News in Shepton Mallet

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.

Residents and visitors to Shepton Mallet will be dining out in style next month, as a number of local restaurants, pubs and cafés take part in the government's Eat Out to Help Out scheme.

In a bid to boost the hospitality industry following the coronavirus lockdown, the government scheme will allow people who dine out from Monday to Wednesday during August to benefit from 50 per cent off the price of their meals, up to the value of £10 a head, with the government reimbursing the restaurant the remaining 50 per cent.

Mendip District Council is offering quick, cut-price Pavement Licences for bars, restaurants and pubs serving food and drink al fresco, to help high streets recover post-lockdown.

Hospitality businesses keen to maximise capacity, while still observing social distancing guidelines, will now find it easier and cheaper to obtain permission to place tables and chairs on pavements outside their premises.

Plans for a new unitary authority in Somerset face a serious test on Wednesday (July 29) at a virtual full council meeting.

Councillors at Somerset County Council will meet virtually to debate the One Somerset proposals, which would see Somerset's five existing councils abolished and replaced with a new unitary county.

Somerset Waste Partnership has confirmed the extra items it plans to pick up in kerbside collections when its new Recycle More scheme gets the go-ahead in Shepton Mallet.

Somerset Waste Board will this week consider a timetable for rolling-out its Recycle More service.

Shepton Mallet Library will be opening its doors again early next month.

Somerset Libraries has announced that the Market Place building will reopen on Monday August 3 at 10am.