News in Shepton Mallet

The coronavirus pandemic has cost Somerset taxpayers more than £3 million as a result of recycling centres being closed and new bin collections being delayed.

The Somerset Waste Partnership (SWP) was forced to close all 16 household waste recycling centres at the start of the pandemic – and to postpone rolling out its Recycle More collections, which would have seen more materials recycled at the kerbside.

A forest school on the edge of Shepton Mallet has received a grant of £2,800 from the Somerset Coronavirus Appeal.

Run by the Somerset Community Foundation (SCF), which is based at the Bath and West Showground near Shepton Mallet, the appeal aims to support community groups and organisation through the coronavirus crisis.

A dedicated athlete will bid to lift the spirits of the people of Shepton Mallet tomorrow (July 31) when she attempts to run 100 miles around the town.

Emma Challis will be lapping the town 16 times and is calling on residents to come out and cheer her on, and raise smiles at what has been a difficult time.

A majority of Somerset county councillors have voted to abolish themselves and create a new unitary authority for the whole county.

Council leader David Fothergill has put forward the One Somerset business case, which would see Somerset's five existing councils abolished and replaced by May 2022.

Firefighters from Shepton Mallet helped tackle a bungalow fire in Wells yesterday evening (July 29), in which a dog was rescued, after a neighbour noticed smoke issuing from the rear of the home and dialled 999.

At the time of call they confirmed that they had tried to raise the alarm by knocking on the door of the property in Churchill Close but there was no answer. Crews from Wells and Shepton Mallet were initially mobilised just after 6pm.

Plans to convert the main First Steps Day Nursery building in Shepton Mallet, while still continuing the business from another part of the site, have been submitted to Mendip District Council.

The planning application for the change of use of the main building to C3 (residential) with existing rear building retained as D1 (non-residential institution), the building of a garage, replacement of existing conservatory, creation of a porch, internal and external alterations to the main building and associated landscaping at 44 Compton Road, Shepton Mallet, has been submitted by Mrs Garland.

Shepton Mallet residents are being asked to check that their electoral registration details are current or they could risk losing their voice on decisions that affect them - including being able vote in the elections on May 6 next year.

Mendip District Council's Electoral Services Team are contacting households across the district, either by email or by post, to help identify residents who are not registered and to encourage them to do so.

West Compton residents say they are being let down by local councils' failure to provide adequate travellers' sites across the entire county.

The group of residents near Shepton Mallet claim they now have more travellers living in their area than permanent inhabitants.

The second Black Lives Matter Somerset peaceful protest in Shepton Mallet took place in Collett Park on Sunday.

Despite the inclement weather, many locals still came out in a show of support and on several occasions the crowd broke into applause in agreement of what the speakers had to say.

We are sure lockdown has given everyone the opportunity to read more, and equally sure that many local book groups have been holding virtual meetings to discuss what they have read.

Now with the easing of lockdown there is something else to look forward to. Wells Festival of Literature is going ahead and will hold its Book Group event on Sunday October 18.