Dunster Benefice Newsletter 29th April 2022

Timberscombe School Friday News 29.04.22

Somerset Health and Wellbeing Updates

Key Messages this week

1. Make sure you are ready to vote on 5 May

With just under one week before people in Somerset go to the polls, voters are being urged to get ready for the forthcoming local elections. Voters will already have a poll card informing them where they should go to cast their vote. Voters will be allocated to a polling station based on their home address.

Information on polling stations is also available on the Electoral Commission’s website at www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter/your-election-information.  For more information about the elections, please visit: https://www.somerset.gov.uk/how-the-council-works/elections/

Polling stations will be open from 7.00am to 10.00pm. Voters who have opted to vote by post must return their postal ballot pack by 10pm; they can hand it in at their polling station if they have not got time to return it by post.

People elected to represent their community at the town and parish council elections also taking place on 5 May, will serve a five-year term. 

For your information the only contested parishes/parish ward areas are:

• Brompton Regis
• Cheddon Fitzpaine (Maidenbrook Ward)
• Cutcombe
• Old Cleeve (Old Cleeve Ward)
• Porlock
• Stogursey
• Watchet
• Wellington (East Ward)
• Wellington (Rockwell Green Ward)
• Wellington (South East Ward)
• Wellington (South Ward)
• Winsford

Polling day is on Thursday 5 May and the counting of votes and declarations of the results for the town and parish council is scheduled to take place on Saturday 7 May 2022.

Please visit the SWT Elections 2022 page on the Council website for more information.

2.Online reporting of Housing Repairs

Recently the Housing Service launched an online repair tool to allow customers to report repairs to council properties.  It can be accessed here Housing repairs (somersetwestandtaunton.gov.uk). 

Please report repairs using this online tool or via the 0300 304 8000 number.  Repairs that are reported by other methods may be delayed as the correct information has not been captured.  Please help SWT to provide the best possible service to our customers by reporting repairs using the most effective method.

3.Somerset Waste Partnership Services (SWP)

Bank holiday collection changes

Don’t forget – rubbish and recycling collections take place a day later than usual next week to accommodate the bank holiday on Monday 2 May. That includes collections scheduled for Friday 6 May taking place on Saturday 7 May. Please make sure your boxes, bags and (if needed) bins are out on the right day and before 7am.

 Remember, collection days can always be checked online using the My Collection Day feature on the Somerset Waste Partnership website somersetwaste.gov.uk

4. Exmoor National Park (ENP). What is Lyme Disease and why do we need to be tick aware?

Lyme disease is an infection caused by a type of bacteria that is carried by some species of ticks. People can get the disease if bitten by an infected tick.

Ticks are most active in the spring and summer months when the weather warms up but can be found all year round. There are estimated to be around 3000 cases of Lyme disease diagnosed in England each year.

People are most likely to be exposed to ticks when spending time outdoors in green spaces.

Ticks and the potential risk of Lyme disease shouldn’t stop you from enjoying the outdoors, but there are various things you can do to avoid being bitten and to reduce the chance of being infected.

Please click here to read the full press release.