|
News
roundup
|
 |
|
|
|
Somerset Council is flying high after being awarded funding from Innovate UK to help bring forward a project that could transform disaster response and environmental protection in the county.
The award for the £191,370 project comes from the Future Flight Regional Demonstrator Fund for the Council’s Project RESCUE that will investigate the potential for drones to be deployed to monitor environmental emergencies.
Stock image by Igor Omilaev from Unsplash
Plans to invest in improved data and artificial intelligence to help Somerset Council provide better services and reduce costs have been approved.
On Wednesday, 1 October, Somerset Council’s Executive agreed to invest £1.56 million in digital innovations as part of its ongoing Inspiring Innovation transformation programme.
|
|
Details of candidates in 2 forthcoming Somerset Council by elections have been published.
By elections are due to be held in Dunster and Glastonbury for vacancies on Somerset Council with polling day set for 23 October 2025.
The statement of persons nominated can be found on the Council’s Current election notices and statements page.
|
The Council is advising residents that there may be delays to recycling collections today (Friday, 3 October 2025), due to a range of operational issues.
|
A Somerset Council and Government initiative has helped significantly reduce pollution at 3 county hotspots with poor air quality ratings.
East Reach, Henlade and Yeovil town centre had their status as Air Quality Management Areas (AQMA) removed today following a report to the Council’s Executive Committee.
|
Somerset Council is working in partnership with the Environment Agency to deliver a £6 million flood alleviation project to help protect homes and businesses in Taunton from flooding.
The improved flood defences along two stretches of the River Tone bank in the North Town area of Taunton will provide increased protection to hundreds of homes, as well as reduced flood risk to key sections of the A3027, including Bridge Street, Staplegrove Road and Station Road, and vital buildings and services like North Town Primary School, the Police Station, swimming pool, Town Council and sheltered housing in the area.
|
If your child is due to start secondary school (Year 7) in September 2026, please note that applications are open. And Somerset parents and carers are being urged to apply online – and on time!
Secondary school applications must be submitted by the national deadline, which is 31 October 2025.
School place offers will be made on National Offer Day, 2 March 2026.
|
|
|
Parents, children, professionals, and the wider public are invited to have their say and help shape the future of children and family services in the county.
Somerset Council has launched a public consultation to gain insights into what’s working well, and what changes and improvements are needed to support families to stay together and thrive, increasing the number of children that can stay safely at home.
|
|
|
|
Clockwise from top left: Nickie Gething, Alastair Martin, Linda Nash and Mary Ellis
4 new Deputy Lieutenants have been appointed to assist and support the Lord-Lieutenant as The King’s representative in Somerset.
They are Mary Ellis (66), from Wells, Nickie Gething (64), from Bruton. Alastair Martin (aged 65), from Wookey, near Wells and Linda Nash (67), from Clevedon.
|
|
|
|
