In the 1960s efforts began to secure a car park for the village. Eventually agreement was reached with Courages for the one in the centre of the village. Efforts throughout the 1990s to provide another car park have failed. Yellow lines were first proposed in the 1960s. In 2003 in an effort to provide more parking spaces, to alleviate congestion and improve road safety yellow lines and time limited parking were introduced in the village centre.

The issue of flooding, which has always caused problems in lower Chew was highlighted in 1968 by the Great Flood, when over ninety houses were flooded. The Parish Council have been involved in many meetings and discussions since to alleviate the problem, and were the first Council in the South West to set up a Flood Warden Scheme.

Chew Magna Parish is washed by Green Belt and much of Chew Magna village is now a Conservation Area. The Rural District Council, in the 1960’s proposed knocking down all the old cottages, even those in the High Street, and replacing them with modern housing. Thankfully because of the Parish Council’s action, the village retains its old world charm today.

Chew Magna won awards in the Avonside Best Kept Village Competition in 1984, 1997 and 2005. In 2004 the Parish Council competed in the National Competition. A comprehensive presentation of village life was arranged in the Old School Room for the judges, accompanied by an excellent written report. This resulted in an award of £500 as a category winner for facilities for “Older People” in the village.

he workload for Parish Councillors and the Clerk continues to increase. Business has become more complex with regulations, government directives, planning laws and finances. The idea of a Parish Council has moved far from its humble beginnings in 1894

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