News in Shepton Mallet

Following the recent announcement from the government about a possible return of pupils to schools from June 1, staff at schools in Shepton Mallet have been busy preparing for this.

Keeping children and staff safe is a priority, with challenges including how to teach with social distancing and how to arrange play times, and school drop-off and collection.

There are scheduled to be temporary traffic lights on the A361 near Shepton Mallet this week.

The lights are due to be in place on the A361 through East Compton on Thursday (June 4).

Revised plans have been submitted to Mendip District Council for the demolition of the former Queen's Arms pub in Wraxall and the building of seven houses on the site.

The planning application for the demolition of the existing building and the building of seven dwellinghouses with associated vehicular access and parking (revised scheme) at the Queen's Arms, Wraxall Road, Wraxall, has been submitted by Royanne Ltd.

Shepton Mallet businesses could be receiving a boost as Mendip District Council has announced the launch of a new Local Authority Discretionary Grant fund.

The purpose of this Government funding is to provide additional support for some of those small businesses not covered by the current schemes.

The latest regionalised weekly figures have shown that 18 people have died in the Mendip area from coronavirus-related causes.

The NHS Confederation says "tens of thousands of lives have been saved" as a result of lockdown measures, after the number of UK-wide coronavirus deaths reached its lowest weekly level for six weeks in mid-May.

The Mendip area, including Shepton Mallet, has 23 drivers still on the roads who have enough points on their licenses to trigger a ban.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (Rospa) said it was concerning that drivers with 12 points or more were still allowed on the roads.

The Lord-Lieutenant of Somerset, who lives in Pilton, is calling on caring communities to keep up the good work and "be good neighbours" for residents continuing to shield as some coronavirus restrictions start to ease.

Since the start of the UK lockdown, volunteers and good neighbours have banded together with the NHS, local authorities and voluntary and charity organisations to support the most vulnerable in the county – and their help is still needed.

A Shepton Mallet district councillor has vowed to push to make sure the town gets its fair share of a government fund that is dedicated to help high street recovery.

Mendip district councillor for Shepton East, Garfield Kennedy, has said that the money the government has given to the area is "a drop in the bucket" of what is needed, but said he will do his best to make sure the town gets as much as possible.

Ridge Lane on the outskirts of Shepton Mallet is scheduled to be closed for a day during the next couple of weeks.

The whole of the lane will be closed for a day at some point between Friday May 29 and June 12.

Mendip District Council is to receive more than £102,000 from the government to help it support the recovery of high streets including the one in Shepton Mallet.

A new £50 million fund for councils to support their local high streets get safely back to business was announced today (May 24) by High Streets Minister Simon Clarke.