Councillor Mike Bell

Kids Go Free on our local buses for the summer holidays across our area! www.westofengland-ca.gov.uk/news/kids-go... #westonsupermare #northsomerset

A yellow and green double decker bus. Text reads "free bus travel 24/7 for disabled persons' bus pass holders."

People who have a disabled persons' bus pass can now enjoy free bus travel 24/7, including during peak times 🙌🚌

Getting around just got easier - no more waiting until 9am, whether it’s for work, appointments, education or social events ✅

🔗Read more at https://orlo.uk/iy8zV

This week is #NationalVolunteersWeek and I want to say a huge thank you to all the many children and adults who volunteer for local charities, organisations and even for our councils! 💗

You are all local #NorthSomerset legends 💗

I was happy to help raise the flag for Pride Month and equality today with the The Mayor of Weston-super-Mare and community representatives and residents. Love is love and our world is all the better for more of it. 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

We beat the Conservatives at the local elections. Now we're ahead in today's YouGov poll.

Liberal Democrats are on track to overtake the Conservatives at the next General Election.

Six milestones, five missions, three foundations … Starmer loves a list. Here’s one for him to take to the EU-UK summit this weekend:

Happy Somerset Day, my lovers! The Somerset flag is flying proud and golden from Weston Town Hall today to mark the occasion.

Today we celebrate all things Somerset: cider, Cheddar, Glastonbury mud, and the fact we can say “where be that to?” and still sound poetic.

#SomersetDay

Two double decker buses on a road in Weston-super-Mare.

Join our bus user forums and share your thoughts about local buses! 🚌📣

💻 Online: Monday 19 May, 6pm to 7.30pm, on MS Teams
or
🗣 In person: Wednesday 21 May, 3.30pm to 5.30pm at The Campus, Weston

For more info and to book a spot, head to our latest news (link in bio 🔗)

Reform pledges to ban all flags except Union Jack, St George's Cross and county flags on public buildings Labour have raised concerns about the Ukrainian flag being banned from flying, while Conservatives have highlighted the initial announcement's exclusion of county flags. Reform says the latter will be...

We’ll be flying the VE80 flag on Thursday, the Somerset flag at the weekend for #SomersetDay and will continue to fly other flags to celebrate or remember, including RNLI and Royal British Legion. We always fly flags alongside the Union Flag from Weston Town Hall. news.sky.com/story/amp/re...

Graphic titled Liberal Democrats now control more councils than the conservatives - with two bars underneath showing 40 councils controlled by the Lib Dems and 34 by the Conservatives.

The Liberal Democrats are now the second largest party of local government, and we’re on track to overtake the Conservatives at the next general election.

Across the country, voters have chosen our community politics over the Conservatives’ division and disdain.

"If you're worried about the rise of divisive populist politicians like Donald Trump and like Nigel Farage, it will be the Liberal Democrats standing up for true British values."

@eddavey.libdems.org.uk

Across the globe, liberals are leading the fight against Trump, Putin and the sweep of dangerous populism.

Vote Liberal Democrat on Thursday and elect a local champion who will stand up for your community against Farage's hate-filled politics.

May is National Walking Month and, for the fifth year running, you can take part through North Somerset Walk Fest organised by Better Health North Somerset, part of North Somerset Council.

Find out more at www.n-somerset.gov.uk/NSWalkFest

Ed Davey's face grinning from the central parting of maple leaf curtains.

My warmest congratulations to Mark Carney.

Voters in Canada have elected a Liberal government on a mandate to combat Trump's dangerous populism. Across the globe, it is liberals who are taking the lead in standing up for prosperity, security and democracy in the face of Trump, Putin and the rest.

Remember T4 on the Beach and Radio 1’s Big Weekend in Weston-super-Mare? Then get ready for Summer Fest On The Beach

We’ve been working with the organisers to support a brand new festival on Weston-super-Mare beach in the summer of 2026.

Info here: www.summerfestonthebeach.com

Exciting! 🏖️

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Happy St George's Day! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 23rd April is celebrated as St George's Day and St George is the Patron Saint of England.

We English are often low key about our patriotism and nationhood, except when it comes to sport, so it is important to reflect on our country on our national day.

North Somerset Council app displayed on a smartphone. Text reads download our new app to make recycling easier; www.n-somerset.gov.uk/threeweekly

You can now download our new, free app and have all the important binfo at your fingertips! 📱♻

📅 set up bin day reminders
🔉 receive real-time service alerts
🔎 check exactly how to recycle items correctly

Search for 'North Somerset Council' in your usual app store.

Another great Weston Independent Market today in the town centre with good crowds despite the occasional drop of rain.

The market is back next Wednesday, and every Wednesday throughout the year, from 9.30am to 2.30pm.

"Rachel Reeves inherited a dreadful economy from the Conservatives, but her budgets have hit small businesses and undermined growth.

"Liberal Democrats want to see a new UK-EU customs deal. That would do more for growth than anything this government's put forward."

@eddavey.libdems.org.uk

computer generated aerial view of Banwell bypass

We’ve secured a further £9.7m of funding from Homes England, meaning Banwell bypass is fully funded and ready for main construction 🙌🚧

There's already been early environmental works, vegetation clearance and construction of access roads on site.

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No single party leader is now trusted on the economy, Opinium found. However, Starmer (-32%) and Reeves (-38%) are the most distrusted, with the Reform leader, Nigel Farage, the Tory leader, Kemi Badenoch, and shadow chancellor, Mel Stride, all rated similarly on -22%, -23% and -24% respectively.

The magical disappearing Ed Davey, courtesy of The Observer & @opiniumresearch.bsky.social

Poll asks people if they trust various politicians on the economy.

@eddavey.libdems.org.uk comes out with best net score, 16 points better than next best.

See if you can spot what's missing from write-up:

Mike Bell column: What does a council leader actually do? I was first elected to North Somerset Council nearly 25 years ago and have built up my experience over that time.

I’m pleased to have the chance to write a regular column in our local North Somerset newspapers - the Weston and Somerset Mercury and the North Somerset Times. This time my subject is “what does a council leader actually do?”.

www.thewestonmercury.co.uk/news/2501742...

Anybody aged 10 to 21 (or 25 if you are a young person with Special Educational Needs or Disabilities) can take part and have their say on the National Youth Strategy through a special survey: www.iwill.org.uk/nys-deliver-...

Launching on Wednesday 9th April and weekly thereafter, plus bonus Sunday markets throughout the summer. Good luck Weston Independent Market 👏

"Our main concern is that PIP might be cut."

"It exists to support disabled people with daily costs and help them back into work. Cutting it would be entirely counterproductive."

Sarah Olney

Kier Starmer to REFUSES to rule out cuts to disability benefits for those who can't work | PMQs Ed Davey pressed the Prime Minister to rule out cuts to disability benefits for those who simply cannot work. Worryingly, he chose not to answer. Disabled pe...

Today I pressed the Prime Minister to rule out cuts to disability benefits for those who simply cannot work. Worryingly, he chose not to answer.

Disabled people and those who care for them deserve our support and they deserve clarity from this government.

Young Carers deserve our support, today and every day.

Liberal Democrats will always put care at the heart of everything we do.

Disabled people and those who care for them deserve our support and they deserve clarity from this government.

Today, Ed Davey pressed the PM to rule out cuts to disability benefits for those who simply cannot work. Worryingly, he chose not to answer.

Plan to make it easier for councils to seize land for housing The measure is part of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, which has been introduced to Parliament.

Labour’s new Planning and Infrastructure Bill will drive a coach and horses through local decision making and engagement on planning. More here: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

We need planning reform. But micromanaging local communities from Whitehall and Westminster cannot be the right answer.

Union Jack bunting with blue sky and a tree in the background. Text reads having street party? Apply for a road closure by Sunday 23 March; www.n-somerset.gov.uk/veday80streetparty

This May marks 80 years since Victory in Europe (VE) Day 🙏

For the Early May bank holiday (Monday 5 May) people are being encouraged to host street parties and get togethers with their neighbours, echoing the celebrations that rang out across the nation 80 years ago.

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