Yesterday, I presented a Parliamentary petition, calling for the Government to encourage Dorset Council and Somerset Council to ensure that Somerset residents are able to use their closest household waste recycling centre without charge.

Add your name here to join my calls: buff.ly/7PrIp8h

Public event planned over revised plans for 915 Taunton homes Stonewater will be delivering 915 homes within the Staplegrove East site along with a new primary school, 'local centre' and completing a spine road

#Taunton residents are being invited to give their views on revised plans for 915 homes within the #Staplegrove urban extension: www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/2604449... #LDReporter #Somerset

Historic Tone Works site could become £20m "destination for Wellington" Tone Works (which closed down in 2000) could be brought back to life as a focal point for Wellington through £20m of levelling up funding

The historic Tone Works site could become a £20m "destination for #Wellington" using money from the government's #levellingupfund: www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/2604417... #LDReporter #Somerset #B3187

Key section of Chard relief road secured as 67 homes approved Part of the long-awaited Chard eastern relief road (ERR) will be delivered in the coming years using funds from a new development of 67 homes

A crucial section of the fabled #Chard eastern relief road has been secured after plans for 67 new homes near the #Gillingham Grange care home were approved: www.chardandilminsternews.co.uk/news/chard_n... #LDReporter #Somerset #A358

580 new council houses to be delivered across Somerset by April 2030 Somerset Council has published a new strategy to deliver low-cost housing across the county - but not every area will immediately benefit

Up to 580 new council houses will be delivered across #Somerset by 2030 - but not every part of the county will see the immediate benefits: www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/2604324... #LDReporter #Taunton #CharltonAdam #Wedmore #NetherStowey #Highbridge #NorthPetherton @gideonamos.bsky.social

New jobs coming to Bridgwater as commercial units near M5 approved New jobs will be coming to the Bridgwater Gateway site off the A38 Taunton Road after four new commercial units were approved by Somerset Council

New jobs will be coming to #Bridgwater after new commercial units near the #M5 were approved by #Somerset Council: www.bridgwatermercury.co.uk/news/2604254... #LDReporter #A38 #NorthPetherton

Somerset councillor explains what 'affordable housing' really means Councillor Oliver Patrick has sought to set the record straight about what "affordable housing" means when it comes to new Somerset…

What does "affordable housing" actually mean?

I'll let @libdempatrick.bsky.social explain: www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/2604070... #LDReporter #Somerset

Historic former pub in growing Somerset village to become homes The Tippling Philosopher closed its doors for the final time at the end of 2024 - with part of the 18th-century building being turned into a holiday…

The former Tippling Philosopher pub, located on the #A30 High Street in #MilbornePort near #Sherborne, will be turned into homes following this council decision: www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/2604001... #LDReporter #Somerset

Major Glastonbury regeneration project secures anchor tenant The regeneration of the Baily's Buildings on Beckery Old Road has been backed by more than £6.3m of central government funding

The regeneration of the Baily's Buildings in #Glastonbury, funded by the town deal, has taken a decisive step forward: www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/2603705... #LDReporter #Somerset #townsfund

Extensive road safety improvements needed to deliver new Bridgwater school A replacement for Haygrove School will be delivered on Spaxton Road by September 2028 - but numerous changes are needed to make the route safe

Extensive road safety and #activetravel improvements will be needed if the DfE is to deliver a replacement for Haygrove School in #Bridgwater by September 2028: bridgwatermercury.co.uk/news/2603599... #LDReporter #Somerset #LCWIP @bwcyclecampaign.bsky.social

Construction on 295 Chard homes could begin in early-2027 under revised plans Taylor Wimpey has submitted revised plans for 295 homes on Thorndun Park Drive, as well as a brand new stadium for Chard Town Football Club

Work on 295 new homes in #Chard could begin early next year - but the town may have to wait until 2029 for its new football stadium: www.chardandilminsternews.co.uk/news/chard_n... #LDReporter #Somerset

Re-opening key Somerset coast road must be 'pursued at all levels' Plans to reopen the B3191 between Blue Anchor and Watchet were curiously absent from the current draft of Somerset Council's local transport plan

#Somerset Council has been urged to "pursue at all levels" the re-opening of the #B3191 between #Watchet and #BlueAnchor as part of its new local transport plan: www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/2603471... #LDReporter

Building 75,000 Somerset homes would be 'more productive' with new station Somerset has to provide around 75,000 new homes over the next 20 years - and a new railway station could make this a "more productive"…

Delivering a new railway station to serve #Somerton and #Langport could prove crucial in delivering 75,000 new homes across #Somerset over the next 20 years: www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/2603218... #LDReporter #LocalPlan

New Taunton park to contain amphitheatre, allotments and giant play area Taunton's newest public park could include an amphitheatre, allotments and a substantial children's play area - all within easy reach of new homes

#Taunton's newest public park could include an amphitheatre, allotments and a massive play area: www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/2603152... #LDReporter #Somerset #OrchardGrove

Every Somerset road which will be surface dressed this summer Somerset Council and its contractor Keily Bros will be surface dressing nearly 100 different roads as part of its highway maintenance programme

Nearly 100 roads across #Somerset will be surface dressed this summer - and I've got the full list :) www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/2603065... #LDReporter #Taunton #Wellington #Minehead #Bridgwater #BurnhamonSea #Yeovil #Frome #Street #SheptonMallet #Wells

Plans to expand HMO in busy Bridgwater street refused Jotdale Properties has failed in its attempt to add additional bedrooms to its facility on Rhode Lane, within the Hamp estate

Plans to expand a #HMO on a busy #Bridgwater residential street have been refused by #Somerset councillors: www.bridgwatermercury.co.uk/news/2602950... #LDReporter

First phase of ring road around Somerset's £4bn 'gigafactory' approved Agratas can begin building the first section of an orbital road which will link the Gravity site to Puriton, Woolavington and potentially a new M5…

The first phase of the ring road around #Somerset's new £4bn gigafactory will soon begin construction: www.bridgwatermercury.co.uk/news/2602794... #LDReporter #Puriton #Woolavington #A39 #M5

Bridgwater residents urged to submit projects for £20m pride in place funding Bridgwater is the only part in Somerset which will receive £20m over the next ten years through the government's new pride in place fund

#Bridgwater residents are being urged to put projects forward for a share of the #prideinplace funding, with £20m being provided by central government over the next 10 years: www.bridgwatermercury.co.uk/news/2602410... #LDReporter #Somerset

Somerset Council's new chief financial officer withdraws for "personal reasons" Rachael Sanders was due to join Somerset Council as its new Section 151 officer - but she has now withdrawn from the job

#Somerset Council is on the hunt for a new chief financial officer after its chosen candidate pulled out due to "personal reasons": www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/2602366... #LDReporter #Budget2027

Somerset Council commits £5m for 'high-visibility' issues on roads and paths Somerset Council will spend the money on clearing gullies in flood-prone areas, cutting back vegatation, repainting road marking and replacing signs

#Somerset Council will be spending £5m over the next three years on clearing gullies, cutting back vegetation and other "high visibility" issues on its road network: www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/2602328... #LDReporter

Expansion of Somerset travellers' site can remain as plans approved A further seven families are being allowed to remain on a travellers' site between Ilminster and Langport after retrospective plans were approved

A travellers' site between #Ilminster and #Langport will be allowed to expand significantly after plans were approved by #Somerset Council: www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/2602290... #LDReporter #Fivehead

Somerset's "crumbling bridges" could be repaired via new £1bn government fund Somerset is being invited to bid for a share of the new £1bn structures fund, which has been launched by the Department for Transport

#Somerset could receive a share of £1bn from the Department for Transport to repair its "crumbling" bridges, tunnels and fly-overs: www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/2602096... #LDReporter

Car-free route across Taunton takes shape as Firepool boulevard opens The new Firepool boulevard, delivered through £5m of central government grants, will help to unlock additional development in the town centre

A car-free route across #Taunton town centre is now one step closer following the long-awaited completion of the #Firepool boulevard: www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/2602064... #LDReporter #Somerset #activetravel #futurehighstreetsfund @tauntonareacyccam.bsky.social

Yeovil water voles to benefit from £300,000 Wessex Water fine Wessex Water has been handed a substantial fine in relation to a sewage spill in Milborne Port back in September 2022

A £300,000 fine levied on Wessex Water by the Environment Agency will be used to protect #Yeovil's threatened water vole population: www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/2601962... #LDReporter #Somerset

Bats scupper plans for new National Trust car park at Cheddar Gorge The National Trust applied to build a new pay and display car park near one of the main walking routes - but Somerset Council has refused permission

.@nationaltrust.org.uk's attempts to create a new pay and display car park at #Cheddar Gorge have been thwarted by bats: www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/2601918... #LDReporter #Somerset #B3135

Revised plans for 100 new homes in small Somerset village Outline permission for the Coat Road development was granted by councillors in January 2024

Revised plans have been put forward to build 100 homes, an orchard and plant new woodland on Coat Road in #Martock: www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/2601884... #LDReporter #Somerset

Developer owes Somerset Council nearly £35,000 for local services Higdon Homes is being pursued by Somerset Council for thousands of pounds from a housing developer finished before the coronavirus pandemic

#Somerset Council is pursuing legal action against a developer which owes it nearly £35,000 in funding for facilities in #Broadway, near #Ilminster: www.chardandilminsternews.co.uk/news/ilminst... #LDReporter

Probably none on the scale that the council would need, at any rate

Main road in Chard to close for evening resurfacing work Somerset Council and its contractor Heidelberg Materials will be carrying out extensive resurfacing on the A358 through Chard town centre

The #A358 through #Chard town centre will be subject to evening closures for three weeks from Friday (April 17), allowing #Somerset Council to carry out extensive resurfacing: www.chardandilminsternews.co.uk/news/chard_n... #LDReporter #roadworks

Minehead MP launches petition to protect scanners at local hospital Tiverton and Minehead MP Rachel Gilmour is demanding NHS bosses rethink their decision to remove CT and MRI machines from west Somerset

#Tiverton and #Minehead MP @rachelgilmourld.bsky.social has launched a petition to keep CT and MRI scanners Minehead Community Hospital: www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/2601586... #LDReporter #Somerset #NHS