Portishead, Somerset

Portishead (IPA: {{IPA|/pɔːtɪsˈhɛd/}}) is a coastal town in North Somerset, England. It has a population of approximately 18,000, with a further 8,000 expected to move into new developments in the town over the next few years. It was once a major port, acting for a time as the main harbour of Bristol. Until the 1980s, two distinctive brick-built power stations were situated near the docks, with four tall chimneys. These have now been demolished, and the harbour is now used for pleasure craft and is surrounded by upmarket housing, mostly built in the 2000s.

Related Topics:
IPA - North Somerset - England - Bristol

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Portishead is primarily a dormitory town for Bristol and its environs, but employers include the Avon and Somerset Constabulary, which has its headquarters on the western edge of the town, Gordano School, and legions of care homes for the elderly. The town has a large number of supermarkets (5) compared to the small overall population.

Related Topics:
Avon and Somerset Constabulary - Gordano School

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The town suffers from poor transportation links. Plans to reopen a disused train line to Bristol have not come to pass, and the main A369 road to the nearby M5 motorway is congested during rush hours. The centre of the town has recently had traffic-flow modifications which have caused much controversy because they are widely seen as having caused extensive queuing where none existed before. Its coastline is stony and muddy, of environmental and geological interest, but not for building sandcastles. The Lake Grounds area, built in the early 20th century around an artificial lake, is the town's main park area. A heated outdoor swimming pool is situated on the shore next to the Lake Grounds. Above the Lake grounds is Battery Point, where guns were placed to protect the Severn Estuary from invasion fleets.

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The Bristol based trip-hop group Portishead are named after the town, despite claiming to hate the place.

Related Topics:
Bristol - Trip-hop - Portishead

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