Friday, 19 January 2024

Featured news

Waste collection service guides will arrive next week – ‘Check it, keep it’

New service guides, including an 18-month collection calendar will begin to arrive next week in the former Sedgemoor and Somerset West and Taunton areas, as well as a small part of South Somerset. Everyone in these areas will be getting the guide ahead of a change to collection days for some households. Residents having a change of collection day will have received a letter earlier in the month letting them know that things are changing.

Urgent need for Somerset residents to support local children in care

Somerset residents have the potential to make a difference to a vulnerable child’s life and future, providing better outcomes for local children in care and long-term cost savings for Somerset Council.

You can change a child’s story as a foster carer. This is the powerful and emotive message behind a new short film from Somerset Council’s Fostering Service, which aims to highlight the important role of foster carers and encourage families and individuals with room in their homes and hearts to consider fostering.

Promoted news

Help build our amazing brains together

Image courtesy of DfE / DHSC

The more we chat, play and read with our kids, the more we help build their brains. Anytime, anywhere, whether at home or out and about, it all adds up.

Wherever you are, simply chatting back and forth, answering your child’s questions and sharing special moments together all help their brain to grow and develop secure and strong connections.

The Start for Life ‘Little Moments Together’ campaign offers simple ideas from other parents on how to build these little moments into each day.

Measles: Know the symptoms

Image courtesy of UKHSA / NHS

Measles spreads easily.

Anyone who is not vaccinated can catch it.

Measles can have serious and sometimes fatal consequences, so make sure you’re up to date with MMR vaccinations and ask your GP practice about catch up jabs if needed.

Let Somerset Libraries help you to get healthy!

Ever wondered if one of those Fitness Tracker Watch thingies could help you get active?

Why not ‘try before you buy’ by borrowing one for free from one of our selected libraries! We've even made a handy 'How To' guide to help you make the most of the device.

All you need is a library membership which is free and easy to sort out.

Holocaust Memorial Day – a time for remembrance and reflection

We're marking Holocaust Memorial Day with a remembrance event at St Johns Church, Taunton, on Thursday, 25 January, from 12.30pm to 13.30pm.

This commemoration is organised by a small collection of community and council representatives.

The event remembers acts of genocide and their victims including the Holocaust. It’s a civic and secular event where everyone is welcome; people of all faiths and those with none. The programme will include music and the lighting of candles.

Latest articles

Have your say on Somerset’s Local Nature Recovery Strategy

Somerset Council has launched an online survey to help shape the county’s Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) which will provide a single vision for nature recovery in Somerset. The work is funded by Defra and local authorities throughout England have been appointed to lead the work. Somerset Council is developing the LNRS for Somerset in collaboration with the Somerset Local Nature Partnership.

Council to modernise A38/39 junction scheme in Bridgwater

Somerset Council is taking a new approach to tackling congestion issues at a busy intersection in Bridgwater. The Council has reviewed plans to deliver a major infrastructure project at the A38/39 roundabout near the Cross Rifles pub and Sainsburys and made a decision to replace it with a new proposal addressing the transport needs of the town without requiring significant disruption for residents and road users.

Highbridge and Burnham-on-Sea Local Pantry celebrates two year anniversary

Highbridge and Burnham-on-Sea Local Pantry (HBoS) celebrated its second anniversary on 14 January. HBoS is a partnership between Burnham Baptist Church and Morland Community Hub. It is part of the Somerset Local Pantry Network (SLPN), who buy and collect surplus food and make it available to members for a low weekly fee. Each Local Pantry helps reduce food waste and makes food affordable for local families which saves them money.

Make sure you are ready to vote in 2024

Residents in Somerset are being encouraged to get 2024 off to a good start by making sure they are ready to vote in elections – both local and Parliamentary. The next scheduled elections in Somerset are for the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Avon and Somerset on Thursday 2 May 2024.More details will be published nearer the time.