Troubled waters James Garrett takes another look at Roots, the private allotment group with a site at Abbots Leigh. After problems with planning permission, now they have been prosecuted by Bristol Water....

Troubled waters
James Garrett takes another look at #Roots, the private allotment group with a site at #AbbotsLeigh. After problems with planning permission, now they have been prosecuted by #BristolWater....
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/troubled-w...

Marco Uccellini 1603-1680

Today on Classical Byways we are listening to Marco Uccellini a man about whom very little is known - our bread and butter!
classicalbyways.substack.com/p/marco-ucce...
@Kit_Chapman @Guythegrape @SeanDromgoole @BarryHavenhand @susannahmh @bryn_thompson @LizzieBiggs1

Late again - must try harder
We compare the three Somerset councils' performance in assessing SEND children and issuing a plan for their educational needs. The results do not make for easy reading.
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/late-again...

Somerset Spolight - No 7 In the latest of our podcasts in association with Frome FM, Andrew Lee (editor of Somerset Confidential®) and Sam Saunders (Frome FM) talk to Somerset Councillor for Frome, Cllr Dawn Denton

Somerset Spolight - No 7
In the latest of our podcasts in association with Frome FM, Andrew Lee (editor of Somerset Confidential®) and Sam Saunders (Frome FM) talk to Somerset Councillor for Frome, Cllr Dawn Denton
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/somerset-s...

The job no one wants More bad news for Somerset Council as the latest s151 officer says "no". And the issue of its financial stability refuses to go away.

The job no one wants
More bad news for #Somerset Council as the latest #s151 officer says "no". And the issue of its financial stability refuses to go away.
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/the-job-no...

Accepting that @POTUS is the most intellectually challenged this century, what exactly does he think the pope is for?

“WEAK on Crime and terrible for Foreign Policy"

He’ll be criticising unemployment among Catholics next and questioning Pope Leo’s interest rate policy.

Franz Joseph Haydn 1732-1809

Franz Joseph Haydn - a hungry child
Hardly an unknown, but for Classical Byways we explore some of the less known details of his life and listen to an underperformed work.... classicalbyways.substack.com/p/franz-jose...

Its the hope that kills Neighbourhoods around the UK are being given £20m of Government cash to improve prospects for those who live there. There was nothing for Minehead, but Bridgwater got lucky.

Its the hope that kills
Neighbourhoods around the UK are being given £20m of Government cash under the Pride of Place scheme.
But where Bridgwater ,Twerton and Weston Bournville won thye cash, Minehead and Taunton didn't.
So how were they chosen?
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/its-the-ho...

On track? Only if you can get there The new Somerset transport plan has good individual bits, but lacks a sense of being a joined up service with, for instance, buses and trains being co-ordinated.

On track? Only if you can get there
The new Somerset transport plan has good individual bits, but lacks a sense of being a joined up service. As Glastonbury Trainlink are keen to point out, with buses and trains being co-ordinated.
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/on-track-o...

Castle Cary development dispute Four local tradesmen working on a developmentproject in Castle Cary have taken their claim for non-payment of invoices to the small claims court. The developer denies liability. We take a closer look

Castle Cary development dispute
Four local tradesmen working on a development project in Castle Cary have taken their claim for non-payment of invoices to the small claims court. The developer denies liability. We take a closer look.
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/castle-car...

1,700 homes approved for Frome Secretary of State follows the recommendation of the Planning Inspector to approve the extension to Frome between Sainsburys and the bypass

1.700 homes approved for #Frome
Secretary of State follows recommendation of the Planning Inspector to approve the extension to Frome between Sainsburys and the bypass
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/1700-homes...
#SelwoodGardenVillage

Planters punch As frustration grows with Somerset Council, even the administration's own councillors are speaking their mind.

It should have been simple. Putting out flowers to brighten up #Taunton. As the Town Council struggled under a mountain of red tape imposed by #Somerset Council one councillor tells the world exactly what she thinks of them….
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/planters-p...

Carlo Gesualdo 1566-1611

This weekend on Classical Byways we are listening to Carlo Gesualdo
Why not subscribe - its free...
classicalbyways.substack.com/p/carlo-gesu...

Council Wind & Hot Air Councillors and residents are at odds over plans to turn a beautiful valley next to Bath into a green energy centre. The plans are now on hold as the depth of community opposition has made itself felt

Council Wind & Hot Air
Councillors and residents are at odds over plans to turn a beautiful valley next to #Bath into a green energy centre. The plans are now on hold as the depth of community opposition has made itself felt
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/council-wi...
#Batheaston #Betjeman

Seems to me there’s an interesting parallel in the way Britain is not helping the US open the Straits of #Hormuz.
Go back 70 years and the #US was refusing to help #Britain and #France open the #Suez Canal.
Maybe not payback, but certainly a sense of historical irony…

Bending the rules? Rules that govern the conduct of council meetings usually work well. But if you are determined enough, there are ways around them. As was recently demonstrated at a Chard Town Council.

Rules that govern the conduct of council meetings usually work well. But if you are determined enough there are ways around them. As was recently demonstrated at a #Chard Town Council. And is #Somerset Council any good at policing them?
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/bending-th...

Park(ing) Life James Garrett looks at the mushrooming of privately run car parks in the area around Bristol airport. As the airport plans to expand, these are only going to increase in number and size.....

James Garrett looks at the mushrooming of privately run car parks in the area around #Bristol Airport. As the airport expands, these are only going to increase while questions around where valet parking companies actually park the cars go unanswered
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/parking-life

Joseph Anton Steffan 1726-1797

Today on #Classical Byways we are featuring Joseph Anton Steffan
classicalbyways.substack.com/p/joseph-ant...

Updates Today we wanted to track back on a couple of recent pieces in Somerset Confidential and update you on how things are progressing.

Updates
Today we track back on a couple of recent pieces in #SomersetConfidential
We have updates about #Packsaddle Fields in #Frome (Fury at #SomersetCouncil’s “capitulation”) and planning enforcement (Unitary But Far From Unified). #HuishCleeve
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/updates

Somerton returns to Post Office network After years of waiting, the Post Office has reached agreement to reopen a new service in Somerton.

#Somerton returns to Post Office network
After 4 years of waiting, the #PostOffice has reached agreement to reopen a new service in Somerton.
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/somerton-r...

How Local Politics Broke: Why Voters Don’t Trust Parties and Insurgents Are Taking Over Dear readers

Today’s piece is from a writer who is not a regular on Somerset Confidential. Barry O’Leary has his own Substack but it is refreshing from time to time to hear different voices and get different opinions.
Barry looks at how local politics got broken
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/how-local-...

Konrad Starck 1715-1787

Today on #Classical Byways we are listening to Konrad #Starck. Never heard of him? Then take a look at our substack. All material is free to view.
classicalbyways.substack.com/p/konrad-sta...

The Government doesn’t “get” rural England Somerset MPs are all coming to the same conclusion: the Government doesn't understand the difficulty of providing services to a thinly spread rural population. We take a closer look some of the facts.

The Government doesn’t “get” rural England
Somerset MPs are coming to the same conclusion: Government doesn't understand the difficulty of providing services to a thinly spread rural population. We take a closer look to see if they have a point.
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/the-govern...

Unitary But Far From Unified As Somerset Council meet to discuss the performance of the planning team, James Garrett takes a look at planning enforcement in the area and concludes that it would be a good idea to have some.

#Unitary But Far From Unified
As #Somerset Council meet to discuss the performance of the planning team, James Garrett takes a look at planning enforcement in the area and concludes that it would be a good idea to have some.
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/unitary-bu...
#Burtle #HuishChampflower

Fury at Somerset Council’s “capitulation” After winning the legal battle to prevent the development of Packsaddle Fields on the edge of Frome, local people are now to be prevented from using the land by Somerset Council.

Fury at #Somerset Council’s “capitulation”
After winning the legal battle to prevent the development of #Packsaddle Fields on the edge of #Frome, local people are now to be prevented from using the land by Somerset Council.
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/fury-at-so...

Road To Nowhere Somerset Council has funds to repair potholes on Somerset's roads, but none to reopen the B3191 near Watchet. A new FoI request suggests the closure decision without any formal meeting or legal advice

Road To Nowhere
Somerset Council has funds to repair potholes on Somerset's roads, but none to reopen the B3191 near Watchet. Meanwhile a new FoI request suggests the closure decision was taken without any formal meeting or legal advice
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/road-to-no...

If you liked our church art posts on:
#wallpaintingWednesday
#SaintsonSaturday
#stainedglassSunday

They haven’t gone away but changed platform to Instagram

If you liked the images or found the text info interesting you can now see daily posts on Instagram at:
@Mediaevalchurchart

This flight tonight Bristol Airport is allowed nearly as many nighttime flights as Heathrow, yet issues more dispensations for late arriving flights the world's second busiest airport. James Garrett investigates.

This flight tonight
Bristol Airport is allowed nearly as many nighttime flights as Heathrow, yet issues more dispensations for late arriving flights the world's second busiest airport. James Garrett investigates.

somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/this-fligh...

The Far Pavilion It is barely a matter of weeks before the new season starts and the chairman of Somerset County Cricket Club has resigned. James Garrett takes a closer look at why.

The Far Pavilion
It is barely a matter of weeks before the new season starts and the chairman of Somerset County Cricket Club has resigned. James Garrett takes a closer look at why.

somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/the-far-pa...