Tag: travel

Cutcombe Hill Update

Published on by Lesley WebbLeave a comment

Please see below a summary of progress for the works undertaken on the A396 between 9 and 11 February 2026.

Across the three-day period, mobilisation was completed successfully, trial holes were carried out, and all required inductions were undertaken. Drilling progressed well, with 11 drill locations completed and concreted by the end of 11 February.

No safety incidents or operational issues were reported during this period. Traffic management remained stable with the night road closure in operation and the diversion routes are checked regularly, during the day the site is under traffic light control and the site consistently secured under TWS using a combination of bull barriers and Heras fencing.

Drilling is scheduled to continue the next shift, with potential completion of this phase depending on progress

Kali Martin
Assistant Highway Service Manager

Somerset Council, Area – West

highways-west@somerset.gov.uk

0300 123 2224

Roads, travel and parking (somerset.gov.uk) for live travel alerts, roadworks information and winter weather updates

 

 

Speeding Update

Published on by Lesley WebbLeave a comment

Most residents will by now have noticed the Speed Indicator Device (SID) installed by the Parish Council near the Old Dairy on the A396. Anyone who has paused to observe it will have seen the marked reduction in vehicle speeds as drivers approach the device. This visual impression has now been supported by the analysis of the recorded speed data.

The results show that , coming from Cutcombe, 84% of vehicles are travelling at under 30mph, which is the legal speed limit. Furthermore, 95% of vehicles are passing through at under 35mph, and 99.74% at under 40mph. These figures represent a significant improvement compared with previous data collected by the Police.

Unfortunately, a small number of irresponsible drivers continue to travel at dangerously high speeds — 20 out of 34,666 vehicles were recorded at over 50mph, typically during the early hours of the morning.

The Parish Council would like to express its thanks to Councillors Ian Ware and Claire Gibbard for their work in the installation of the SID and for their ongoing efforts in maintaining it.

Residents who wish to review the data in more detail may download here HERE .

In addition, some residents will have noticed the installation of a new post on the Duddings bank. This post has been approved by Somerset Highways for the placement of a SID. The original intention was to rotate the existing portable SID between the two locations. However, despite being a “portable” device, the equipment is extremely heavy and difficult to move, particularly as it must be mounted above head height. For this reason, the Parish Council has decided to pursue the purchase of a second SID to remain permanently at the Duddings site.

As grant funding is limited, this may take a little time to achieve.

In addition to the SIDs, the Parish Council has requested the installation of a “Bend in the Road” warning sign at Totterdown to alert drivers to the series of bends approaching the Duddings area. Somerset Highways has agreed to investigate this request. The Parish Council will keep you updated on this request.

Lesley Webb

Clerk & Responsible Financial Officer

Timberscombe Parish Council

Regal Theatre

Published on by Lesley WebbLeave a comment

COFFEE MORNING IN THE BAR –Saturday 3 January 2026 – 11.00 – 13.00 

HEART-WARMING TALES- Monday 5 January – 7.30pm

Enjoy some heart-warming winter traditional storytelling. Relax in the cosy setting of the Regal Theatre bar while Alexandra takes you on a magical journey to realms where everything becomes possible. Imagine a world where transformation is real and eternal beings offer wise and loving counsel. Suitable for 10 – 100-year-olds!

 The Regal Film Society Screening – TBC (Cert 15)- Tuesday 6 January 2026 – 7:30pm

The Royal Opera ENCORE from the Royal Opera House – LA TRAVIATA  –Sunday 18 January 2026 – 2:00pm

As intimate as it is sumptuous, La traviata features some of opera’s most famous melodies, and is a star vehicle for its leading soprano role sung by Ermonela Jaho. In director Richard Eyre’s world of seductive grandeur, the

NTLive – HAMLET –Thursday 22 January 19:00

Olivier Award-winner Hiran Abeysekera (Life of Pi) is Hamlet in this fearless, contemporary take on Shakespeare’s famous tragedy.  Trapped between duty and doubt, surrounded by power and privilege, young Prince Hamlet dares to ask the ultimate question – you know the one.  National Theatre Deputy Artistic Director, Robert Hastie (Standing at the Sky’s Edge, Operation Mincemeat) directs this sharp, stylish and darkly funny reimagining.

THE LION KING (Cert U) –Saturday, 24th January 2026 – 10:00am

FREE ADMISSION! – Sponsored by Minehead Town Council

One of the great animated film classics of all time, the original version of The Lion King, released in 1994, tells the story of a young lion prince called Simba who is cast out of his pride by his cruel uncle, who claims he killed his father. With music by Elton John and lyrics by Tim Rice, The Lion King features the voices of Jeremy Irons, Rowan Atkinson, Whoopi Goldberg and Matthew Broderick.

The Regal Film Society Screening – TBC (Cert 15)- Tuesday 27 January 2026 – 7:30pm

Tickets for all events may be booked in advance online at https://regaltheatre.co.uk/whatson or from the Box Office (Tel 01643 706430) between 9.30am and 12.00pm Monday – Saturday;  

Somerset Sight December Activities 2025 at Northfield House

Published on by Lesley WebbLeave a comment
Coming up in December at Somerset Sight, Northfield House, 51 Staplegrove Road, Taunton TA1 1DG
Friday 5th December – 1pm to 3pm – Craft Group £4 including cuppa and cake. This week is decorations and crackers. 
 
Monday 8th December – 2pm – Music Monday Seasonal Songs – Free Entry includes a cuppa. 
 
Wednesday 10th December – 10.30am to 1.30pm – Wreath Making Workshop – £35 includes all materials, decorations, instructions and light lunch. Choose from a round wreath, a star, a heart or make a table tree or cone shape to string lights and decorations on. 
 
Thursday 11th December – 1.30pm to 3.30pm – Christmas Party with mulled wine, mice pies and seasonal songs. All welcome – Free Entry.
Please let us know you are coming.  Staff and Trustees will be in attendance. 
 
Friday 12th December – 1pm to 3pm – Craft Group £4 including cuppa and cake. This session is baking mince pies and sausage rolls.
 
Monday 15th December – Singing Group – All welcome, any ability. Includes a cuppa. Small friendly group. 
 
Friday 19th December – Craft Group £4 including cuppa and cake. Finishing off projects and festive celebration.
 
 
Somerset Sight offices are closed from Wednesday 23rd December and reopens on Friday 2nd January 2026.
 
If you want to know more and come along, please call us on 01823 333818.
 
I hope you all have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.  Thank you for supporting us.
 

Kind Regards

Joanne Thorogood

Office Manager

Somerset Sight

Tel: 01823 333818

Direct Dial: 01823 366143

Email; joanne@somersetsight.org.uk

Northfield House, 51 Staplegrove Road, Taunton TA1 1DG

My working hours are Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm

  

Somerset Sight supports 3500 people in Somerset with sight loss. Enhancing lives for the better, the Charity relies on your donations and gifts in wills. Please give generously.

Follow us

https://www.facebook.com/somersetsight/

https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/somersetsight

https://www.instagram.com/somersetsight/

www.somersetsight.org.uk

Somerset Sight Limited is a charity and a company limited by guarantee

Registered Charity Number 1154472

Company Number 8432686

Exmoor Events

Published on by Lesley WebbLeave a comment

Exmoor National Park Authority is delighted to announce the launch of the programme for the biggest ever Exmoor Dark Skies Festival

Running from Friday 17 October to Sunday 2 November 2025. Sponsored by BMW Vertu, Bridgwater, this annual celebration of Exmoor’s internationally recognised dark skies promises a packed programme of over 70 stargazing events, science activities, storytelling and outdoor adventures. There’s also a fun Exmoor Dark Skies Festival Competition for children.

The full free event listing and programme is available now from our Exmoor National Park centres and to download here.

 

Things to do this Summer

We have the last of our Ecology Action Days series coming up for young people.

Explore different habitats, enjoy interesting activities with our rangers and experience ecological surveying – no experience necessary!

Following some great sessions themed on Meadows and Woodland we still have these sessions available:

Rivers: Tuesday 19 August

Peatland: Thursday 28 August

To book a space, please email pioneers@exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk stating the days you would like to book. Aimed at ages 16–18 years

Made possible with the National Lottery Heritage Fund and a legacy donation to CareMoor.

If you live in or around Exmoor and don’t have access to transport, please get in touch – we may be able to help (although cannot guarantee).
   

 

A Walk through Dunster’s History

11am start, Dunster National Park Centre TA24 6SE, Wednesday 27 August

Join a guided walk leader and explore the picturesque streetscape and surroundings of Dunster village. A 2 hour guided walk around a village steeped in history.

Dunster Outback Guided Walk

11am start from Dunster National Park Centre, TA24 6SE Wednesday 3 September

A 4 mile circular walk through the ages, from the outskirts of Dunster village up to Bat’s Castle with amazing views of moorland, coast and woodland.

Find lots of great Exmoor’s walks help you to explore the best of Exmoor National Park. With over 1000km of footpaths and bridleways there are long and short walks on Exmoor for everyone like this one in the video above on Dunkery Beacon. Find out more here
 

Come into our National Park Centres to join a free activity or drop in to discover…

-Exmoor Films on show

-Our state of the art digital microscopes

-Telescope hire

-More about Exmoor’s wildlife, heritage, landscape and dark skies, through inspiring and interactive displays

-Exhibitions

-Opportunities for young people to become a Park Protector

Find us in Dunster, Lynmouth and Dulverton

Wildlife

 The Red Deer of Exmoor 

Come and find out all about native wildlife – Talk with Ranger Rich Eales

Saturday 23 August 2pm

Free – donations to CareMoor welcome

Lynmouth National Park Centre 

Red Deer have lived on Exmoor since prehistoric times. It’s estimated around 3,000 deer today inhabit the farmland and moors, with people flocking to the area each Autumn to experience the rut.

8 White-tailed or Sea Eagles have been visiting Exmoor National Park over the last few years, following their release on the Isle of Wight by Roy Dennnis Wildlife Foundation and Forestry England.

Find out more about them and what they like to eat in this latest video above.

Three white-tailed eagle chicks have successfully fledged in Southern England this summer. The chicks were bred by eagles released in a joint project with Forestry England and the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation to return this lost species.

All of the eagles are tagged so we can keep up to date with their progress and we look forward to seeing if the chicks will follow the flight path of their predecessors and visit Exmoor.

More on White-tailed Eagles here

Sowing the Seeds

Thank you to the landowners who are helping us with our meadow restoration projects.

Our conservation team have been working hard, harvesting and sifiting seed from donor meadows, to create more species rich habitats across Exmoor supporting soil health and pollinators.

Read more on meadow restoration here