News from across the Council

More than £37,000 of illegal tobacco, vapes and cash was seized by Trading Standards officers during a recent operation. The five-week operation during January and February saw officers from the Heart of the South West Trading Standards Service, supported by…

Somerset Council will again be using Exceptional Financial Support (EFS) agreed by the Government to set a balanced budget for 2025/26. Papers published ahead of Scrutiny Corporate and Resources on 24 February show the Council is facing a budget gap…

Somerset Council members will be discussing a range of potential changes to parking charges in Somerset in a bid to bring consistency across the county. There are currently different rates and charging principles applied across the county’s 200 or so…

Somerset Council and NHS Somerset’s ‘Take the Pressure Off’ campaign has hit a major milestone this month, reaching 3,000 blood pressure checks carried out across Somerset over the last 12 months. The ambitious target was set in March 2024 to…

The Step Up To Social Work programme in Somerset Council opens for recruitment today (17 February 2025) for aspiring social workers to apply for a place on the intensive but highly rewarding training programme.    Step Up To Social Work is…

Somerset Council has launched an online consultation on proposed changes to its Post-16 Local Transport Policy Statement. This policy sets out transport arrangements for eligible Post-16 (age 16 to 18) and Post-19 (aged 19 and over) learners in Somerset to…

Somerset Council teams have continued to support communities following the recent flooding experienced at the end of January.   As flood water subsided council teams worked hard to clear roads of debris and mud and carry out repairs where needed.  …

Bridgwater traders and residents are being invited to join a breakfast drop-in this month to learn more about the work that is delivering the town’s Celebration Mile. The session, from 9am to 11am on 24 February at the Mercure Hotel,…

Somerset Council is working with Wessex Water and Wales and West Utilities to co-ordinate two vital infrastructure schemes in Chard during 2025. Wessex Water is investing more than £1.3 million to help alleviate sewer flooding in the town, while Wales…

With the Six Nations Rugby Championship now on its way, Somerset Council is urging those affected by domestic abuse to seek support. Research has shown that major sporting events can coincide with an increase in domestic abuse incidents, with factors…

Somerset Council is launching an online engagement on proposals to make improvements on one of its key transport arteries. The Council is working in partnership with North Somerset Council (NSC) to secure Government funding for a series of improvement schemes on…

Plans to sell the High Street Car Park in Taunton are set to be reversed next month, Somerset Council has confirmed today (11 February). Councillor Mike Rigby, Somerset Council’s Lead Member for Economic Development, Planning and Assets, has scheduled a…

Somerset Council is inviting offers for a range of beach concessions covering Burnham-on-Sea, Brean and Berrow beaches, and Apex Park, for forthcoming summer seasons. The Council arranges for various businesses to trade on or near the beach or park to…

A new visitor centre and other improvements are on the way for an iconic Somerset landmark as a major project at Somerset Council’s Ham Hill Country Park starts soon. The ‘Uncovering Ham Hill’s past for its future’ project has been…

Somerset Council has hosted an event to drive forward the ‘greening’ of road transport in the county. The successful session brought together more than 70 highways and transport experts from a range of organisations to explore how non-fossil fuels could…

The popular Reuse Shop at Priorswood Recycling Site in Taunton recently reopened with new trader Bob Bowyer running the centre on behalf of site contractor, Biffa. Sitting in the heart of the recycling site, the shop promotes reuse by stopping…

A planned road closure for a multi-million pound regeneration project in Bridgwater is being brought forward to minimise summer disruption for traders, shoppers and residents. Clare Street will be closed to vehicles for up to 5 months from Monday 17…

Trading Standards is recommending that children’s plastic beach shoes are tested nationally after some products on sale in Devon, Plymouth, Somerset and Torbay were found to contain banned levels of chemicals and had to be removed from sale. Clothing retailers…

National HIV Testing Week, starting on Monday, 10 February 2025 is an annual event, funded by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and is a key component of the HIV Prevention England strategy. It provides a critical opportunity…

More than 60,000 primary school children have now benefitted from lessons in waste reduction thanks to Somerset Council. Popular Schools Against Waste (SAW) waste-reduction workshops are delivered on behalf of the Council by Carymoor Environmental Trust. The SAW programme began…