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.

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.

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...

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

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).

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.

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/...

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...

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.

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.

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.

New press report on parking charges, but little changed. Parking in Milverton and Wiveliscombe free for now. Somerset Council still plans charges in free car parks across Somerset. This is to follow engagement with local Somerset Councillors and Town/Parish Councils and then public consultation.

Road works start next week in Wivey, with Ford Rd closed 7-21 July and Church St closed 21 July - 1 Sept. These closures will be disruptive, but have to be done. Please prepare ahead. Details and contacts in this PDF information file may help at: wiveygp.wordpress.com/wp-content/u...

New delivery/loading only bay (8am-6pm) in West Street and additional 30-min parking bays near Larder. Double yellow lines remain outside Post Office - do NOT park here as blocks larger vehicles. Also do NOT park across drives or dropped kerbs which are all needed for access by residents and others.

B3227 closure will now be Sunday, 15 June (postponed from 11th) between 9.30am and 3:30pm. This is for further surface dressing between Wiveliscombe and Milverton. Works are weather dependant and could be completed early. Diversion via Bampton - those in smaller vehicles may know other safe routes.

I challenged the govt on two fatal flaws in the Planning & Infrastructure Bill: it contains no social housing target, so it won’t deliver the affordable homes communities desperately need, and it weakens nature protections, further enriching big property developers at the environment's expense.

🚨 MYTH BUSTED 🚨 Reports of a 'millionaire exodus' due to tax changes have been revealed to be completely false by research from the Tax Justice Network. No more excuses. Time to tax the super-rich properly.

BUS USERS – When road closed, buses expected only to Milverton. 27 unaffected if completed on 11th. 25 should be OK for 7:31am from Wiveliscombe and for services after 3:30pm. If weather allows work to be completed, B3227 may be reopened for afternoon services, but this may only be known on the day.

Road closure for next phase on B3227 near Wiveliscombe between 9.30am - 3:30pm, 11-13 June. Weather dependant. If good, complete in few hours and on same day. Likely only needed on 11th. Diversion suitable for all vehicle sizes via Tiverton and Bampton. Smaller vehicles may know other safe routes.

New parking charges in Milverton and Wiveliscombe car parks are unlikely to start in October, as had been planned. There is now to be discussion about proposals with local Somerset Councillors and Town/Parish Councils before public consultation, which may now be towards the end of the year.

Good to see progress in reducing UK greenhouse gas emissions, although more is needed and consumption from imports also taken into account: earthbound.report/2025/04/08/u... As well as moving towards net zero, a start on removing emissions that have accumulated in the atmosphere is needed too.

Better buses from April 2025 After years of service decline, better bus services are on the way for Milverton, Wiveliscombe and those on routes to Taunton and Wellington. Somerset Council received additional Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) funding for 2025/26 of £3.3m for capital and £2.9m for…

Budgets fail to solve financial crisis at Somerset Council Somerset Council has been in a financial crisis since October 2023, with a growing list of cuts and savings being made to bring income and costs into balance. However, a massive budget gap for future years remains. Transformation and…

Parking charges plans and Wivey protest Somerset Council has rushed through new parking charges for inclusion in the budget for 2025/26. The plans were first published in reports to a scrutiny committee on 24 February 2025, when I spoke strongly against the then proposals. The committee…

Vision and projects for Wiveliscombe town centre To assist with recovery following Covid lockdowns in 2021, funding was available to encourage people to return to town centres. This enabled a number of projects in Wiveliscombe, including umbrellas for those in queues on rainy days (remember?),…