Tag: travel

waste collections

Published on by Lesley WebbLeave a comment

Somerset Council has announced that there will be no recycling or rubbish collections taking place during the upcoming Spring Bank Holiday on Monday, 25 May.

Collection days will change across Somerset following the bank holiday.

All collections will be 1 day later than the usual schedule:

  • If a resident’s usual collection day is Monday, it will now take place on Tuesday.
  • Tuesday collections will be moved to Wednesday, Wednesday collections to Thursday, and so on.
  • For those who usually have a Friday collection, their collection will be rescheduled to Saturday 30 May.

If opening on a Monday is part of the Recycling Centre’s opening days, then it will be open as usual from 9am to 6pm on Bank Holiday Monday.

To help manage the increased volume of recycling, residents are encouraged to make extra space in their recycling boxes by crushing and flattening their recyclables.

This simple step can make a difference to help reduce the number of trips crews need to make to empty their vehicles.

For more information about what can be collected for recycling and to check a collection day visit the Council’s Bins, recycling and waste pages.

Early start during hot weather.

Waste collections in Somerset will begin from 6am next week, from Tuesday 26 May as temperatures are expected to climb.

The early starts are to help crews impacted by the hot weather and help to minimise any chance of disruption to recycling, rubbish or garden waste collections across the county.

Waste collection is hard, physical work and early starts help limit the time crews spend working in the hottest part of the day.

Somerset Council is asking residents to put their bins out the night before to make sure they are prepared for the early start.

Bus News

Published on by Lesley WebbLeave a comment

Taunton Park & Ride single tickets are only £1!

Patronage on the Park and Ride service from Gateway (M5 J25) via the town, Musgrove Hospital and Silk Mills to the West continues to rise along with a 6.2% footfall increase in Taunton. The service runs every 20 minutes until 8pm Mon-Fri (6pm Saturday) then less frequently until 11pm (Mon-Sat) using the 1E for Silk Mills and 30 for Gateway (M5 J25). The double decker service is well used by both visitors plus those who live on the route but there is always room for more!

Bus not turned up or arrived more than 20 minutes late?

See the Somerset Bus Passenger Charter for your options. Some operators may offer a travel vouchers.

How do I track my bus?

  • Bustimes.org – this covers all buses.
  • Operators app or website

Where do I get bus timetables?

  • Special mention for TravelineSW. Type in your route number, click the relevant service.Select whether you want just the main stops and press ‘PDF’. The website will generate your own personalised timetable which can be printed out. Where bus routes have been mentioned in this newsletter, the links provided are to TravelineSW timetables.
  • Timetables are also available on the operators website or via Bustimes.org
  • Over the last few years we have persuaded some bus operators to continue to fund the printing of timetables however we are finding this more challenging. Local libraries will often print timetables for a small fee. We also fund a small number for distribution at our bus stalls.

How do I plan my journey?

How much is a bus journey?

All single bus journeys are capped at £3 until at least March 2027.

Some operators offer discounted tickets for short journeys, area based tickets or group tickets. Consider these to save money.

Cutcombe Hill Update

Published on by Lesley WebbLeave a comment

I’m writing to provide a final update on the repair works along the A396 at Cutcombe Hill.

I am pleased to confirm that all major works have now been completed. Over the coming days, our team will be collecting the remaining traffic management equipment and barriers as we begin the final phase of demobilisation.

During the road closures, we also took the opportunity to carry out temporary repairs to a damaged section of verge on the straight stretch higher up the hill. This area was impacted by vehicle movements during snowy conditions earlier this winter. A long‑term engineering solution will be developed; however, due to the limited working window and the requirements for design, planning, and additional road closures, the temporary repair was the most practical option at this time. This approach has allowed us to safely remove the traffic management barriers that had been in place at this location.

Over the next few weeks, a formal sign‑off inspection will be undertaken to identify and address any minor snags. These checks ensure the site is left in the best possible condition and that all aspects of the scheme meet the required standards.

I would also like to share that a tree will be donated to Cutcombe Parish Council for planting in the recreational grounds. This is in memory of the tragic events of last summer, as well as marking the remarkable resilience and unity shown by the community during and after that time. The Parish is also considering the installation of a bench beside the tree to create a peaceful space for reflection.

We would like to sincerely thank residents, local businesses, and all road users for their patience, cooperation, and understanding throughout the duration of these works.

If you have any questions or require further information, please feel free to get in touch.

Yours faithfully,

Kali

Kali Martin
Assistant Highway Service Manager 

Somerset Council

Area – West


highways-west@somerset.gov.uk

0300 123 2224

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