End of on-road parking along Lodge Lane, Nailsea?

A NAILSEA company has won permission to build a car park on green belt land in Wraxall, despite objections from parish councillors.

GE Oil and Gas in the High Street applied to North Somerset Council for permission to create a new 173-space temporary car park on a 0.8-acre piece of land adjacent to its site at Bristol Road.

Although Nailsea councillors supported the move Wraxall and Failand Parish Council was strongly against the development on green belt land which it said and against district council policy.

Despite this North Somerset Council north area planning committee recommended the scheme be approved.

And this decision has now been approved by its planning and regulatory committee although it added an extra clause that late night and weekend parking should not be allowed with prior written permission from the council.

GE Oil and Gas is one of the town's largest employers with 573 staff and is putting together a 10-year plan for expansion.

The multi-national company is a world leader in advanced technology equipment and services for all segments of the oil and gas industry from drilling to subsea systems and from pipelines to industrial power generation including refining and petrochemicals.

It currently employs 573 staff which it wants to increase to approximately 700.

While building work was being carried out there were ongoing complaints about workers parking along Lodge Lane.

Some yellow lines were installed but the problem with parking has increasing worsen.

Under current council policy development can only take place on green belt land where the applicant can demonstrate exceptional circumstances.

Wraxall councillor Bob Cook said alternative land for parking was available in the neighbouring Coates Industrial Estate, where up to 80 GE Oil staff already park their cars.

The green belt land is owned by the Wraxall Charities – a trust set up decades ago to help support those in need in the village.

GE Oil and Gas facilities manager Mike Box said the firm had looked at alternative sites for a car park but none had proved suitable.

He said at the time: "We have a strong desire to operate from the existing site and continue to invest in Nailsea."