Lesley Webb

Somerset Waste Briefing 2023 February with news on Valentine’s Day, Business recycling support, Fixy repair and reuse, the new Somerset Council and Somerset Food Waste Week.

Register to vote in Taunton Town Council elections

Voters in the Taunton area are being reminded to make sure they are registered to vote so they can take part in electing the new Taunton Town Council on 4 May. It’s quick and easy to register to vote, but after the deadline of 17 April, it will be too late for the 4 May election.

The call for voters to sign up aims to encourage as many people as possible to register before the elections taking place this year for the first parish-level council in Taunton for almost 50 years. Research shows that young people, students and recent home movers are particularly less likely to be registered to vote. So, if you fall into one of these categories it is doubly important to make sure you’re registered correctly.

Please click here to read the full press release.

2 . Exmoor National Park Authority (ENPA) – Missing finger from Exmoor Landmark Sign Sought

The finger from one of Exmoor’s iconic historic signposts is missing and the National Park Authority are appealing for its return. Many visitors admire Exmoor’s iconic cast-iron signposts, and they are now a source of local pride, but a few years ago many were dilapidated and broken until a project led by the National Park Authority and Somerset County Council with an army of volunteers from local parishes enabled the restoration of 140 signposts.

Following significant damage to two highly important signposts and ongoing maintenance costs, the authority is now hoping to raise at least £3,000 through its CareMoor donations scheme in the coming months. One of the damaged signposts is located at Webber’s Post and the finger that should direct people to Somerset’s highest point, Dunkery Beacon as well as Wheddon Cross, where the famous snowdrop valley is based, is now missing. The second signpost which was vandalised and needs significant repair is located at Withypool.

Please click here to read the full press release.

3.Somerset Activity and Sports Partnership (SASP) –Get Outside in Somerset Half Term Challenge

Enjoy this February half term with Get Outside in Somerset’s new step challenge! Challenge yourself to achieve at least 8K steps per day, or if that seems like a bit too much, increase your current average by 3K, or go outside for at least 30 minutes every day. A fantastic opportunity to explore Somerset with family, friends, colleagues or on your own! Don’t forget, Tuesday 14 is Valentine’s Day, spread the love and check in with each other on your daily walk!

Please click here to read the full press release.

3. New campaign launched to recruit volunteer police officers

ASP are launching a new recruitment campaign, asking people to join them and begin a second career as a volunteer police officer. Volunteer police officers – or Special Constables, as they are known, provide an important link between their community and the police. ASP recognise the benefit that different life experiences and perspectives can bring to policing and are particularly interested in receiving applications from people from an ethnic minority background, and women.

Please click here to read the full press release.

Basic Life Support and Defibrillator Training

Published on February 10, 2023February 7, 2023 by Lesley WebbLeave a comment

A few places left

Monday 20th February 6 pm

at Timberscombe Village Hall

Basic life support and the safe use of a public access defibrillator, organised by The Minehead Community Defib Group. This is open to all who would be interested, free of charge. No previous experience needed.

Could you please email me if you would like to attend as I need to let the organisers know how many will be present: la.webb@btinternet.com

Updates

Published on January 28, 2023January 28, 2023 by Lesley WebbLeave a comment

SWT Council Business Bulletins

Benefice Newsletter 26th Jan 2023

Somerset Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) –Evening bus services get underway

Evening bus services on some key routes in Somerset begin running from next week, (Monday, 30 January 2023).

SCC is subsidising evening services from Monday to Saturday connecting Taunton with the towns of Minehead, Bridgwater, Wellington and Chard after 8pm and running to at least 10.30pm. Currently most of the services stop between 8-8.30pm.The evening bus proposals are part of Somerset’s Government-funded Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) which aims to increase bus patronage by introducing a number of important initiatives.

From 5 December a £1 fare became effective for any single bus journey in Taunton, and further measures are planned under the BSIP in the coming months.

Please click here to read the full press release.

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Exmoor National Park Authority (ENPA) –Have your say on Exmoor’s Heritage

What are your favourite places on Exmoor? Exmoor National Park are appealing to locals and visitors to share the sites they think deserve recognition.

Thousands of years of history have shaped Exmoor’s settlements and landscapes. Whether a little hamlet, a bridge across a moorland stream, a favourite standing stone or deserted sheep fold in a secret combe, a war memorial or even distinctive old gate posts at the end of a lane. What is important to you?

In 2020 Somerset and Exmoor were one of 22 areas across England to receive government funding to launch a local heritage campaign. The campaign encourages communities to nominate locally important buildings and sites for inclusion on a Local Heritage List (LHL).

Local Heritage Lists are one way in which local heritage – buildings, monuments, sites, places, areas, historic parks and gardens or other designed landscapes – can be formally identified and their significance considered in local plans and planning applications, which might the building or site or its setting. Being on the Local Heritage List can also help to highlight historic importance to grant giving bodies.

Please click here to read the full press release.

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Rural Services Network (RSN) – Rural cost of living survey

The Rural Services Network (RSN) in partnership with the Citizens Advice Rural Issues Group has launched a Rural Cost of Living Household Survey. They’ve had 3,000 responses so far but would like more and are hoping our communities can help. The survey will run until the 31 March 2023.

Independent research commissioned by the RSN in summer last year shows rural areas are suffering more acutely from the cost of living crisis compared to urban areas. To lend more weight to the argument for more funding for rural areas the RSN is calling on as many rural residents as possible to complete a Rural Cost of Living Household Survey.

The purpose of the survey is to understand more about rural household budgets at, what is, a very difficult time for many.

Research has shown that those living in rural areas face extra costs and the RSN now want to explore the impacts for households. Please click here to read the full press release, and participate in the survey.

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Health and Welfare – Make sure you get your winter vaccinations

With winter upon us, Somerset residents are being reminded to protect their health and the health of people around them by getting their flu and COVID-19 vaccinations. Covid and flu vaccinations are safe and effective ways to prevent serious illness. If you’re 50 and over, a frontline health or social care worker, pregnant, have a long-term health condition, or are a paid or unpaid carer, you are eligible for the free flu vaccine, and you can likely get the COVID-19 seasonal booster. Children aged 2-15 years old are also eligible for free flu vaccination, which is delivered through either their GP for pre-school and school for school age children – parents need to sign a consent form.

Vaccinations- COVID-19

If you are eligible, you can book your seasonal COVID-19 vaccine using the online booking service by calling 119 or finding a local vaccination walk-in site. If you have not yet had your earlier doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, it’s not too late to come forward and you can get these at any time. Getting both vaccines is important because more people are likely to get the flu this winter, and you’re more likely to be seriously ill if you get the flu and COVID-19 at the same time.

A number of clinics across Somerset are also open for walk-ins. More details can be found at COVID-19 and Flu vaccinations in Somerset – NHS Somerset.

Influenza

In Somerset, we are seeing an increase in hospitalisations from flu, and lots are younger than you might think. Many people do not realise that they’re at risk of catching flu and being affected by complications such as pneumonia, so it really is important to get your jab to protect yourself and those around you.

The pressure from flu on our NHS continues to grow with the latest figures showing that cases in hospital are now more than seven times higher than last month. You can help the NHS this winter by getting your flu vaccine. It is effective in stopping you getting seriously ill from the flu and means the NHS can stay focussed on helping people with other illnesses. If you get the flu vaccine, it can stop you from getting ill from flu meaning that you can keep doing the things you enjoy like going out and seeing friends.

If you’re eligible for a free flu vaccine, you can book an appointment at your GP surgery or a pharmacy that offers it on the NHS. You may also get an invitation to get the vaccine, but you do not have to wait for this before booking an appointment. Everyone who is eligible for the free flu vaccine will be able to get it. If you have an appointment for a Covid-19 booster vaccine at a GP surgery or pharmacy, you may also be offered a flu vaccine at the same time.

Do not delay booking your flu vaccine appointment so that you can get both vaccines together. Only some people will be offered both vaccines at the same time. Please click here for more information about the Flu vaccination.

Living safely with respiratory infections including COVID-19

The Government has published important advice for people with symptoms of respiratory infections, such as COVID-19; people with a positive COVID-19 test result and their contacts; and advice on safer behaviours for everyone. There are simple things you can do in your daily life that will help reduce the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory infections, such as flu and protect those at highest risk.

Things you can choose to do are:

Get vaccinated.
Wear a face covering or a face mask.
Let fresh air in if meeting others indoors.
Stay at home if you have symptoms
Cover your coughs and sneezes
Practise good hygiene:

If you have symptoms of a respiratory infection, such as COVID-19, and you have a high temperature or do not feel well enough to go to work or carry out normal activities, you are advised to try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people.

Please click here to read the guidance on what to do if you have symptoms but have not taken a test.

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Need to seek help?

If you, or someone you know are feeling like things are too much, please know that you / they don’t have to be alone. Here are some numbers of organisations that can help:

Samaritans – 116 123
CALM – 0800 58 58 58
ChildLine – 0800 1111
Anxiety UK – 03444 775 774
Mindline Somerset – 01823 276892
Somerset Domestic Abuse helpline – 0800 69 49 999

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