News in Shepton Mallet

Up to 300 homes could be built between Stratton-on-the-Fosse, Chilcompton and Midsomer Norton as an initial planning application has been submitted for the land.

The request for a Screening and Scoping Opinion for 250 to 300 dwellings, access, open space and associated infrastructure on land to the north of the White Post Inn, Fosse Way, Stratton-on-the-Fosse, has been made by Rosie Dinnen.

Simon Armitage, Poet Laureate and Wells Festival of Literature's poetry judge for last year, is presenting a new Radio 4 podcast on BBC Sounds, and Shepton Mallet poets are being urged to use it as inspiration.

He is opening up the shed at the bottom of his garden, where he writes, to a variety of guests who share the secrets of their creativity and life lessons with the listeners.

The latest official figures show that eight more cases of coronavirus have been recorded across Somerset.

Public Health England figures show that 462 people had been confirmed as testing positive for Covid-19 by 9am Tuesday morning (April 28) in Somerset, up from 454 the same time on Monday. A week before, there were 366 cases.

The recycling centres that service Shepton Mallet could soon be reopened following a call by local government secretary Robert Jenrick.

The recycling centres at Dulcote and Dimmer were closed by Somerset Waste Partnership following the initial government advice that travelling there was not essential, and workers have been redeployed to waste collection teams instead.

Avon and Somerset Police are ramping up patrols in Shepton Mallet to catch motorists driving way above the speed limit.

Chief constable Andy Marsh said officers have been abused but are preventing incidents that would put even more pressure on the NHS.

Very much joined-up thinking - helping the homeless, who in turn were helped by working the land, which in turn was a community food supplier, Root Connections in Stratton-on-the-Fosse was fertile ground for a new way of supporting those most at risk.

Helping the homeless and vulnerable, who in turn helped out planting, growing and harvesting in a market garden venture that supplied local restaurants, with fantastic fresh ingredients, which then helped fund the project and hostel.

This week Shepton Mallet Nub News has celebrated its first birthday.

It's been a fantastic 12 months growing our readership, our family of Nubbers and our presence in Shepton Mallet and surrounding villages we serve.

All the Somerset carnivals, including the one in Shepton which bring in thousands of visitors and raise important funds for local causes, have been cancelled.

Organisers of the carnivals, in Wells, Shepton and Glastonbury, took the decision due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Verge cutting in Shepton Mallet and the surrounding area is due to start next month despite the country potentially still being in lockdown.

During the growing season Somerset County Council carries out a number of environmental maintenance operations to help keep all road users safe.

Shepton Mallet Town Council has launched a campaign to raise awareness of resources available during the coronavirus crisis.

Posters will start to appear in Shepton and surrounding villages to tell people of the resources available both locally and nationally.