Blog

Everyone at St Petrock’s looks forward to welcoming you to our Christingle this Wednesday at 5pm in the church. A traditional event with an Exmoor flavour for all to come together, reflect, sing carols and enjoy. There will be no refreshments afterwards on this occasion. Any donations will be gratefully received by two childrens’ charities – The Children’s Society and Save the Children. Thank you – Marion and Kate

Following extensive consultation this week with stakeholders, event organisers, and interested community groups, a revised approach has been agreed for the upcoming works on the A396 Cutcombe Hill.

The works will commence during the week of 9th February 2026. To minimise disruption as far as possible—including reducing the impact on the Snowdrop Valley event, which takes place throughout January and February—the contractor has agreed to undertake the works during night-time hours. This will allow the carriageway to reopen during the daytime to support visitor access and local traffic. Temporary traffic lights will remain in place during the day.

This revised plan has also been coordinated closely with the A39 Dunster traffic signal upgrade, ensuring that both sets of works can proceed without compounding disruption on key local routes. By aligning the timings, we aim to maintain resilience across the network and avoid simultaneous closures or conflicting traffic management.

The scope of the works remains unchanged: a stronger and more reliable solution will be installed using king pin concrete anchors with a supporting concrete beam to ensure the long‑term stability of the road. The duration of the works is expected to be approximately three weeks.

To confirm arrangements, the road will be closed between 19.00 and 07:00 from the 9th February until 27th February. The road will be reopened each day with the site then protected by two way traffic signals. It is hoped that works will be completed sooner. If this happens the road will be fully reopened as soon as practicable.

We recognise how important both this route and the Snowdrop Valley period are to the community, local economy, and visitors. We thank you for your patience and cooperation while we deliver these vital improvements.

Somerset council newsletter

Somerset Council has shared the updated collection schedules for recycling and rubbish across the county.

The Council is encouraging residents to check ahead to make sure they don’t miss a collection during Christmas and New Year.

If a resident’s usual collection day is a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday then there will be no change this year.

The revised schedule:

• Thursday 25 December will move to Saturday 27 December 2025
• Friday 26 December 2025 will move to Sunday 28 December 2025
• Thursday 1 January 2026 will move to Friday 2 January 2026
• Friday 2 January 2026 will move to Saturday 3 January 2026

There are no garden waste collections from Thursday 25 December to Wednesday 7 January. Garden Waste collections re-start on Thursday 8 January 2026.

All Somerset Council recycling sites will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. Sites will be open as usual on other days, a list of Recycling site locations can be found on the Council’s website.

The Council is also encouraging residents to recycle everything they can this Christmas, including:

• Real Christmas trees can be recycled via the garden waste skips at any recycling site.
• Garden waste subscribers can leave Christmas trees under 2 meters tall next to their Garden Waste recycling bin on their first collection back.
• Wrapping paper free from foil, plastic or glitter can be recycled with paper at the kerbside (don’t bag up in black bin bags).
• Large plastic tubs for chocolates can be recycled via the Bright Blue Bag.
• Christmas cards free foil, plastic or glitter can be recycled with cardboard at the kerbside.
• Foil from sweets can be scrunched together with larger pieces or foil trays and recycled via the Bright Blue Bag.

To make the most of the space in recycling boxes residents are encouraged to squash, flatten or scrunch up recycling where it is safe to do so.

Please see the attached for tips on keeping yourselves and your property secure not only over the Christmas period – but throughout the year.

Attachments: christmas-security.pdf