Author: Lesley Webb

The latest directive from the Government is that face masks are mandatory in village halls. Hirers are required to ensure attendees are wearing face masks unless an exception applies to either an individual or to the activity. A face mask is not required when people are eating or drinking.

SWT Council Business Bulletins

Benefice Newsletter 10th December 2021

Police Newsletter DEC21

Timberscombe School Friday News 10.12.21

Regal Theatre Forthcoming Events 2022

Somerset Covid-19 Weekly Update 10 December

Key Messages this week
Government goes to Plan B in response to Omicron Variant. The Prime Minister has confirmed that England will move to Plan B following the rapid spread of the Omicron variant in the UK. Urgent work has been ongoing to understand the impact of the new variant with regards to vaccines, treatments and transmissibility. Early indications showed a large number of concerning
spike protein mutations as well as mutations in other parts of the viral genome.
From Friday 10 December, face coverings will become compulsory in most public indoor venues, such as cinemas, theatres and places of worship. There will be exemptions in venues where it is not practical to wear one, such as when you are eating, drinking or exercising. For that reason, face masks will not be required in hospitality settings.
From Monday 13 December, those who can, will be advised to work from home.
From Wednesday 15 December, and subject to parliamentary approval, the NHS Covid Pass on the NHS App will become mandatory for entry into nightclubs and settings where large crowds gather – including unseated indoor events with 500 or more attendees, unseated outdoor events with 4,000 or more attendees and any event with 10,000 or more attendees.

Reminder – Free parking to support local shopping
SWT is once again offering free parking to support festive trading in the run-up to Christmas.
Free all-day parking will be available in Council-owned car parks in Dulverton, Dunster, Minehead, Porlock, Watchet, Wellington and Williton on the Saturdays of 11 and 18 of December.
Free parking will also be available after 3pm on the same Saturdays in Council car parks in Taunton, except for Kilkenny car park, which is a long stay commuter car park.

Somerset Waste Partnership Services (SWP)
Be ready to reduce and recycle this festive season
Know how to wrap responsibly? Ready to recycle your Pringles tubes? Clued-up on Christmas collection days?
The answer to these and other Christmas conundrums can be found in a one- stop shop for festive waste management guidance available on the Somerset Waste Partnership website somersetwaste.gov.uk/festive.
The festive season generates a huge amount of waste, and residents are urged to think ahead and reduce, reuse and recycle wherever possible.
Helpful hints for managing seasonal staples include:

Wrapping paper
 Reuse if possible and choose only PAPER gift wrap which can be
recycled. Steer clear of glittery, foil and plastic wraps which should be put
in your rubbish bin.
 Try the scrunch test – only paper wrap that stays scrunched can be
recycled
 Remove sticky tape, bows and decorations.
 Paper wrapping paper needs to be added to the other paper in the
correct recycling box. SWP cannot accept black rubbish sacks of paper.
 If you take wrapping paper to a recycling site, put it in the special bins
provided.
Pringle and other crisp tubes
 These are now accepted at 12 Somerset recycling sites (all but Castle
Cary, Cheddar, Dulverton and Somerton) in the skips for cartons/Tetra
Pak.
 The same goes for similar “paper containers with metal ends” like those
for hot chocolate or custard powder.
Tubs and tins of sweets and chocolates
 Reuse for storage if possible.
 Plastic tubs go in your Bright Blue Bag if you have one. Or they can be
taken to any recycling site and dropped off in the skip for plastic pots,
tubs, trays and bottles.
 Metal tins can go in your Bright Blue Bag if you have one, in your black
recycling box if you have not. Or they can be taken to any recycling site
and put in the metal skip.
You can also find ideas for reducing the festive cardboard mountain by thinking
outside the box and tackling food waste by planning ahead.
Bank holidays also mean changes to collection days over the festive fortnight.
Check the changes on the festive webpage or use the My Collection Day
feature on the SWP homepage.
All 16 recycling sites are open on their usual winter hours over the Christmas
and New Year period, except all close on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and
New Year’s Day.
Recycle sites at Dulverton on Monday 27 December and Crewkerne on
Tuesday 28 December have one-off days open 9am-5pm to help with post-
Christmas waste.

Driver Recruitment
Amid national LGV driver shortage acute effect in Somerset and COVID
impact, SWP are training their own drivers, recruiting hard – including £1,000
welcome bonus – and using no-LGV vans to collect card so main truck LGV
drivers keep collecting other materials for longer.
If you know anyone who may be interested in a career with SUEZ (Somerset
Waste Partnership’s collections contractor) as a driver, supervisor or loader,
please sign-post them to http://www.suez.co.uk/join-our-team-in-somerset.
For more information on kerbside services, recycling sites, and on COVID-19
and waste, visit: somersetwaste.gov.uk, sign up for the SWP e-newsletter or
follow @somersetwaste on Facebook or Twitter.

Bristol Water Scam (Phone Calls)

We have been made aware of a current scam were the caller claims to be from Bristol Water. The caller explains that they are checking customer details as part of a review and to ensure the details are accurate. They may also claim a payment has been missed and financial details are required to bring the account up to date, please DO NOT do this.

We do know already they will target your bank account / credit card as one victim found out when the following morning £500 had been stolen from their card.

Should you receive this telephone call, simply HANG UP and DO NOT part with your personal details.

Call your water provider on your bill.

Christmas Events in Somerset

Dunster Benefice Newsletter 3rd December 2021

SWT Council Business Bulletins

Timberscombe school Friday News 03.12.21

Somerset Covid-19 Weekly Update 03 December

Omicron Variant
With effect from 30 November, the Prime Minister has confirmed new temporary
and precautionary measures following the emergence of the Omicron variant in
the UK.
The Omicron variant contains a large number of spike protein mutations as well
as mutations in other parts of the viral genome. Urgent work is ongoing
internationally to fully understand how these mutations may change the
behaviour of the virus with regards to vaccines, treatments and transmissibility.
Vaccines remain the best line of defence. Experts remain confident that the
current vaccines will provide protection against the new variant, but the extent of
this continues to be investigated.

Somerset Community Foundation (SCF) Surviving Winter Appeal
Somerset Community Foundation (SCF) has launched this year’s Surviving Winter
appeal, which encourages people who can afford it to donate some or all of their
Winter Fuel Payment to help vulnerable older people in Somerset who are unable to
afford to heat their homes to stay warm and well.
As we head into winter, rising energy costs mean more of our older neighbours here
in Somerset are forced to choose between heating and eating. This winter will
continue to be difficult and worrying for many in the wake of the coronavirus
outbreak, as many pensioners will need to stay at home to keep themselves safe,
and will find themselves cut off from family and friends, facing higher costs to heat
their homes while becoming even more isolated.
Every year Surviving Winter helps around 500 elderly people living in Somerset
through the cold winter months, thanks to generous local donors who, last year,
donated over £150,000 to the appeal. And this year, the first £15,000 of donations
will be boosted by an incredible 50% thanks to matched funding from the Field
House Trust, meaning your giving makes an even greater impact.

Reminder- Do you need an emergency delivery of fuel?
The CCS Oil Scheme partners AF Affinity have a great scheme where they can
deliver a fast, emergency parcel of fuel to tide you over until you can get a full

delivery! Call them on 01603 881888 between 9am – 4.30pm to order or
email somersetbuying@af-affinity.co.uk.

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
 Mind – 0300 123 3393
 Somerset Domestic Abuse helpline – 0800 69 49 999

Will Thomas completed his sponsored walk around Wimbleball Lake on Saturday 27th November.

Will walked very well despite the strong winds and cold temperature from Storm Arwen and he made it round the 9 mile lake in just under 4 hours! A great achievement!

Will was raising money to save an area of rainforest in Guatemala, the equivalent size of Timberscombe play park. His target was £220.80. The grand total raised is an amazing £500

A message from Will –

Thank you to everyone who donated and helped me save the rainforest! I am over the moon with the result and I couldn’t have done it without your amazing support. Thank you so much. I have managed to save a much larger area of rainforest than I originally planned and I am so thankful for your help. Have a lovely Christmas!

From Will Thomas, Vicarage Court, Timberscombe