News from across the Council

Residents who live in the parishes of Ansford and Castle Cary may be interested to learn of the launch of a Community Governance Review (CGR). Following petitions from local electors there’s a proposal to dissolve the two parishes and create…

Chair of Somerset Council Mike Best hosted a heartwarming and uplifting evening of celebration to recognise Somerset’s unsung community heroes. More than 130 people gathered for the annual Chair’s Awards ceremony – and those unable to attend will be visited…

A range of support is available to help Somerset residents struggling due to the cost-of-living crisis this winter. Somerset Council is again distributing funds from the Government and working in partnership with local charities and community groups to offer a…

Somerset Council’s Libraries service is relaunching its Winter Coat Exchange scheme, designed to support the community by providing access to warm coats for anyone in need. Now in its third year, the scheme has been increasingly successful with 2,470 coats…

Volunteers are being asked to step forward to help keep open the Ilminster-Chard Shared Path, also known as the Cycleway or The Stop Line Way. The call has come from the Crewkerne and Ilminster Local Community Network (LCN) Active Travel…

Somerset Council is reconsidering its position on the sale of Saxonvale, Frome, as proof of funding from Mayday Saxonvale Development Ltd to complete the purchase of the site has not been forthcoming. An Extraordinary Executive meeting consisting of a single…

Somerset residents are being encouraged to make a simple but powerful pledge this autumn – to support friends, family members and colleagues who are thinking about quitting smoking. Smokefree Somerset has launched the ‘What’s Your Why?’ Pledge, a community driven…

Somerset Council is advising residents that there may be delays to recycling collections today (Wednesday 15 October 2025), due to a range of operational issues. Some residents in and around the following areas may be affected: Stoke Sub Hamdon Montecute…

This World Homelessness Day (Friday 10 October), Somerset Council is encouraging residents to report rough sleeping when they see it, not just today, but throughout the year. Rough sleeping is the most visible form of homelessness. It’s typically associated with…

Every community is affected by the widespread problem of domestic abuse, which impacts both individuals and their families. Solicitors often find themselves on the front lines, navigating sensitive and complex cases where the stakes are incredibly high. To better equip legal…

Somerset Council will be resurfacing roads in the Bridgwater area from next week. Work on the Eastern Avenue junction with the A372, will be done across seven days from 13 to 20 October inclusive. The road will be closed to…

Calling all Somerset schools: Somerset Council needs your help in naming 2 gritting vehicles – new to the fleet – this year. Winter is only round the corner and Somerset Council and its highways contractor Kier are gearing up for…

Parents, children, professionals, and the wider public are invited to have their say and help shape the future of children and family services in the county. Somerset Council has launched a public consultation to gain insights into what’s working well,…

4 new Deputy Lieutenants have been appointed to assist and support the Lord-Lieutenant as The King’s representative in Somerset. They are Mary Ellis (66), from Wells, Nickie Gething (64), from Bruton. Alastair Martin (aged 65), from Wookey, near Wells and…

Somerset Council is working in partnership with the Environment Agency to deliver a £6 million flood alleviation project to help protect homes and businesses in Taunton from flooding. The improved flood defences along two stretches of the River Tone bank…

If your child is due to start secondary school (Year 7) in September 2026, please note that applications are open. And Somerset parents and carers are being urged to apply online – and on time! Secondary school applications must be…

Tickets for the 2025 Yeovil Literary Festival are now on sale, with an outstanding programme of bestselling authors, celebrated speakers and creative talent. Yeovil Library is working in partnership with: Yeovil Town Council’s Westlands Entertainment Venue Octagon Theatre Waterstones Yeovil…

A Somerset Council and Government initiative has helped significantly reduce pollution at 3 county hotspots with poor air quality ratings. East Reach, Henlade and Yeovil town centre had their status as Air Quality Management Areas (AQMA) removed today following a…

Plans to invest in improved data and artificial intelligence to help Somerset Council provide better services and reduce costs have been approved. Somerset Council’s Executive today (Wednesday, 1 October) agreed to invest £1.56 million in digital innovations as part of…

Details of candidates in 2 forthcoming Somerset Council by elections have been published. By elections are due to be held in Dunster and Glastonbury for vacancies on Somerset Council with polling day set for 23 October 2025. The statement of…