News from across the Council

SUEZ Recycling and Recovery UK and Somerset Council open their gates for the third year running for a behind the scenes tour of 2 recycling facilities. Heritage Open Days is England’s largest community led festival taking place every year in…

Somerset Council is inviting members of the community to attend a series of informal fostering information sessions this September. These events are open to anyone curious about fostering. Each session provides a relaxed setting to learn more about the realities…

A room, named in honour of an inspirational member of Somerset Council’s Public Health team, has been opened at Yeovil Library. The Finnis Room is dedicated to the memory of Louise Finnis who led work on Public Mental Health with…

Somerset Council has revealed that around a million pounds could be saved if residents recycled every scrap of food waste instead of binning it. Currently, too much unwanted food is finding its way into general waste and that costs money…

It is with regret and much sadness Somerset Council announces the passing of Cllr Nick Cottle at the age of 68. Cllr Cottle served his community with dedication and distinction for many years. He was first elected as a Liberal…

Somerset’s Local Community Networks (LCNs) have now completed their second round of Annual General Meetings, marking an important milestone in their journey to build stronger, more connected communities across the county. Launched to provide a space for local partners to…

A major project to upgrade a life-saving alarm service in Somerset before the national digital switchover has been completed ahead of schedule. In 2023, the UK Government announced a nationwide plan to transition to digital-only telephone lines before the end…

Funding is available for innovative community projects in Somerset which are tackling waste. The second year of the Waste Not Somerset Fund is now open for applications. The fund, which is provided by Somerset Council and its waste collections contractor…

Somerset Violence Reduction Partnership (VRP), part of the wider Avon and Somerset VRP, is proud to announce the launch of an ambitious programme of pop-up youth hubs aimed at improving safety and reducing the risk of serious violence among young…

Somerset Council is delighted to recommission a Race, Interfaith and Belief Service that will continue to support and empower diverse communities across Somerset, reinforcing its long-term commitment to inclusion, equality, and community cohesion across the county. The newly awarded contract…

Community celebrations marked the finale of an ambitious project to create a wall of colour in Bridgwater. St John Street/Broadway Brick Project has transformed a bare facade at the junction of the two streets into a giant painted patchwork, created…

The efforts and achievements of more than 430 Somerset children looked after and care leavers have been celebrated at this year’s Annual Achievement Awards. Children and young people were recognised for their efforts through nominations from social workers, foster carers,…

Food outlets such as cafes, sandwich shops and mobile caterers are being reminded of the importance of regularly reviewing their food preparation protocols to ensure that allergens don’t contaminate the products they serve. And if businesses are unsure they are…

Somerset Council’s Leader, Cllr Bill Revans today (Friday 1 August), welcomed the formation of the University College Somerset (UCS) College Group. The move sees Bridgwater and Taunton College and Strode College in Street merge to form the new group –…

Work is continuing on key Glastonbury Town Deal projects which aim to improve access for residents and visitors, both in the town and across the surrounding landscape. These include the Robert Richards Initiative, named after and dedicated to the first…

Somerset Council is keeping 82 bus services on the road this year helping more people to bus it to work, school or for pleasure. The Council subsidises the bus routes which wouldn’t otherwise exist, helping to link communities across Somerset.…

Beautiful Somerset is back on the big screen, thanks to a new Swedish psychological thriller filmed largely on stunning Exmoor. ‘Unmoored’ will be available on major streaming platforms from mid-September, and possibly some local cinemas from mid-August. The film is…

Somerset Council is inviting primary school children across the county to dive into a world of imagination and discovery with the Reading Agency’s Summer Reading Challenge 2025. Launched this month in libraries, this year’s theme — Story Garden: Adventures in…

Following the incident on Thursday, 17 July, Somerset Council’s Highways Team has reopened the A396 between Wheddon Cross and Timberscombe. Temporary measures have been put in place to reopen the road safely until permanent repairs to damage caused by the…

Somerset Council Leader, Bill Revans, has welcomed the findings of a new cross-party report calling for an overhaul of the “broken” funding model for local government. Cllr Revans joined local government leaders from across the country in March at Parliament…