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News
roundup
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Somerset Council’s Executive has given the green light to a phased move towards fairer and more consistent parking charges across the county.
From January all parking fees in paid-for Somerset Council car parks will increase by 10% – the first increase in 17 months. A new tiered charging system, applicable 7 days a week, and agreed in March by the Council’s Executive Committee, will come into effect from autumn 2027.
The Department for Education has approved Somerset Council’s SEND Reform Plan.
The decision unlocks significant investment to strengthen support and improve outcomes for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) across the county.
 Somerset Council has secured £5.87 million in Government funding to help people sleeping rough move off the streets and into safe, settled accommodation.
The funding has been awarded through the Government’s new Rough Sleeping Programme, a multi-million national initiative from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) which is running for 3 years from 2026/27.
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Somerset Council’s Executive this week approved a major transport investment plan that aims to improve roads, bus services and walking and cycling routes across the county.
The Local Transport Delivery Plan sets out how the Council intends to invest more than £283 million of government funding between 2026 and 2030 in transport infrastructure and services.
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Somerset Council’s Leader has taken a key decision to return 2-way traffic to Salmon Parade and East Quay following a review and extensive consultation work.
A southbound 1-way system was introduced on Salmon Parade as part of the Bridgwater Town Deal Celebration Mile project, and a north-bound 1-way system was introduced on East Quay. Wider pavements, a new cycle lane and a west-bound 1-way system were also introduced on Eastover as part of the project.
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A proposal to expand specialist support in mainstream schools, increase special school capacity and help more children and young people learn closer to home is to go ahead in Somerset.
At a meeting of Somerset Council’s Executive (7 October), the next stage of a major programme to increase local education provision for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) was approved.
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Somerset Council is preparing to bring the former Beechtrees children’s respite care home in Wellington back into use as a new supported living home for adults with learning disabilities and autism.
This week, Discovery, a not-for-profit care and support provider based in Somerset, has agreed a long-term lease on the site and work is currently underway to adapt the building to provide a safe, suitable and welcoming home for people who need specialised support to live as independently as possible.
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Investment is planned to boost Somerset’s economy using funding previously granted by Government to the former Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).
Somerset Council has a confirmed £5.2m of LEP legacy funds to invest, with most of that sum being capital funding. More money – at least £1.4m – is expected to be available by October 2029.
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Somerset Council together with household collections contractor, SUEZ UK are celebrating following shortlisting for 2 MRW National Recycling Awards.
The partnership has been shortlisted for Campaign of the Year – Recycling Incentive and Food Waste Initiative, following the success of the Food Recycling campaign.
The prestigious awards celebrate the UK’s most innovative and impactful recycling, waste and resource management projects.
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Residents, businesses, community groups and other interested organisations are being invited to help shape the future of local governance in Huish Episcopi and Langport as part of a Community Governance Review.
Somerset Council has launched a public consultation to gather views on whether the current parish arrangements remain the best fit for local communities or whether changes should be made.
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Stoptober is under way, and the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS Better Health are encouraging smokers to make a quit attempt. Stopping smoking for 28 days makes you 5 times more likely to quit for good, and every attempt counts, even if you have tried before.
Free support includes the NHS Quit Smoking app, a personal quit plan, advice on stop smoking aids and help finding a local stop smoking service.
Visit the NHS Better Health quit smoking website to find the support that’s right for you.
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The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and NHS England are encouraging eligible people to get winter vaccinations against flu, COVID-19 and RSV.
Vaccination helps reduce serious illness and hospital admissions when respiratory viruses spread more easily.
Free flu vaccinations are available to eligible groups, including older adults, pregnant women, young children, carers and people with certain long-term conditions. Some may also be offered COVID-19, RSV or pneumococcal vaccines.
Check eligibility and book on the NHS winter vaccinations page.
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