News in Shepton Mallet

They'll be serving plenty of Christmas cheer in the city of Wells as the festive mega-market sets up stall on Saturday 11th December, and again on Saturday 18th December.

The much-anticipated 'Christmas in Wells' takes place in the Market Place, stretching all the way through to the Bishop's Palace Green.

PCC Mark Shelford has launched a survey asking local people if they would pay an increase in the policing part of the council tax.

Local policing is funded by a combination of Home Office and other grants as well as council tax contributions, which is known as the precept.

The campaign to save a local mental health ward continued in Wells with around ten people at Priory Park, yesterday (December 4).

Campaigners asked passing cars to beep support, and then went on to leaflet at Tesco's and at the market, where they tried to engage as many people as possible - many of who were not aware of plans to close the mental health ward.

Harassment and Illegal Evictions will not be tolerated. That's the strong message from Mendip District Council, whose housing officers are determined to root out rogue landlords.

Working with colleagues in Avon and Somerset Police, Mendip's Housing Options team and Private Sector Housing team are targeting landlords found flouting the law. The aim of the action is to protect those tenants who feel hassled or threatened in their chosen homes.

District councils in Mendip, South Somerset, Sedgemoor and Somerset West and Taunton have been working with the Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE) to secure funding to deliver energy efficiency improvements to park homes across Somerset.

Today (Friday 3rd December) is Fuel Poverty Awareness Day and the partnership can proudly announce as part of the energy efficiency push, four key park home sites across the county were identified where park homeowners could benefit from the insulation works.

The process of creating a unitary council for Somerset took a step closer last night (1st December, 2021).

Correspondence from the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, confirmed that elections to the new Somerset Council will take place in May 2022.

Somerset residents will go to the polls in May 2022 to elect representatives on the new unitary authority, the government has confirmed.

Somerset County Council and the four district councils (Mendip, Sedgemoor, Somerset West and Taunton, and South Somerset) will be replaced by the new Somerset Council in April 2023 following a decision by central government in the summer.

Whilst the international and national news has inevitably been dominated with the Omicron virus developments, locally, we in the Town Council like everyone else need to strike a balance between reducing infection spread whilst supporting the economic and cultural revival of Shepton. Internally we are bringing back some of the original early pandemic guidance for our meetings but until we hear otherwise, we continue to put on our Winter events series. I simply ask all participants and attendees to take common sense precautions and be respectful that some residents are nervous about any gatherings of people so please respect other's distance where possible. 

Off the back of the town's first Literary Festival, last week saw another Window Wanderland event; an amazing display of creativity in all corners of the town. Carrying on the colourful theme, the Art Bank is continuing with it's giant Christmas Wreath making workshops this week. Also happening this weekend, there is a Christmas decoration making workshop put on by The Wild Ones Forest School in the market place and a Lino Print Card workshop in the library. As always, check out the dedicated page on our website for more details: sheptonmallet-tc.gov.uk/winter

After an absence of two years the Royal Bath & West Show will return in 2022, and tickets are now on sale for this much-anticipated event.

Coinciding with the Queen's Platinum Jubilee weekend (2nd-4th June), the organisers have listened to the views of previous visitors and are bringing back the hugely popular Paul Hannam Stunt Show and Pawsability Dog Agility Display, as well as Lakeside Farm. Also making a welcome return is the Pilton Tent, with the opportunity to camp on-site.

Mendip planners have agreed that the Shepton Council can put up signs around town to encourage visitors and help direct people around town.

The signs, which will go up on walls and on posts, are designed as per the planning application, so coloured chocolate brown.