Members & Contact

To contact the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group Email

neighbourhoodplan@pilningsevernbeach-pc.gov.uk

or telephone the Chair on 01454 632170

Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group

Gary Sheppard (Treasurer)

Gary Sheppard - a 45 year resident of the parish, Gary is a business professional with extensive experience of the telecoms, construction and property markets. Having spent a number of years as a director of a FTSE 250 company he spent the last 15 years of his career developing and advising private businesses before retiring.

Gill Cox

Gill spent her formative years growing up in various towns in Australia before the family migrated back to England. She has lived in the parish for 47 years, both in Pilning and Severn Beach, raising a family of four, all attending the local schools. She was a Playleader at Severn Beach Playgroup for over 10 years, and thereafter worked for over 18 years for a charity as a Development Worker for W.I.S.H. which was NHS funded to improve health, welfare and supporting groups that already existed in Bristol.
She currently volunteers at the local community library and is a trustee at Severn Beach Village Hall, fundraising for years to improve the play area and hall for the benefit of all. She has a keen interest to see improvements in the area that could benefit the community both socially and economically now we are slowly being enveloped by industry.

John Miller (Vice Chair)

John has lived in Severn Beach all his life. His father started a camping business at Salthouse Farm in the 1940’s when Severn Beach was a popular holiday destination. He took over the business and farm in 1972.
The holiday business changed into a residential retirement park after Severn Beach changed and the Second Severn Crossing was constructed.
He has been involved with Emmaus Church from childhood and was partly responsible for overseeing the construction of the new building in Gorse Cover Road.
He has joined the Parish Plan because he hopes to see the village fully developed into a thriving sustainable community where businesses, social clubs, schools and churches prosper.

Mike Harrison

Mike and his wife, Lucy, moved to New Passage in 2016, building a new eco-house fronting the Severn. Mike has worked on marine construction projects in the UK and internationally for 35 years, so takes a particularly keen interest in local developments that may affect the Parish from flood and environmental perspectives. Working in Bristol, Mike is an enthusiastic advocate for the Severn Beach line, it’s long term success and improvement, and realistic ways of reducing dependency on cars in a rural community. He enjoys bike rides in the area and tinkering with old machines in his spare time.

Nick Davies

Nick is a chartered surveyor with over 25 years experience in the commercial property sector. He moved to New Passage with his wife and children a dozen years ago and has served on the Parish Council and is currently Parish Council Chairman. Nick enjoys basketball as a spectator and has recently started training to become a basketball table official.

Peter Johnson

Peter and his family have lived in the South Gloucestershire region for 35 years. He also has some strong ancestral ties to the area. With many years of commercial experience in the IT/software, Dairy and Retail industries he can bring an outside perspective to decision making and ideas. Peter is a self-confessed petrol head and has a keen interest in renovating and modifying classic cars. Prior to joining the Steering Group, Peter has attended several Neighbourhood Plan meetings as a guest and has assisted at the Group’s public presentations.

Richard Edwards (Chair)

A Pilning resident for 31 years, local inputs have included; Parent Governor at Marlwood School for 6 years, Chair of Redwick & Northwick School FOS and Chair of Pilning Flower Show. Worked as an engineer in the highly regulated power industry for 40+ years in; project management, quality and safety management systems, non-destructive testing and supply chain. Retired in 2019.

Robert Goard (Secretary)

Robert and his wife have lived in the Parish since 1981 and their two sons and their families have also set up home here.

A retired Architect who was a director of a large multi-discipline design practice in central Bristol for 40 years, his work has covered such areas as Health, Industry, Water, University and Residential. Overseas work included two years in Nigeria. He was responsible for the first phase of the new Pilning surgery with Dr Terry Paterson. He was also the Treasurer for the Severn Beach Scout group for 20 years.

Hobbies include long distance walking, golf, gardening and motorcycling.