Valley Parishes Alliance
The beautiful and historic Avon & Limpley Stoke Valley is, undoubtedly, an exceptional area. Protecting and conserving it, in the face of major regeneration and development in the wider B&NES and Wiltshire area, will be an ever increasing challenge.
A cross-county border Valley Parishes Alliance (VPA) has, therefore, been established to provide a unified voice on social, economic and environmental issues which could affect the Bath & North East Somerset and Wiltshire Parish communities in the Avon and Limpley Stoke Valley area, east of Bath.
To achieve this objective two strands of alliance activity have been identified:
- protection and enhancement of the character and distinctiveness of the landscape, natural environment and village settlements for present and future generations.
- identification and promotion of community projects appropriate to the purpose of the Alliance.
The founding VPA Parish Council members are Batheaston, Bathampton, Bathford, Claverton, Monkton Combe, Freshford (all Bath & North East Somerset), Limpley Stoke, Winsley and Westwood (all Wiltshire).
The combined population of the Parishes is some 10,900 and the VPA takes strength from comprising nine Parish Councils which represent 8,700 electors.
The VPA is currently focused on – B&NES and Wiltshire long term regeneration and housing development plans and associated transport management and infrastructure plans, Social/Affordable/Rural housing requirements, Protection of Green Belt and the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (in particular, conservation of the landscape setting of the City of Bath World Heritage Site), Cross-county border issues, e.g. management of the Kennet & Avon Canal and road traffic movements on key strategic routes, A36 & A363 road safety and improvements in rural broadband service.
Summaries of key aspects of the Avon & Limpley Stoke Valley and additional information on the VPA can be viewed on the
Valley Parishes Alliance website.