News from across the Council

Read all the latest community news and updates from around the council

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Somerset Council flying the flag for LGBTQ+ rights

June 28, 2023

Community

Somerset Council is flying the Progress Pride flag in a show of support for the LGBTQ+ community. The flag was raised at a ceremony attended by staff and councillors at County Hall in Taunton ahead of the anniversary of the…

Free summer school places up for grabs after funding success

June 28, 2023

Children and Families

Press Release

40 free places on the Octagon Theatre and Westlands Entertainment Venue Summer School activities are up for grabs thanks to funding secured through Somerset Activity & Sports Partnership (SASP) and the ‘Happy Healthy Holidays Somerset’ scheme. Happy Healthy Holidays Somerset…

Somerset Council’s Customer Services Team Celebrate Success

June 27, 2023

Press Release

Somerset Council Customer Services are celebrating after hearing they are double winners! The service has won the Best Transformation Programme 2023 in the Southwest Contact Centre Forum Awards and the Genesys Customer Innovation Award 2023 despite tough competition from 100…

Need advice from Somerset Council? Your local library can help

June 27, 2023

Community

Press Release

Customers who need in-person help or advice from Somerset Council will find support at every Somerset Library from next month. Staff in Somerset’s libraries are trained to provide digital support to help customers self-serve when needed. From July, they will…

Register to vote in the Parliamentary by election

June 27, 2023

Press Release

The Parliamentary by election in Somerton and Frome takes place on 20 July – so residents in the constituency need to make sure they are registered to vote by 4 July if they are not already registered. It’s quick and…

Somerset Council wins national award for groundbreaking children’s home partnership

June 26, 2023

Children and Families

Health and Wellbeing

Press Release

Somerset Council is celebrating after winning a prestigious Municipal Journal (MJ) Award for a partnership project delivering children’s homes across the county. The MJ awards is the biggest annual awards ceremony for local government and announced winners at a live ceremony…

Nominations for Somerton and Frome Parliamentary by election

June 23, 2023

Press Release

The list of candidates standing for election in the Parliamentary by election in Somerton and Frome is published today (Friday 23 June). The statement of persons nominated can be found on Somerset Council’s Electoral Services webpage and the by election…

Surface dressing underway for 2023

June 23, 2023

Press Release

Travel

Somerset Council’s Highways team have started to surface dress some roads as part of the summer maintenance programme. Surface dressing is a nationally recognised maintenance technique for sealing a road, improving skid resistance, and preventing water getting under the surface.…

On your marks, get set – read!

June 23, 2023

Community

Press Release

Children in Somerset can sharpen their mental and physical skills this summer by joining the Summer Reading Challenge at Somerset Council’s Libraries. Youngsters aged 4-11 can visit Somerset Libraries to join a superstar team and their marvellous mascots and get…

How Somerset foster carers are providing sanctuary for children fleeing violence and persecution

June 22, 2023

Press Release

Foster carers in Somerset are playing a vital role supporting children and young people from across the globe who have been forced to leave their families for safety. Somerset has a long history of welcoming people who have had to…

Don’t just sit on it – Taunton High Street benches get a makeover with an environmental theme

June 20, 2023

Climate Emergency

Local Community Networks

Press Release

Benches in Taunton High Street have been given a new lease of life with environmental-themed paintings. Somerset Council has been working with partners GoCreate and Rights Community Action to re-invigorate Taunton’s High Street Benches with beautiful artwork created by the…

Introducing Maqbul – the beautiful game combining cricket with compassion

June 19, 2023

Community

Press Release

A new community initiative is helping support displaced people in Somerset through one of our county’s favourite summer activities – cricket. Somerset has a long history of welcoming people who have been forced to leave their homes due to fear…

Patience please as some collections delayed

June 16, 2023

Press Release

Waste

Somerset Council is asking for patience in parts of Somerset following delays to some waste and recycling collections. A combination of factors has left crews unable to complete some of their scheduled collections including, high volumes of recycling and staff…

Early starts as both weather and Glastonbury Festival traffic heat up

June 16, 2023

Press Release

Waste

Waste collections will begin from 6am next week, from Monday 19 June to Monday 26 June (inclusive). The early starts are to help crews impacted by the hot weather conditions and to beat the potential additional traffic on the roads…

Blue Ball Inn application set for redetermination

June 16, 2023

Press Release

Somerset Council will be reconsidering an application for a proposed change of use of the Blue Ball Inn, Bagborough. The former Somerset West and Taunton Council originally received the application for a proposed change of use of the Blue Ball…

Compassion in action: Celebrating Somerset’s support of Refugees

June 16, 2023

Press Release

A host of events and activities with the theme of ‘compassion in action’ will take place across Somerset next week to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Refugee Week – and everyone is invited to take part. Between 19-25 June people…

Top up with tap water this World Refill Day

June 16, 2023

Press Release

Waste

Somerset Council are encouraging residents to choose reuse and refill this ‘World Refill Day’ (Friday, 16 June). Partnering with Wessex Water, Somerset Council have provided free water bottle refill stations in five of the county’s busiest high-streets, saving residents money…

One into three as Vivary Park maple felled on safety grounds

June 16, 2023

Climate Emergency

Press Release

A dead maple tree is to be felled on safety grounds in Somerset Council’s Vivary Park in Taunton next week. The notable tree which is situated in the sensory garden, next to a well-used main footpath, has been deemed unsafe…

Attending Glastonbury, other festivals or travelling this year? Keep yourselves and others safe.

June 16, 2023

Press Release

Public Health

Glastonbury Festival will be taking place between 21-25 June this year, and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) South West and Somerset Council are reminding visitors to enjoy the Festival but remember to stay safe and be aware of possible…

iAero celebrates success at One Year On event

June 15, 2023

Press Release

A wide range of industry experts and partners gathered on 8 June to celebrate the hugely successful first year of the iAero aerospace centre in Yeovil. iAero is a £10million, purpose-built research, design and innovation facility, designed to support the…