Cllr Dave Mansell - Wiveliscombe and Upper Tone

At yesterday’s scrutiny meeting, told no timetable, as they want to get it right. My request agreed to include need for residential parking. Also called for fairness in parking for shopping and for parking not to be displaced causing other problems. Our protest in Wivey last March made a difference.

Somerset Council’s new parking charges further delayed, including free car parks in Milverton & Wiveliscombe. Now area reviews and surveys on parking in car parks and on-street. For free car parks, findings to be discussed with local councillors. Public consultation to follow where charges planned.

Submitted my comments on planning application for 100 homes at Manor Farm, Wiveliscombe - see: wiveygp.org/reports/plan.... Main concerns: site is outside the settlement boundary, safety of the B3227 crossing, poor pedestrian access to town, and will add to existing congestion and parking problems.

Businesses around The Square have been consulted and the Town Council approve. There are further steps before the plans are finalised, including consultation on a Traffic Regulation Order expected in the new year. The changes to parking restrictions could then follow around the middle of next year.

These proposals should be affordable and provide a balanced way forward, which is in line with the town centre vision prepared during 2021-22 with extensive local consultation – see: wivey.co.uk

The changes would make it clear where restricted parking can be allowed for shopping (up to 30 minutes), while also making it possible to deter parking where it causes most problems over dropped kerbs and near corners of The Square.

Proposals to improve parking and crossing in The Square, Wiveliscombe. Aims are to:
• keep dropped kerbs clear,
• allow deliveries to shops,
• provide parking for shopping, and
• make it easier for traffic wardens to issue penalty notices for bad parking over dropped kerbs and near the corners.

Comments submitted will be considered by Somerset Council when taking a decision. At this stage, comments should focus on issues related to the location and access, but you may raise other matters if wished. You may also raise issues included in the previous 'Community Engagement' by Bloor Homes.

This is an outline application on the location proposed and access to the development. If approved, other planning matters will be covered in another application that would follow.

The 'Design and Access Statement' provides information on what is proposed. The 'Statement of Community Engagement' gives responses from Bloor Homes to questions previously raised. Other documents submitted cover flood risk, landscape, heritage, travel, planning, ecology and more.

Bloor Homes have submitted a planning application for 100 houses on land off the B3227 to the west of Manor Farm, Wiveliscombe. View and comment on their application and accompanying documents at: www3.somersetwestandtaunton.gov.uk/asp/webpages... (enter planning application number: 49/25/0038).

Garden waste collection days are changing for many subscribers, including in and around Wivey. This includes a special Saturday collection tomorrow (22 Nov). See post below for further information and check your collection days at: www.somerset.gov.uk/bins-recycli...

Burning food for land-hungry biofuels is fuelling the climate crisis For the first time ever, Cerulogy, on behalf of T&E, looks at the global biofuels landscape today and what a growing market will look like in 2030.

Using more biofuels adds to the climate crisis. They are 10% of E10 petrol and are to be used for aircraft & more. This means more land taken from nature and food. Carbon benefits are greater from restoring land. Also solar power only needs 3% of the land to produce the same energy. T&E briefing ...

DeBriefed | Renewables power past coal; Legacy of UK’s Climate Change Act; Fukushima’s solar future

✍️ Written by @jjgoodman.bsky.social
💻 Edited by @daisydunne.carbonbrief.org

Read here ➡️ buff.ly/rxBff7B

Pine martens released on Exmoor in 'positive sign for nature' They are

Great to see ...

NO CHARGES OR CONSULTATION YET for free car parks, only for Sunday charges where charging already. Milverton and Wiveliscombe continue free for now. Council charging plans for these are now to be discussed with local councillors, then public consultation (expected by end year, possibly early next).

26 (Wiveliscombe-Dulverton) will stay the same and there are only small timing changes for 25 (Wiveliscombe-Taunton). 26 and 27 are operated by Somerset Council. 25 by First Bus. Timetables should be updated soon on bustimes.org (also provides live bus tracking) and www.firstbus.co.uk/somerset

Bus timetable changes from next week (1 Sept). In response to requests, the 27 will now extend to Langley Corner and start the day from Wivey. This allows more return options for those travelling towards Wellington. To ensure this trial continues after next March, please make good use of the 27.

Gas main works at Church Street in Wivey are nearly done. It should be open again by Monday next week (1 Sept).
WWU have worked hard to get completed a little ahead of time and addressed local issues where they can. Inevitably, it has been disruptive, but it’ll be good to see roads back to normal.

UK’s richest set to produce 13 times more transport emissions than poorest by 2035 Thinktank predicts wider inequality gap and calls for revised policies to tackle flying and excess private car use

In the next decade the richest people in the UK are set to emit 13 times more carbon emissions from transport than the poorest. 🤯

Instead of causing climate chaos by expanding airports, the government should introduce an ultra-frequent flyers levy.

More👇 www.theguardian.com/environment/...

YouTube video by Somerset Council Bikeability in Action: Teaching Children to Ride Safely on the Road

Great to see kids learning how to safely enjoy cycling in Somerset at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUyA... More info: somersetroadsafety.org/cyclists/bik...

I recommend taking up the opportunity for a free tour of the depot for our recycling collections at Walford Cross, Taunton. It is fascinating to see how materials are unloaded, some sorted and baled, and all stored ready for transport on to reprocessors. Book at: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/heritage-o...

YouTube video by Michael Mann Michael Mann on BBC Discussing Climate Change Impacts on Wildfires in North America (AUG 6 2025)

I discussed the dangerous impacts climate change has on wildfires and what future events may look like on #BBCNews last week:

youtube.com/watch?v=2yq23rW8-Ew&feature=youtu.be

#Putin looking totally in charge. #Trump looking like a 2nd-rate conman basking in the flattery of a much more intelligent professional liar. A truly nauseating spectacle.

3/3 During the Church Street roadworks and closure, there will be extra traffic on some roads and many journeys will take a little longer. Please be patient and kind to others. The roadworks should be complete by 1 September. Further info at: wiveygp.wordpress.com/wp-content/u...

2/3 There are diversion options around the roadworks. Some should be able to connect into the official diversion (see next comment) for all vehicle sizes, including large lorries. Those in smaller vehicles may still be able to take other safer local routes round.

1/3 It is likely Golden Hill and Silver Street will be closed next week, with access for residents only from the lower end. Unfortunately, traffic seeking a route round the Church St roadworks has led to incidents and collisions over recent weeks in Golden Hill, inc repeated damage to parked cars.

2/3 There are diversion options around the roadworks. Some should be able to connect into the official diversion (see next comment) for all vehicle sizes, including large lorries. Those in smaller vehicles may still be able to take other safer local routes round.

The plan proposes important projects, including solar and wind generation at 10 council sites, supporting policies for the Local Plan, NZ heat rural village trial, involving local communities, and more decarbonisation of council buildings and housing. These should be added to Council delivery plans.

Energy Plan adopted by Somerset Council’s Executive this week, along with recommendations from Task & Finish Group who worked on the plan with Regen. I chaired the Council’s T&F Group. The plan provides a pathway for Somerset’s contribution to net zero emissions from energy generation and use.