News in Shepton Mallet

Planned changes to General Election boundaries could see Shepton Mallet's constituency altered and have a different name.

The Boundary Commission for England says the aim is to make Parliament fairer by giving each MP a roughly similar number of voters.

The improved weather has seen many people getting out and about at events in the Shepton Mallet area.

A number of these events in Shepton Mallet are being added to our recently revamped What's On section.

Somerset electors have until 5pm on Friday 4 June to make it clear which option for change in local government in the county they support by voting in the local poll.

The poll asks electors to choose between the two options for change currently being considered by government to replace Somerset's five existing county and district councils: One Somerset, the plan for a single council proposed by Somerset County Council or Stronger Somerset, the plan for two councils - an Eastern Somerset and a Western Somerset council - proposed by Somerset's District Councils.

Well that was a stonker of a week wasn't it!? That new energy I spoke of last week is certainly showing itself in so many wonderful ways.

Each week I'll be answering burning questions that you have submitted.

A free information event, brought to you by Avalon Community Energy (ACE) & Bath and West Community Energy (BWCE), will explore the challenge of energy demand and how we can achieve a lower-carbon electricity grid.

More solar and wind power? More homes heated and vehicles powered by electricity rather than fossil fuels? This is all well and good but it leads to a big challenge. The national grid needs to match demand with supply at all times, but we can't control the wind or the sunshine. So what low carbon solutions can we employ for this balancing act?

The Bath & West Country Festival, which is replacing the Royal Bath & West Show for 2021, promises fun activities and performances for every member of the family.

Families and children have always enjoyed the Show, and the one-off Festival taking place this year is no different. It retains the Main Ring, Main Lawn, Woodland and Countryside Arena which visitors know and love, whilst also introducing some new features to enjoy.

Shepton Mallet Friday Market is set to return to the newly refurbished Market Place from 11th June.

The popular outdoor event will operate at the usual time of 9am until 2pm, selling fresh products, everyday essentials, quality treats and unique gifts.

They say we all have tales to tell. Maybe you have a reflective nature which will come to life as a poem, perhaps you have a short story striving to be put on paper, or maybe a fantastic tale which will fire the imagination of children. There is just one month left for you to put pen to paper and enter the Wells Festival of Literature competitions! Please see our website www.wellsfestivalofliterature.org.uk to find out how you can enter and maybe bag yourself a cash prize!

The author, poet and playwright, Owen Sheers, will be our Open Poetry judge this year. Owen is Professor of Creativity at Swansea University and has an impressive track record. He has won the Somerset Maugham and Wilfred Owen poetry awards and has received the Wales Book of the Year twice. His BAFTA-nominated film-poem 'The Green Hollow' won three BAFTA Cymru awards, including Best Writer. Owen has also been a Writer in Residence for the Wordsworth Trust and the Welsh Rugby Union. Prizes for the Open Poetry Competition will be an amazing £1000 for the first prize, £500 for the second prize and £250 for the third. There is also the opportunity to win a Local Prize of £100!

Mendip District Council has today (1 June) launched two new grant funds - one for communities and one for climate and ecological emergency projects.

Voluntary, community, not-for-profit organisations and City, Town and Parish Councils are invited to apply for the funding.

A poll over the future of local government in Somerset will continue – despite a row over a spoof website.

Two rivalling proposals for the future of local government in Somerset are currently being assessed by the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), with a decision due in the summer.