Somerset Confidential

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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...

Support - but at a price Minister confirms concerns about Somerset Council, but offers support.

Support - but at a price
Minister confirms concerns about #Somerset Council, but offers £30m support.
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/support-bu...

Lack of innovation Over the past decade Somerset Council has set up innovation centres in the hope of attracting investment. But is the latest one, at Firepool in Taunton, coming up trumps?

Lack of innovation
Over the past decade Somerset Council has set up innovation centres in the hope of attracting investment. But is the latest one, at Firepool in Taunton, coming up trumps?

substack.com/home/post/p-...

Reinhard Kaiser 1674-1739

This morning on #Classical Byways, we give you: Reinhard #Kaiser classicalbyways.substack.com/p/reinhard-k...

MP fights to prevent HASU closure NHS Somerset are determined to push ahead with the closure of the Yeovil Hyper Acute Stroke Unit. But locals are fighting back. Yeovil MP, Adam Dance is getting stuck in. Can they turn this around?

MP fights to prevent HASU closure
#NHSSomerset are determined to push ahead with the closure of the #Yeovil Hyper Acute Stroke Unit. But locals are fighting back. Yeovil MP, #AdamDance is getting stuck in. Can they turn this around?
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/mp-fights-...

A miss is as good as a mile Somerset Council must go cap in hand to the Government in Whitehall for another bailout. Have they saved money? How much do they need? And why you won't be able to ask questions about it.

A miss is as good as a mile
#Somerset Council must go cap in hand to the Government in #Whitehall for another bailout. Have they saved money? How much do they need? And why you won't be able to ask questions about it.
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/a-miss-is-...

The square the compass and the Police - part 2 The application for a judicial review into the Met Police decision to require officers and staff to disclose membership of the Freemasons has been decided. The ball is in Avon & Somerset's court.

The square the compass and the Police - part 2
The application for a judicial review into the Met Police decision to require officers and staff to disclose membership of the Freemasons has been decided. The ball is in #Avon & #Somerset Police's court
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/the-square...

First Bus U turn First Bus had recently announced that all evening services would cease on the route from Bath to Wells. Under relentless pressure, they have reluctantly caved in and reinstated the services.

First Bus U turn
First Bus had recently announced that all evening services would cease on the route from #Bath to #Wells. Under relentless pressure, they have reluctantly caved in and reinstated the services.
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/first-bus-...

The square, the compass and the Police Is membership of Freemasonry and the Police incompatible? Despite a recent decision by the Met, the current position in our patch is a confused mess. No-one seems quite sure what the position is.

The square the compass and the Police
Is membership of #Freemasonry and the #Police incompatible? Despite a recent decision by the Met, the position in our #Avon & #Somerset patch is a confused mess. No-one seems quite sure what the position is.
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/the-square...

Oops!!!

One too many similar names in the American Football head coach roster for the #BBC maybe?

But pretty sure nobody has told #GreenBayPackers that their head coach is going to #ArizonaCardinals?!

You’d think the BBC had enough subbies to get this sort of thing right?

Maybe?

Riccardo Broschi 1698 - 1756

This week on #Classical Byways we are featuring (and listening to) the music of Riccardo #Broschi.

Subscribe to hear more and more composers like him....

classicalbyways.substack.com/p/riccardo-b...

200 years on and still an enigma As a new biography is published, we take a look at one of Somerset's most influential sons.

200 years on and still an enigma
As a new biography is published, we take a look at one of Somerset's most influential sons. A quiet, sickly child who grew into an intellectual colossus and died too young at the age of 51, at his home in Langport
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/200-years-...

Have lessons really been learned? The latest flooding on the Somerset Levels may not be quite as bad as 2014, not yet anyway, but have lessons from back then been learned? A debate in Parliament suggests they may not have been.

Have lessons really been learned?
The latest flooding on the #Somerset Levels may not be quite as bad as 2014, not yet anyway, but have lessons from back then been learned? We take a look at some familiar complaints.
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/have-lesso...
#floods #EmmaHardy #SarahDyke

Two more by-election wins for LibDems Despite the woes at County Hall, the LibDem bandwagon keeps rolling forward across Somerset.

Two more by-election wins for LibDems
Despite the woes at County Hall, the #LibDem bandwagon keeps rolling forward across #Somerset.
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/two-more-b...

Spinning when you're (not) winning Has Somerset Council's council tax rise been confirmed on a Facebook video? We take a look and defend a jibe from the Council Leader that seems aimed at some of our reporting.

Spinning when you're (not) winning
Has Somerset Council's council tax rise been confirmed on a Facebook video? We take a look and defend a jibe from the Council Leader that seems aimed at some of our reporting.
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/spinning-w...

Floundering phlebotomists As the longest strike in NHS history continues, almost under the radar we ask who are phlebotomists and why do they want more money?

Floundering phlebotomists
As the longest strike in NHS history continues, almost under the radar we ask who are phlebotomists and why do they want more money?
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/flounderin...

One thing after another As Somerset Council struggles to balance its books, another deficit, one that isn't on the books, is looming and threatening to overwhelm the finances. B&NES and North Somerset are in the same boat.

As Somerset Council struggles to balance its books, another deficit, one that isn't on the books, is looming and threatening to overwhelm the finances. B&NES and North Somerset are in the same boat. Why are we not hearing more about this?
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/one-thing-...

Damned if you do, damned if you don't A petition to ask Somerset Council's administration to consult with residents before asking the government for another exceptional council tax rise is largely pointless. We explain why.

A petition to ask Somerset Council's administration to consult with residents before asking the government for another exceptional council tax rise is largely pointless.
We explain why. Whichever way things go, you’ll still pay more tax.
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/damned-if-...

Bird flu zone lifted The Bird Flu control zone that was set up on 30 January 2025 has now been lifted.

The Bird Flu control zone set up in Sedgemoor on 30 January has now been lifted.
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/bird-flu-z...

Clearer path forward As North Somerset finds a new home in WECA, the possibility of a Heart of Wessex Mayoral Authority, which includes Somerset Council, looks promising. Unless a s114 notice derails the whole process...

As North Somerset finds a new home in WECA, the possibility of a Heart of Wessex Mayoral Authority, which includes Somerset Council, looks promising. Unless a s114 notice derails the whole process

somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/clearer-pa...

It's not cricket
The former CEO of Somerset County Cricket Club, is under investigation. He also chairs Western Marinas, which runs Watchet Marina. James Garrett tries to dig beneath a raft of NDAs to find out more.
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/its-not-cr...

Carl Heinrich Carsten Reinecke 1824 - 1910

Today on Classical Byways we are listening to Carl Heinrich Carsten Reinecke
classicalbyways.substack.com/p/carl-heinr...

Pivot Today we spread our wings beyond Somerset and ask if we are at a pivot point in history? A moment when the geopolitical blocks around the globe are shifting. And if so, where does that leave Britain?

Pivot
Today we spread our wings beyond #Somerset and ask if we are at a pivot point in history? A moment when the geopolitical blocks around the globe are shifting. And if so, where does that leave #Britain?
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/pivot

Somerset's HS2 HS2 is now running at double the original budget with delays of at least a decade. Somerset has a project that is doing much worse. And as the water rises again on the Levels it is no laughing matter.

Somerset’s HS2
HS2 is now running at double the original budget but #Somerset has a project that is doing much worse. As the water rises again on the #Levels it is no laughing matter.
Could the £250m for the #Bridgwater Barrier be put to better use?
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/somersets-...

Henstridge gets the bird More questions are asked as Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance say that, in addition to spending £9.5m on a new helicopter, they will spend another £9.5m on a new base too.

#Henstridge gets the bird
More questions are asked as #Dorset & #Somerset Air Ambulance say that, in addition to spending £9.5m on a new helicopter, they will spend another £9.5m on a new base too.
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/henstridge...

Not the First Port of call Angry residents in Cossington took their complaints about their property management company to MP Sir Ashley Fox who raised it in the House of Commons.

Not the First Port of call
Angry residents in #Cossington, near #Bridgwater, have taken their complaints about their property management company to MP Sir #AshleyFox who raised it in the House of Commons. We take a look at what they are angry about.
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/not-the-fi...

Too quiet on the Western Front
The next 5 weeks will be critical for the survival of #Somerset Council, yet it has all gone very quiet. Looking at the catalogue of failings highlighted by the auditors, we can understand why.
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/too-quiet-...

William Brade 1560-1630

Today on Classical Byways we are listening to William Brade classicalbyways.substack.com/p/william-br...
Born in Britain he made his career in Germany and Denmark