Somerset Council will join the nation in marking the fifth anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic on 9 March 2025, as part of the COVID-19 Day of Reflection.

This day serves as a solemn reminder of the impact the pandemic had on our communities, while also recognising the extraordinary efforts of those who worked tirelessly to protect and care for others.

Emergency work to maintain power for nearly 2,000 homes in Taunton will need a partial closure of a section of the A358 Staplegrove Road from Monday 10 March.

National Grid is doing the work and will need a one-way traffic system in place from the Manor Road junction to the roundabout at the Greenway Road junction for a period of up to 4 weeks.

Somerset Council and NHS Somerset’s ‘Take the Pressure Off’ campaign has hit a major milestone this month, reaching 3,000 blood pressure checks carried out across Somerset over the last 12 months.

The ambitious target was set in March 2024 to be reached by March 2025 in a bid to detect high blood pressure in residents across the county to help prevent more serious conditions such as heart attacks and strokes.

Somerset Council’s Step Up To Social Work programme is open for aspiring social workers to apply for a place on an intensive but highly rewarding training programme.

Step Up To Social Work is a 14-month, full-time training programme for talented graduates and career changers to become the next generation of child and family social workers supporting vulnerable children, young people and families.

Somerset Council and its collections contractor, SUEZ Recycling and Recovery UK, have passed on more than 100 bikes since their diversion initiative began 6 months ago.

Bikes collected as part of resident’s bulky waste collection service are all donated to local charity, On Your Bike, which refurbishes the bikes or use them for parts.

Somerset Council’s Executive has taken steps to protect free overnight parking for cars in the county’s car parks as part of a proposed review of parking.

Following a discussion on proposed changes during Monday’s Executive Budget Meeting, members also agreed to provide free parking for up to 30 minutes in the new on street limited waiting bays to encourage turnover of available spaces and support local businesses.

Work is progressing on the Agratas facility which will bring massive investment to the area and up to 4,000 jobs at the Gravity site.  

To make the project a reality, significant work on local roads is required. In recent months, this has been to allow initial work to connect the facility to the National Grid.  

A much-valued service that plays a vital role in supporting children and young people in the county, has recorded its 1000th referral.

The milestone was achieved by Somerset Council’s Route1 Advocacy Service. Their highly trained volunteer team recognise the importance of children’s voices being heard – and they are committed to maximising them.

Wales and West Utilities (WWU) are scheduled to carry out major gas main replacement works in Taunton from this spring and are holding a public drop-in next week. 

WWU is upgrading the gas mains around Bishops Hull Road and Silk Mills Road in Taunton from 31 March. 

Somerset Council is urging local people to attend the drop-in session to find out more.