Mendip Hills National Landscape Consultation

The Mendip Hills National Landscape (formerly the AONB) have launched a consultation designed to inform their management plan for the years 2025 -2030.  You can access the consultation HERE. This is separate from, and much broader than, the recent consultation on proposals for changes at Deer Leap which is still open HERE

 

 

‘One Life’ – film at Westbury Village Hall this Friday 5 April, 7.30pm

One Life is a 2023 movie based on the true story of Nicholas Winton, who saved hundreds of children from Nazi occupation in 1938. It is a true tearjerker that will inspire viewers with its depiction of how one person really can make a major positive difference.

And here are a few review extracts –
One of the best films of 2024…Sir Anthony Hopkins gives a performance that can break your heart.

There will be no dry eye, any time, in any theatre, where “One Life” is shown. One life that saved 669 lives, which has thus far resulted in approximately 6,000 descendants.

Among the recent spate of WWII dramas about ordinary people who did extraordinary things…James Hawes’s One Life, a British film, is one of the best.

Despite the fact that this film’s narrative is like a ping pong ball bouncing back and forth between 1988 and 50 years earlier, it works well. All the flashbacks provide context to the rescue operation, and to the continuing legacy of that operation.

One Life is an example of historical storytelling that doesn’t need artificial drama to get its points across—the truth is dramatic and moving enough. Hopkins’ and Flynn’s performances beautifully blend to paint a nicely crafted portrait.

So. usual drill – tickets £8 from village shop or on the door – first drink included in ticket price. There will be nibbles supplied by a team of willing helpers. – sorry no mini quiches this time, but we are promised chocolate brownies , among other delights. Come at 7-30 for 8pm start .

Neighbourhood Plan – Next Steps – 27th March

There will be an open meeting in the village hall to discuss the next steps in preparing a neighbourhood plan for Westbury.  See this  poster for details.

Easton Pop Up Cafe – Oxfam Gaza Appeal

Colleagues in Easton have asked me to draw attention to a pop up cafe in Easton on Saturday 10th February. Details on the poster here

Sandbags (again)

A reminder that we still have a number of sandbags available for collection at Old Ditch Farm.  They can be very helpful diverting water away from your property during periods of heavy rain which appear to be increasingly frequent.  Owing to a miscalculation on my part we have to charge £2.00 each rather than £1.50 (they contain 20 kilos, not 10 ) but the good news is that Graeme, Dyland and Toby have filled them for you and all you have to do is pick them up. Call me (870531) or Ian Metcalf (870262) to arrange when.

NEW 126 Weston-Wells-Weston timetable

The new 126 bus timetable is now available as a PDF file by clicking here:   126 map and timetable

It can also be found at firstbus 126 map and timetable

Somerset Council Press Releases

Somerset Council have notified the Parish Council of press releases they heve issued, concerning Waste Collection Days, Fostering in Somerset, and the end of charges for some items at Recycling Sites.
All these press releases and more can be found at:

www.somerset.gov.uk/newsroom/

Make your Christmas green – recycle your tree

Press release
For immediate release

Make your Christmas green – recycle your tree

With the festive season in full swing, Somerset Council is reminding everyone to put recycling the Christmas tree onto their list.

The best option is to compost it at home or turn it into a wildlife corner, though we appreciate that will not be possible for many people.

Garden Waste Service subscribers can leave their decoration-free tree out with their first collection of the year, so long as its smaller than 2 metres (or 6ft). The service will resume from Monday 8 January.

Trees will not be collected from the kerbside unless you subscribe to the Garden Waste Service.

Many charities, community organisations and groups are running tree collection or drop-off services, raising money for good causes.

These include St Margarets Hospice and Dorothy House Hospice Care. Please check online for details.

Trees can also be taken to any of Somerset’s recycling sites and put it in the garden waste skip.

Recycling sites will be closed on Bank Holidays but will be open for their usual hours at other times, check online for details: www.somerset.gov.uk/waste.

Cllr Dixie Darch Executive Lead Member for Environment and Climate Change said:

“Although there’s festivities still to come, don’t forget to plan what to do with your tree following the seasonal celebrations.
“I’d encourage residents to think green and make sure that Christmas trees are sustainably disposed of, contributing to making Somerset a greener, more sustainable county”.

When it comes to the environmentally friendly choice, the Carbon Trust say that having a real tree rather than a plastic one is often better (depending on where and how it was grown). To even out the carbon used to produce a fake tree, it would need to be used for at least 10 years.

Plastic Christmas trees cannot be recycled. Consider giving unwanted fake trees to charity or offer them up on a reuse platform such as Freegle or Gumtree.

Any fake trees that have lost their Christmas cheer should be disposed of via the Energy from Waste skip at any of Somerset’s recycling sites.

For more tips on how to reduce, reuse and recycle at this time of year visit: www.somerset.gov.uk/SeasonalWaste

Somerset Council – Public consultation on budget setting

A public consultation on Somerset Council’s budget has launched.
It will offer a chance for people to have their say in light of the financial emergency, which was called in November.
It’s open to all, and we are encouraging our Somerset communities, residents, businesses, stakeholders, and partners to take part.
The consultation highlights several discretionary services which could be redesigned, reduced, or even stopped.
It goes live from today (11 December) and will close on 22 January.
The link can be found at: https://somersetcouncil.citizenspace.com/comms/budget-consultation-2024-2025/
It can also be completed in libraries and council offices across Somerset.
Financial Emergency
The in-year overspend for 2023/24 is £27m.
The projected budget gap for 2024/25 is £100m.
To close the gap and balance the budget next year a series of service reductions, efficiency savings, and increases to fees and charges, including Council Tax, will need to be considered.
It is clear that this alone will not close the budget gap.
Plans to fundamentally change the council’s systems and processes to streamline its operations will need to speed up to reduce the size of the council in future.

Press and publicity
A press release will be issued later, with associated social media messaging.
The PR quotes Leader of Somerset Council, Cllr Bill Revans.
“I urge everyone to take part in our consultation, read through the information, understand our challenges, and have your say.
“We are facing very difficult decisions – this is not where we want to be. But we must face the reality of what is, fundamentally, a broken system of local government funding nationally.
“The cost of delivering our services, particularly social care, is increasing at a much faster rate than our income.
“This means we have to consider every available option to plug our budget gap, including increasing fees, reducing operating costs and finding savings across all areas. Before we make any decisions, it’s important we listen to our residents, especially when those decisions will affect people across Somerset.”

Lobbying for fairer funding for Local Government
Cllr Revans says: “We are continuing to lobby Government to address the financial crisis facing local councils. Just last week the County Councils Network published a letter sent to Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove and signed by myself and 32 other Council Leaders from all over the country.
“The letter highlighted the growing concern nationally with 7 out of 10 councils no longer confident they can balance their budget next year.
“We are asking Somerset’s MPs to join our call for fairer funding, and I would encourage anyone who cares about local council services to write to your local MP to ask them to raise this at the highest level.”

Go to: https://somersetcouncil.citizenspace.com/comms/budget-consultation-2024-2025/

And please share with your communities and networks, as appropriate – thanks all.
Ally

Ally Laing
Communications Lead – Members and Stakeholders
Somerset Council
+447989 078188
ally.laing@somerset.gov.uk
Somerset Council

126 Wells to Weston Starts 2nd January 2024

The Parish Clerk has received the following notice from the ‘Wells Bus Users Group’:

News. News. News.
126 Bus is back.
STARTS 2nd January.
thank you for your support.
Lets go by bus, yes.
The operator will be First West buses and buses will run from the Wells Bus garage.