North Somerset, shortly after 10:00 BST on Sunday to reports that a man had attacked the pair and assaulted a man who had tried to intervene. The child was taken to hospital but has since been discharged. A 19-year-old man was arrested at the scene, with police confirming he had since been released on bail under the condition he did not return to Portishead. Avon and Somerset Police said officers spoke to witnesses at the scene, but has asked anyone with information about the incident to get in touch.
BBC News
2 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Frequent flyer claims he was misled by Bristol Airport parking 'scam'
A frequent flyer at Bristol Airport said reward code users seeking a discount on parking were being "deliberately misled".Hamish Douglas, from Clevedon in North Somerset, spotted an issue with the airport's Silver Zone rewards scheme while booking parking for five days on 20 his discount code, Mr Douglas was quoted £95.20 for five days of flexible parking. A non-flexible booking with no discount was £60, but he was not shown this cheaper option when attempting to book with a code.A spokesperson for Bristol Airport apologised for the inconvenience and said the error had been fixed as of Thursday. The public can sign up for the free Silver Zone rewards scheme through the airport's Douglas became a member a year ago, as he flew with his wife to see family in Northern Ireland approximately once a said: "It's a 15% discount on airport parking - you're not going to say no."Since that point a year ago, I have booked Silver Zone parking - which I've done about three times - putting in the rewards code and it would take you through to the next stage [of the booking]."Mr Douglas said he forgot to use the code for his most recent trip and his wife found a non-flexible booking without a code was £35.20 said: "What we found out is, when you put in the reward code, it doesn't show you the more affordable, cheaper option."Mr Douglas added: "I've always said parking at Bristol Airport is a scam, and it turns out it is." A spokesperson for the airport said: "The issue on our website has now been fixed and the Rewards promotional code can be applied to this product. "We would like to thank the customer for highlighting this issue and we are sorry for any inconvenience caused."We offer a range of car parking options, which customers can unlock discounts for, as well as Fast Track security, by signing up on our website for Rewards emails. "In addition they will also receive the latest offers from airlines." 'Rules are clear' When asked how long the issue has been going on for and whether those affected by the error will receive compensation, an airport spokesman said: "The 'Silver Zone Non-Flex' pricing category is a new product for our customers. "As explained, this product and lower pricing category does come with some restrictions when it comes to cancelling or amending a booking."We do offer regular promotional offers throughout the year. Any customers experiencing problems applying promotional codes should contact us directly."A spokesperson for the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) said the "advertising rules are clear".They said: "Ads must not materially mislead people, or be likely to do so. In particular, price statements shouldn't mislead by omission, undue emphasis or distortion."Whilst the ASA can't comment on whether or not an ad has broken the rules without a formal investigation, we always encourage anyone who has a concern about an ad they've seen to get in touch."
BBC News
22-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Bristol Airport's major £60m upgrade officially opens
A new £60m transport interchange has been officially opened at Bristol Airport. The facility, one of the largest of its kind in the region, can hold an extra 2,000 parking spaces, as well as significantly expanding the number of bus and coach spaces. It will also home the airport's new "drop and go" zone and offer better pedestrian links to the terminal. Dave Lees, chief executive of the Airport, said the new development was "really important as it represents a milestone in terms of improving the facilities for our customers". "Gone are the days of passengers having to walk up slopes here," he added, explaining that the number of bays for coaches and buses had been doubled, as well as the addition of new covered access routes, covered seating and toilet facilities. This signifies the airport's "level of ambition" as it "looks to the future", he project has taken more than two years to complete, and is part of a wider £400m "airport transformation programme" to improve transport links. Currently only about 15% of airport customers arrive at the site by bus. North Somerset Council leader Mile Bell said the new facility was a "fantastic new piece of infrastructure" for customers but stressed that there was still work to be done."I think we all recognise that we've still got more to do to make the access routes easier and introduce mass transit, particularly from Bristol city centre so people can get here easier, faster and cheaper using public transport," he said. Meanwhile, he added, passengers should "give public transport a try" and avoid antisocial parking in local communities around the airport. His comments were echoed by North Somerset MP Sadik Al-Hassan, who also called for a mass transit to the airport and urged any further expansion of the airport to be "balanced with the views of the community". Telling the BBC there were "swings and roundabouts" with any airport expansion, he said: "This is allowing more people to come here by sustainable means, so I'm hoping it will help. but it's part of what needs to be a larger plan to look at how the airport sits within the wider economic area."
BBC News
18-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Clevedon traders in protest against on-street parking charges
Some independent town traders wore black funeral clothing as they staged a protest against proposed parking charges, which they warn will kill-off October, North Somerset Council voted to introduce on-street and car parking charges in Clevedon, Nailsea and Portishead, as a way to balance its shopkeeper Judith Levy, who took part in the demonstration on Hill Road, said: "We've seen it happen in other places where independent shops start closing up and it would be awful if it were to happen here."North Somerset Council said it "needs to save £44m over the next three years after reduced national government funding". Charges are set be introduced following a consultation of Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs), which closes on 18 July. A council spokesperson said it has seen an increase in demand for services, particularly in adult social care and children's services, along with rising added: "We've had no choice but to review all areas of council income generation and spend, including making the difficult decision on introducing parking charges across North Somerset."But some independent shopkeepers accused the local authority of being careless with their spending. "I understand the council need to balance their budget but part of the problem is their own making with the big mess they've done on the seafront", said Ms Levy, referring to the removal of the controversial wiggly road markings which cost about £1.5m."We've already lost about 30% of trade since the seafront debacle", she said, claiming businesses have seen lower footfall after the removal of sea-facing parking in Clevedon and the introduction of a one-way system."Since then all the traders on Hill Road have found it harder. It hit the reputation of the town and it stopped a lot of people coming," she added. North Somerset Council hopes to raise a million pounds as it seeks to balance its leader Mike Bell, previously said parking hikes were "unavoidable", warning the council "was in a financial emergency".Ms Levy, who runs a retail and yoga studio on Hill Road is also worried about the impact new charges can have on nearby roads."Our street will be paid parking which means residential streets around it will be full of cars because people will try to avoid paying," she said. She suggested having a park and ride into town. Discover Clevedon, which represent traders, has written to the council saying a 30-minute free parking period was not included in the recently published Traffic Regulation Orders."The published TROs do not accurately reflect the decision previously made by North Somerset Council to include a 30-minute free parking period for on-street parking," the letter said."This omission means that the proposals do not present an accurate basis for respondents to comment on, effectively removing the opportunity for stakeholders to fulfil the statutory requirements of the TRO consultation process."North Somerset Council did not respond to the claims, but has invited residents, businesses and other organisations to comment via their website. They added: "All comments received will be reviewed and a decision will be taken shortly on the next steps regarding introducing parking charges in Clevedon."
BBC News
14-07-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Nineteen rescued from Weston-super-Mare beach mud on hottest weekend
Nineteen people stuck in dangerous beach mud flats at the weekend had to be rescued by emergency services, sparking a safety incidents took place on the shoreline at Weston-super-Mare in North Somerset, on the hottest weekend of the year so Fire and Rescue Service said it needed to use its hovercraft and called on RNLI support. The fire service said everyone was rescued safely and no injuries were a statement, the RNLI at Weston-super-Mare said: "If you see anyone walking to the shoreline and towards the mud, please warn them of the dangers, you could save a life." The RNLI's lifeboat crews were called to six mud flat rescues on Sunday. The mud appears on the shoreline at low Weston-super-Mare Lifeboats RNLI Facebook page shared one of the accounts from a person said: "We waded through thigh deep mud for an hour and half to reach the sea. I just wasn't aware the dangers of doing that. "We got to the sea and even though I was sinking I was thrilled the tide was coming in as I thought I could cool down and swim. "I genuinely was not aware of the danger, it didn't even occur to me to call 999. I feel incredibly stupid. "I can't thank the RNLI enough."I think it's really important to raise awareness."
