By Don Davies and Mike Bell.

Frequently we have had to pass on less than good news in this column; today is different!

Going on from the good news from our tourist businesses that bookings and visitor numbers remained high into the autumn, North Somerset Council has had three further pieces of positive news.

Earlier this month the council voted unanimously to purchase Birnbeck Pier to both reinstate the RNLI Lifeboat Station on the island and to work with them and Historic England to restore the pier. This will not only create a nationally significant visitor attraction - and a RNLI base to keep our water visitors safe - but also address the regeneration of the top end of Weston seafront.

This comes on top of the announcement of the arrival next spring of 'See Monster', a truly original art installation and visitor attraction, a re-configured North Sea oil rig rebuilt at the Tropicana, which Weston won in the face of intense competition from across the UK.

Both of these announcements support our council's vision for the revitalisation of our largest town, indeed the second largest settlement after Bristol in the west.

We are truly ambitious for both Weston and North Somerset. News of this nature truly puts us on the national and world map.

We have also been able to confirm that the future of Portbury Wharf Nature Reserve has been safeguarded as North Somerset Council has taken over the ownership of the site. The reserve was created as part of a planning agreement to provide a green buffer between the port and the Ashlands housing development.

North Somerset Council has secured a contribution from Persimmon Homes who will contribute £75,000 to finance future maintenance of the site. The council will work with local parish and town councils and other environmental organisations to support the long-term conservation of the site.

There is lots to look forward to in North Somerset with projects and investments that will improve our environment, safeguard community assets and deliver a better future.