We use some essential cookies to make this website work We’d also like to use analytics cookies so we can understand how you use our website and make improvements to your services businesses and visitors are being invited to give their views on proposals to renew the Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) for dog control in Somerset East – the area formerly covered by Mendip District Council Somerset Council has launched the consultation to seek views on a proposal to make an order reintroducing 3 restrictions These restrictions relate to dog fouling and dog control in the Somerset East area The proposed order also covers dog exclusion zones within the play areas designated for children aged under 5 in the Somerset East area The Public Spaces Protection Order for dogs in the area was due for renewal in July 2024 and this consultation seeks views on reintroducing the expired order A PSPO is an order that is enforceable under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 They are used to protect the public from behaviour that affects the quality of life of people in the area If you need a paper copy, please call the Council on 0300 123 2224 to arrange a postal delivery Visit our Contact us page for more information and advice on how to get in touch with one of our support teams This article may contain graphic and/or adult content unsuitable for minors and sensitive readers Forget Somerset East – the town in the Eastern Cape has been renamed and shall henceforth be called KwaNojoli Residents woke up to the news on Monday after the Department of Sports and Culture gazetted the new name changes but for Fort Beaufort and Brooksnek village in the Eastern Cape The town of Fort Beaufort will now be called KwaMaqoma while Brooksnek village becomes Ben Mbizweni village A resident in now-KwaNojoli [Somerset East] Ambrose van Gend said the name change caught them by surprise but it is what we are hearing and we came together [on Monday] night to discuss it,” Van Gend said “If Somerset East can spend so much money on name changes why can’t they fix the electricity?” But Speaker of the Blue Crane Route Local Municipality Neliswa Nkonjeni made it clear that the name change process was that of the Department of Sports Arts and Culture – and not the municipality She did however confirm that a public participation process was followed “A public participation was held and the department proceeded with their own process that we were not aware off an exclusive podcast on the life of Vicki Terblanche Dive into the expansive world of motoring with Naresh Maharaj Join Mark Marshall as he shares his extraordinary encounters with everything from bees to reptiles i Home | South Africa The small town of Somerset East in the Eastern Cape is about an hour and half’s drive from Port Elizabeth There was a possibility to fly there but the R53 million airfield outside the town is an unused white elephant The idea behind the airfield was for it to be a gateway for tourism and for the transportation of domestic product to and from the Zuurberg Heritage Corridor The airfield was launched in January 2016 with the runway of 1.2 km There is no one in the offices and we have seen no aircrafts But once locals realised the airfield is inoperative Danile Jena a resident says: “We are happy that this place is not used we use it for our animals to graze and also it saves them from being run over by cars.” The airfield was built by the Cacadu Development Agency in collaboration with the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform Sunshine Blouw the CEO of Cacadu Development Agency says: “There are plans because already we are engaging an air school who would want and have made a commitment to come back to Somerset East and further on put up a dormitory for their students.” The Cacadu Development Agency says they are currently working with the municipality to fence the airfield again as there is a possibility of the air school returning to operate from the facilities The Welfare Society Somerset East is a proxy NPO that raises money for three NPOs in the region Their 9th Annual Charity Golf Day aims to boost the coffers of the three charities listed below Child Welfare South Africa: This organization was established to address poverty and to attend to the special needs of previously disadvantaged people in the area Educational awareness programmes are vital at this time especially for the youth who are the most vulnerable and often abuse drugs because of their dire circumstances Then there is the Mary Coetzee Foster Cluster Home The Mary Coetzee Foster Cluster Home initially started as a children’s home and in 2008 was converted into three cluster homes Each house can accommodate six children and a housemother The children range in age from 2 to 16 years to try to recreate a sense of family unity.The Department of Social Development subsidized them by way of stipends & administration costs they no longer receive a subsidy from the Department of Social Development due to subsidy budget cuts throughout the Eastern Cape The third one is the Luvuyo Special Day Care Centre  The centre is a school for children with special needs in Somerset-East The children in the home have severe physical and intellectual disabilities  It is the only centre in the Blue Crane district that caters for their needs and provides support to the families of children with severe disabilities To find out how you can get on board contact Leon at 076 813 9304 OR  fillis.leon@googlemail.com THE SOMERSET EAST ANNUAL CHARITY GOLF DAY: We need golfers to come and support our event The event started off with a very informal discussion in December 2012 by a small group of friends who were all born in Somerset East The first event was organised in December 2013 and only 40 Golfers participated It grew from 40 participants to 121 in 2021 due to a 2-year break as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019 &2020 It is rated among the top 3 most sought-after events by Eastern Cape Golfers This is mainly due to the level of organising and the integrity in how it is managed This day is supported by golfers from around the country and has recently attracted many junior and female golfers The event is endorsed by the Blue Crane Municipality as a social responsibility vehicle in the town which provides a platform for the youth to develop in the sport of Golf To contribute and be a vehicle for social upliftment in the town of Somerset East Youth awareness and Development in the sport of Golf To motivate all Middle-class entrepreneurs to participate in the social upliftment of the town To boost the economy of the town during this time of the year (accommodation and general spending) A list of our needs: We need golfers to come and support our event Companies and listeners to donate toward the event or charities(Items to be used as Prizes etc or equipment for centres -Leon on 076 813 9304 or email –fillis.leon@gmail.com -Eleonor -074 244 5652 or email –somchild@telkomsa.net Banking details for those who may wish to donate : The story of medical students Mvuzo and Mvuyisi Nkcosolwana and our support for their studies in China is a great example of Enel Green Power South Africa (EGP RSA)’s commitment to Quality Education Please check your email and enter your one time pin below:   Open in Gmail Sorry there was an error loading the audio Imagine having your own island and currency which hoodwinks you through passport controls elsewhere in the world while you smile wryly beneath your flowing silver locks Welcome to the wonderful world of Walter Battiss When plotting a route through the Eastern Cape Karoo, or travelling between Gqeberha and parts further north on the N10 that links Johannesburg with the coast, or making a detour from Addo, build a foray to Somerset East into your plans. It’s only 24 km off the N10, less than half an hour, and compelling worlds await you there.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads the Walter Battiss Art Museum captivates you for hours as you disappear into the eccentric milieu of this artist who lived in a world of his own and we might all be happier if we were able to create our own mad little worlds Portrait of an artist with his famous self-portrait has a winning way with the work she so eagerly shows off genre upon genre of this wildly divergent artist’s works including the colourful trappings of the “island of the imagination” that he invented in collaboration with Norman Catherine and the pair of cloaks worn by King Ferd III of Fook Island even the Fook Island flag that ultimately would be draped over the artist’s coffin Ros Turner in her element with the King Ferd III cloaks in a display cabinet behind her If I’d been born in an earlier time and privileged to have befriended Battiss I’d have offered to develop a Fook Island cuisine and persuaded him to appoint me Fookian-Chef-in-Chief and it would be introduced to the island nation in a grand Fookesque feast which all Fookois would be required to attend a currency (the Fookois people trade in banknotes calls aks) and a passport that actually works (he quite literally travelled on it) there’s no reason not to invent your island’s own food culture too Sturdy fookoors with their purple domes would be fired up for us to roast giant kebabs of the exotic fruits of the island’s psalm and crabshew trees stews of morthog and jostrich would bubble and burble until nubile Fookazonian youths would arrive to bear great tureens on high to the drooling diners at endless imaginary tables The work defied the draconian odds to become the jewel in the crown of the Walter Battiss Art Museum collection in Somerset East where feisty Ros Turner proudly shows it off Father and Son in the Rocks is a testament to the longevity of art and its patient ability to bide its time and ultimately transcend the chokehold of the bigots It is especially valued for its depiction of rock art and prehistoric rock shelters and for what Ros Turner calls “its place in the development of the abstract art of Walter Battiss”. His earlier more realistic work had taken a turn to the abstract around 1940 and, after meeting Pablo Picasso and Gino Severini in 1949 their influence became evident in his work despite the joyful use of colour and form in much of his painting it’s in an upstairs room where his watercolours are displayed that my jaw dropped You don’t really expect that of watercolours Turner explained that he used two palettes for his watercolours “one to muddy the colour and one where he keeps the colours separate; that’s how he gets the bright colours” Above and below: Two of the magnificent watercolours by Walter Battiss that hang in an upstairs room of the Walter Battiss Museum in Somerset East I made the rookie mistake of asking Turner if all of his art (other than in private collections) was on display here his friend Murray Schoonraad helped him to move it here Pretoria.” Battiss had taught art at Pretoria Boys High for 30 years Climbing the narrow wooden stairs to the wonders above Turner relates the story of officers with their spurs scuffing the steps as they trotted up And stories of a ghost of an English officer on the stairs and how someone once said the ghost threw a horseshoe at their grandmother It doesn’t seem at all outlandish; it’s just the sort of house where ghosts would linger “I found the correspondence relating to these stairs They spent R20,000 to have them rebuilt,” she tells me There are other tales of intrigue and strangeness The architect in charge of restoration said the yellowwood floors came from the Boschberg where one of the explorers said he saw a cave painting of a one-horned animal and there was a rumour that there was a unicorn living in the Boschberg It was also believed that there were giant snakes in those green mountains But there’s a more serious side to the museum “Now that people are travelling again we’re seeing more visitors.” (But she still makes the cake.) “We had a budget from the municipality for tourism for the first couple of years but that has fallen away (along with the funding of festivals). We try to keep tourism going ourselves and I’m doing the Facebook stories for the museum.” (Her stories make good reading.) If you’d like to help or know of an organisation that might all the relevant links are at the bottom of the story The little boy on the kerb in the right foreground is believed to be the young Battiss The family who ran the museum in earlier days had “looked after the art but it was stuffed away and I pulled it out” the curator who loves her charges; and that means every one of the works in the museum “Perhaps one day someone will come along and curate it all properly,” she adds but not any more,” Turner says with firm jaw indicating how strongly she means it make the time for a little foray to Fook Island which just as it is anywhere and everywhere you might hope it to be Quite where in the Karoo is for your imagination to find out will be happy to convert them to Fookian aks for you Contact Ros Turner at the Walter Battiss Art Museum Somerset East on 042 243 1448 or 073 698 6539 Walter Battiss Art Museum on Facebook Walter Battiss Foundation on Facebook Read more about Walter Battiss here and buy his certified prints www.somerset-east.co.za ' + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text + ' " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title + " " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text + " Subscribe to daily business and company news across 19 industries The Nelson Mandela Bay region is considered the global mohair capital because its port handles the bulk of South African exports The region has the largest mohair spinner in the world in Kariega and another in Gqeberha not far behind 90% of the produce is channelled through the ports of Ngqura and Gqeberha of which 70% is exported to Italy and China "The four farms are the Driefontein Farm in Somerset East which received R546,800 to buy 200 angora goats and piping for irrigation from the ECDC-administered Imvaba Cooperatives Fund and Uitkomst Farm in Jansenville which received R561,978 from the Imvaba Cooperatives Fund for a fully-equipped irrigation system The system will allow the farm to produce its feed," said a representative from Mohair South Africa "The funding support follows the conclusion of a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in September 2023 between the ECDC and the Mohair Empowerment Trust (MET) to support emerging angora goat farmers and to facilitate funding opportunities for them A further R1m has been made available by the ECDC through its economic development coordination and sector support initiative to assist 12 farmers in the MET mohair support program with shearing sheds tools for mohair sorting classing and shearing efficiency,” said Mlungisi Mvoko "This project has turned the fortunes of these black farmers who have thirty-year leases on the farms owned by the Department of Agriculture Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) Introducing these farmers to angora goat farming capacity building and funding has greatly improved the profitability and sustainability of these development farms in their pursuit to be commercial farmers,” stated Ayanda Wakaba Most of the rest of the world’s mohair is imported into Gqeberha and processed at Gubb & Inngs (part of the Stucken Group) in Kariega and Samil Processing near King Williams Town from where it is exported Jansenville and Willowmore routinely produce nearly half of South Africa’s production Processing of mohair takes place in Kariega Gqeberha and Ntabozuko outside East London Through strategic partnerships and targeted interventions South Africa's mohair industry is poised for sustained growth and prosperity By harnessing the potential of its natural resources and fostering inclusivity offering economic opportunities for generations to come Choose a topic below and thereafter view all articles on the topic using the "Next >" button or swiping left Choose a topic below and thereafter view all articles on the topic using the "Next >" button or the keyboard right arrow key Date published: 2025-03-18 | Category: Improving people's lives, Roads, travel and transport An innovative and interactive tool that highlights more than 200 current and future transport projects set to be delivered developed and studied over the next three years has been launched by Bath & North East Somerset Council.   The Transport Action Map offers residents businesses and stakeholders a comprehensive overview of the council's ambitious plans to enhance transportation infrastructure across the district.  one-stop shop where users can access detailed information on more than 200 transport schemes From planned construction dates to up-to-date progress reports the map is a valuable resource for anyone interested in the future of travel in Bath and North East Somerset.   It includes schemes included in the 2025/26 budget under the Local Active Travel Safety Programme and Highways Maintenance Programme such as South Road improvements to pedestrian safety in Timsbury extending Park & Ride into the evenings on a trial basis and ongoing Public Rights of Way work in B&NES.  The Transport Action Map will be updated and improved as schemes reach completion and additional functionality is provided to enhance the experience.   "Our Transport Action Map provides clarity to what is happening and planned for transport in B&NES We recognise that with so many individual projects on the horizon it can be challenging to see how they all fit together This map allows us to clearly demonstrate the scale of our ambitions and the comprehensive nature of our approach to improving transport across our community," said Councillor Manda Rigby "We are committed to delivering an unprecedented number of transport schemes that will benefit all who live The projects featured on the map range from road safety improvements and active travel initiatives to major infrastructure developments and public transport enhancements The map's interactive features enable users to stay informed about upcoming works to view a project’s timeline and will be regularly updated with new schemes added when announced.  Bath & North East Somerset Council invites everyone to explore the Transport Action Map and stay engaged with the ongoing efforts to make transport safer and better connected throughout the region.  Date published: 2025-02-26 | Category: Bath, Business support , Delivering for local residents, economic development, information and advice A two-day festival of business packed with opportunities for local businesses to network and grow will take place in Bath on March 5 and 6 The B&NES Business Show at the Guildhall will feature business breakfasts, specialist clinics, talks and demonstrations with organisations including Radio Bath, Barclays and Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Invest in B&NES service.  The event is a unique opportunity for businesses of all sizes to discuss areas of common interest learn from each other and build valuable connections Exhibitors offering a diverse range of products and services will create an engaging and dynamic environment where businesses can discover innovative solutions Businesses will be able to interact with industry experts and learn about the latest trends and advancements Workshop topics include effective marketing communications cyber security and creating inclusive and neurodiverse workplaces.  The Business Show has been organised by County Business Shows with support from the council and other local partners. The full line up and timings are available on the County Business Shows website. Businesses can register here.  cabinet member for Economic and Cultural Sustainable Development there's something for everyone at the B&NES Business Show It’s a fantastic opportunity to learn from other industry experts explore new opportunities and discover innovative products and services Don’t miss your chance to connect with fellow business enthusiasts.” Director for the Bath & North East Somerset Business Show said: “We’re looking forward to two very busy days a festival where the genre is business is a powerful way of supporting and building the business ecosystem in the region learning and business to business contacts.” The Business Show is organised by County Business Shows and sponsored by Bath & North East Somerset Council The Cyber Resilience Centre for the South West a retrofitted community room providing a safe place in a flooding emergency and village hall solar panels are among the improvements that have been realised in communities across Bath and North East Somerset The nine projects in B&NES which all have a positive impact on the environment or biodiversity were awarded a total of £260,000 in March 2024 from the West of England Rural Fund which is funded by the UK government through the Rural England Prosperity Fund Deputy Leader and cabinet member for Climate Emergency and Sustainable Travel said: “It’s fantastic to see these projects coming to fruition for our communities This funding is so valuable to local organisations who use the money for important energy reduction measures and to encourage more people to explore nature These are excellent examples of the real action that can be taken to tackle the climate and nature emergency Thank you to everyone has worked so hard to make these vital projects a reality.” said: “The wayfinding project has enabled us to bring together the issues identified in the Town Centre Regeneration Action Plan and helped us work with the Active Way local groups and residents to provide beautifully created maps and fingerposts that work with the new branding provide key infrastructure for the town and help to improve accessibility for everyone The new signage along with other improvements in the town centre will highlight Radstock’s lovely walks and incredible cycle ways and greenways The Town Council remains committed to supporting an inclusive and an accessible town and thanks all those that have contributed to the project.” The trustees of the Old School Room said: The grant from the Rural Fund enabled us to complete a safe Rest Centre provide a well set up kitchen with ample storage a high-quality medical kit and interlocking flooring for seating children In addition it has provided a well-used social space for the community who is accused of sex crimes against children has been found guilty of seven of the 11 charges against him Sixty-five-year-old Lukas Rudman will be sentenced on 23 January 2024 The Eastern Cape High Court in Makhanda found him guilty of two counts of rape two of sexual assault and three of human trafficking on Friday The state said that Rudman enticed the complainants to visit his house by giving them gifts who were between the ages of 13 and 18 at the time of the incidents The state earlier said that in the event of a conviction it would call for a discretionary minimum sentence of life imprisonment Date published: 2025-01-30 | Category: Adult Social Care and Health the CQC has published its report on Adult Social Care services provided by Bath and North East Somerset Council The report gives the service an overall rating of "Requires Improvement." It acknowledges that plans are in place to address any shortfalls and put the council in a strong position for the future The report recognises the recent successful transfer of more than 200 staff into the council on the 1st of April 2024 and acknowledges the fact that the inspection took place shortly after the transfer was completed said: “We are satisfied that we have appropriate safeguards in place and are working through our quality improvement plans Areas for improvement had already been identified and we have been working on these over recent months Inspectors identified many positive aspects of our service and reported that we have kind They also recognised that senior leaders are knowledgeable and approachable evidenced by the clear three-year strategy for ASC and an ambitious transformation programme “The inspection was carried out under a new CQC local authority assessment and we have gone back to seek assurance on the process inspectors used It is also worth highlighting that in the latest National Adult Social Care Outcomes Framework (ASCOF) of the 22 national measures we perform better than the England average in 17 measures better than the South West average in 18 measures and we are in the best quartile in the country for 12 measures.” CQC Service provider reports can be found here.   The 2024 Independent Review on the CQC can be found here on  gov.uk The South African Police Service has launched a manhunt for the suspects who pretended to be complainants but then robbed the Somerset East Police Station of an unknown number of firearms The brazen robbery took place on Sunday night at around 21:05 Police spokesperson Brigadier Tembinkosi Kinana said a manhunt had been launched He said it was unknown exactly how many firearms had been taken and that it would be determined once a proper assessment and investigation were complete “The suspects pretended to be reporting an accident which they said occurred next to a local restaurant,” Kinana said in a statement “As police officers were making arrangements to help them one of the suspects jumped over the counter and started pointing a firearm at SAPS members The other two suspects joined in and at gunpoint Police officers resisted and during the struggle with these criminals the suspects managed to access the safe keys while some of them grabbed firearms and ran away.” He said the suspects allegedly escaped on foot and that was it not immediately clear if there were any getaway vehicles parked in the vicinity Major General Zithulele Dladla has immediately ordered the 72-hour activation plan in order to mobilise all resources that will help trace and track down the suspects,” said Kinana Police are investigating cases of armed robbery and attempted murder creative writing workshops and drama performances are among the exciting line-up of events for Bath & North East Somerset Council’s first-ever Festival of Libraries next month The festival runs from February 8 to February 22 in the council’s Keynsham and the Community Run Libraries and celebrates knowledge A full list of events is on the Festival of Libraries webpage  The Mobile Library will also be out in unusual locations throughout February for people to drop in find out a bit more and sign up to become a member said: “This exciting festival will demonstrate that our libraries are more than just a place to find the latest books They’re the heart of the community and bring people together There are lots of special events on offer over the two weeks of the festival and I hope many residents will join the fun!” Visit the Bath and North East Somerset Libraries website for details of regular and upcoming library events throughout the year Find out more about the council’s library and information services. Date published: 2025-02-05 | Category: Council Tax, Finance Bath & North East Somerset Council has set out budget proposals which would see extended park and ride hours, cleaner and greener streets more homes being built and investment in care for adults and children to meet rising demand.    to be presented to Cabinet on February 13 contains detailed proposals for a balanced budget for the council’s day-to-day spending of £151.7million for 2025/26.   The report also sets out additional investment plans over the next five years to improve Bath and North East Somerset’s infrastructure including more than £70 million for house building as well as investment in active travel and transport improvements.     There is also provision to address the rising costs of children's services including placements for children and young people with special needs and Home to School Transport The council is committed to ensuring that these services continue to meet the needs of the most vulnerable children and families in the community.  said: “We have again faced a challenging budget process I am pleased again to present a balanced budget which demonstrates prudent management of our finances despite increasing demands and costs across the board but particularly in our adult and children’s services. Our focus always has to be on meeting the needs of our most vulnerable and we are putting more than £5million additional funding in the budget to meet pressures on care packages for adults We are also addressing pressures on Home to School transport and want to invest £350k on more of our own drivers and vehicles We also want to improve support for young people with £50k to trial a youth club in Bath.  “Making our streets cleaner and greener remains a priority for residents so we are investing in additional demand-led rapid response crews We also need to modernise our customer contact technology to make it more joined-up for residents whichever way they chose to get in touch with our services Making sure we deliver more housing is also vital for our area and £73.4m has been allocated over the next five years for Aequus to buy sites and deliver new homes.”  The budget report recommends an increase in general Council Tax by 2.99% in 2025/26 which equates to an increase of £51.92 per Band D property the Adult Social Care Precept is proposed to increase by 2% an additional £34.72 per Band D property This results in a total proposed Band D Council Tax for Bath and North East Somerset Council next year of £1,823.06 an overall increase of 4.99% or £86.64 per Band D property.  Councillor Elliott added: “I believe Bath and North East Somerset Council provides excellent value for money We are not seeing the extraordinary percentage rises in council tax that some councils are having to make around the country and we compare very favourably to our neighbours  Even after this rise we expect we will still have the fourth lowest unitary authority council tax in the South West well below the South West average.”  Additional budget proposals which will also be considered by Cabinet include investments to address the climate emergency with a £4m Decarbonisation Programme to remove gas as a heating fuel from the corporate estate and £9.961m for neighbourhood services vehicles and fleet decarbonisation  The budget proposals for 2025 to 2026 will be considered by cabinet on 13 February and Full Council on 25 February. The budget report to cabinet can be found here and meetings can be viewed on the council’s YouTube channel.    The list of candidates standing for election in the General Election on 4 July in constituencies in the Somerset Council area is published today (Friday 7 June) The statements of persons nominated can be found on Somerset Council’s General Election page The up-to-date list of polling stations will also be published Residents are reminded to make sure they are registered to vote before the deadline of Tuesday 18 June. Those not on the electoral register should visit gov.uk/register-to-vote It takes around 5 minutes to register to vote – just make sure you have your National Insurance number to hand The final date to apply for a postal vote is by 5pm on Wednesday 19 June Voters must also show Voter ID if planning to vote in person at a polling station More details are available on the Electoral Commission’s Voter ID page You can still use your photo ID if it is out of date The name on your ID should be the same name you used to register to vote Those without the necessary ID can apply for the free Voter Authority Certificate (VAC) – the deadline is 5pm on Wednesday 26 June. Applications can be made online, by post or in person. Help and advice is available from Somerset Council’s electoral services team on 0300 123 2224 Date published: 2024-10-22 | Category: Children's Services, Focusing on prevention, Improving people's lives, Safeguarding More than 80 foster carers and supported lodgings providers who look after children and young people in B&NES have been celebrated at a special event to recognise their dedication The celebration evening at the Guildhall in Bath on October 17 was held by Bath & North East Somerset Council and attended by carers who foster with the council and help keep children in their local communities The event also saw the launch of a new fostering film to encourage more people to foster with their local authority and transform a child’s life ‘Everything’ follows foster carer Mike and his family on a journey through time with two of the children they have looked after who are now adults The film is a collaboration between Bath & North East Somerset Council and more than 100 other local authorities and children’s trusts The council currently has 49 households who foster in B&NES alongside 13 kinship foster care families in which children who cannot be cared for by their parent live with a relative or friend Ten households in B&NES provide care under the council’s Fostering Families scheme which helps families in need of long-term support to keep children at home. A further ten supported lodgings households support young people aged between 16 and 25 who have left home but do not feel ready to live independently Chair of Bath & North East Somerset Council said: “Our foster care and supported lodgings households do incredible work to support young people and make a difference to their lives every day It was an honour to meet some of our carers and celebrate the work they do to help children and young adults achieve success.  “Fostering with your local council helps keep children in the area they were born in and maintain those vital connections to their communities We are proud of our amazing foster carers and the support and love they provide I’d encourage anyone thinking about joining our wonderful fostering community to get in touch with us.”  Find out more about fostering with the council The finalists from left to right: Finalists Coenraad Basson Daneel Rossouw (Nedbank) and Fanie Ferreira (MPO) Niel Wilke of Glentana Farm near Cookhouse in the Eastern Cape has been announced as the greenest dairy farmer in the country Niel is the fifth winner of the Milk Producers Organisation (MPO) Nedbank Stewardship Award 2023 at the MPO’s Annual General Meeting at Nampo Cape on Wednesday 13 September This award recognises dairy farmers who are exemplary stewards of their farming enterprises which means they address sustainability while paying attention to protection of natural resources fair and ethical treatment of their workers and animals The other three finalists include Dian Landman from the Eastern Cape and Shaun van Huyssteen from KwaZulu-Natal “It was extremely difficult to select a winner from the four – they all love what they do,” said MPO chief executive Fanie Ferreira “They are committed to this journey and their approach to their staff is nothing short of inspirational it was Niel’s approach to staff development that clinched the award for him.” it was clear that Niel is passionate about the importance of creating an environment where every team member can take true ownership of what has been entrusted to him or her “Niel believes that the farm belongs to each employee as much as it does to him They are all working together to achieve the shared goal of growing their business Employee development is a crucial part of sustainable farming and it is obvious that Niel manages this successfully.” Winner of the MPO Nedbank Stewardship Award 2023 Niel Wilke Niel farms with about 2 700 dairy animals in the Somerset East area in the Eastern Cape they have been farming sustainably for the past ten years and feel that they are the stewards of the land provide healthy food and provide a future for next generations.” He accepted the nomination because he wants to show other farmers that farming sustainably is better for all as it improves the financial viability of farms The farm is part of the community and depend on the people and he wants to get the best out of them and develop them as individuals It is not about the farm; it is about the people and how they can motivate each other Sustainability started with putting carbon in the soil by planting more and better grass “Sustainability makes farming more profitable,” he declares It helps to manage your business in a more efficient way which causes long-term sustainability to be viable the whole farm is under self-pressure pipeline which helps reduce carbon emissions by not using diesel fuel on the farm and they are implementing changes as they go He is of the opinion that Nedbank and the MPO help the agricultural sector through farm visits which contributes to long-term sustainability “We can’t be financially sustainable without the support of Nedbank The MPO supports and helps on a daily basis with better practices and the latest technology and innovations.” Niel believes sustainable farming is about being a custodian for future generations “Our stewardship journey started with paying attention to soil health,” he explained “Optimising our soil health led to healthier feed which resulted in healthier and happier cows This ultimately reduced costs in terms of inputs and transport “The financial viability of farming sustainably is the biggest and most immediate benefit but it’s about sustainability and resilience in all its forms Empowering staff to truly be partners in your endeavours is very much part of that.” Niel Wilke from Glentana Farm in Somerset East was the winner of this year’s MPO Nedbank Stewardship Award Head of Sales for Agriculture at Nedbank Commercial Banking says this is the fifth year Nedbank has sponsored the award which is in line with the bank’s commitment to mitigating climate change “Climate change is one of the defining systemic issues of the 21st century unprecedented action and cooperation from all stakeholders food security and societal well-being are expected to deteriorate,” says Daneel “Failure to address climate change will commit the African continent to a much more challenging and less prosperous future as Africa is highly exposed to physical impacts and often lacks the capacity to respond to them.” Daneel said this reality underpins much of what they support at Nedbank He says Nedbank believes it has a significant role to play in helping the agricultural sector evolve to a more efficient and productive model through sustainable business practices water efficiency and renewable energy are key focus areas We have created innovative financial products designed to support our clients with sustainable farming interventions.” we believe that our role goes beyond simply financing the transition We use our financial expertise and understanding of the sector to raise awareness about climate risk and the business case for sustainable farming which recognise and reward farmers who are adopting industry best practices “Our sponsorship objectives are to recognise and reward the climate-smart practises that are successfully applied on each farm; to share this knowledge and these successes with others It also aims to create greater awareness about climate change among dairy farmers which will equip them with the knowledge they need to farm climate-smart – and to do it in a way that promotes excellent stewardship,” he concluded and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Teken in vir ons nuusbrief om op hoogte te bly van die nuutste in die landboubedryf dark brown patches in these images are thick "blankets" of locusts that Jannie Louw filmed on his farm in the Eastern Cape "They cleaned me out in two days," he tells Food For Mzansi “They cleaned me out in two days,” says a distraught Eastern Cape farmer Jannie Louw who watched helplessly as thick swarms of locusts destroyed 3 000 hectares of grazing land on his farm The brown locusts that invaded the Middelburg farm in the Karoo also destroyed the butternut and squash that he had planted for his children The veld was green on Monday last week and now there is nothing left,” Louw tells Food For Mzansi Louw indicates that the locusts are currently moving to Noupoort He predicts that they might start flying in 6 weeks’ time What is worse is that there are not enough people to combat the locust outbreak in Middelburg.” Louw’s loss is almost a repeat of last year and tells Food For Mzansi that he is disappointed that the Eastern Cape department of rural development and agrarian reform has not reacted to the locust outbreak sooner because they are aware of the consequences “When I spoke to one of the members of Agri Eastern Cape he told me that they have tried to negotiate this whole thing with government Now this locust outbreak is becoming a really big problem in Middelburg and they are migrating in 400-hectare swarms at a time,” he says ALSO READ: Northern Cape races to prevent locust disaster The only person with a licence to spray an insecticide that will kill the locusts he is instructed to wait because some farms are affected by bigger swarms but we can’t access the proper pesticides to kill them all the guys around me just want the equipment to fight the locusts; equipment such as proper sprayers and the proper poison because the things that we are spraying are making the soil sterile.” The locust outbreak in the Eastern Cape began between August and September and has been reported in Aberdeen the administrative assistant to the trade and economics manager at Agri Eastern Cape predicts that many more towns will soon be affected says the organisation has been engaging with the department that controls locust outbreaks in the province since August this year to make sure that they are prepared were made that an action plan would be put in place to combat the outbreak farmers realised that nothing had been done after their engagement Erasmus claims that the truck providing pesticides to different districts has not been serviced on time which resulted in delays in the delivery of pesticides Registered pesticides are also channelled through the department “We have been trying to get those poisons from the department but we have been getting very limited amounts at a time,” he says which is responsible for a lot of the Eastern Cape and the southern parts of the Northern Cape is that not enough people have been appointed to these departments,” Erasmus reckons farmworkers and everyone else on the ground are willing and ready to get the job done “It’s a very frustrating situation and when we try and do all the groundwork for it and cooperate ALSO READ: Brown locust plague threatens Eastern Cape farmers . Sign up for Mzansi Today: Your daily take on the news and happenings from the agriculture value chain Tshianeo Mathidi in Venda is cultivating more than just potatoes – he's growing back a family legacy.. With 21 global awards in the first six years of its existence Food For Mzansi is much more than an agriculture publication unashamedly saluting the unsung heroes of South African agriculture We believe in the power of agriculture to promote nation building and social cohesion by telling stories that are often overlooked by broader society Contact usOffice: +27 21 879 1824News: info@foodformzansi.co.zaAdvertising: sales@foodformzansi.co.za Swindon and Wiltshire ICB has awarded a contract to digital solutions platform for a digitalised end-to-end patient management system with a contract lifecycle value of £497,600 over 3 years The ICB has procured the solution to support referrals payment and case management of NHS funded care packages within the ICB They expressed a need for information to “seamlessly flow between processes by connecting the entire lifecycle into one platform”  highlighting integration between systems across health and social care as a “critical” element for the new system A planned service-wide transformation will be implemented across all business and clinical areas as well as clinical pathways such as acquired brain injury The ICB noted that “Interoperability is of paramount importance allowing for the ICB and wider health and social care teams to share and view records” they added “this will support improved accessibility and visibility of data which in turn will enable more efficient and streamlined workflows for all teams and a better person experience” Investing in digital transformation: the wider trend  In December, the Department of Health and Social Care announced £126 million in funding to help support hospices in making improvements to IT systems and facilities in what was termed as the “biggest investment into hospices in a generation” This came as part of the government’s Plan for Change and also factors into the 10 Year Health Plan’s aims to shift healthcare from hospitals and into the community UK health tech startup, Kidney Beam, recently received a £610k investment to help with improving virtual kidney care through their app They plan to expand their reach into more unrepresented communities to “enhance the usability of its platform and forge new partnerships” Finally, Digital Health and Care Wales are seeking the procurement of a ‘National Intelligent Integrated Audit Solution’ The aim of the audit solution is to “monitor user access to the NHS Wales single patient record” and to be utilised for auditing relevant national clinical applications and national repositories including all seven health boards and five of the six other statutory trusts across Wales E-scooter services in three Somerset towns have been temporarily suspended with immediate effect by the operator have been halted by the operator due to an unexpected supplier issue The trials were due to continue until the end of May 2026 Zipp Mobility is reviewing the situation to consider next steps Whilst the service is suspended the scooters are being removed from town centres and users have been messaged through push notifications via the user app The initiative  is a collaboration between DfT Somerset Council and Zipp Mobility in Taunton and Minehead with operator Zwings running the trial in Yeovil Zwings has now been amalgamated with Zipp Mobility The intention is for all scooters across the three towns to move towards the same branding Somerset Council’s Lead Member for Transport and Digital It’s disappointing the trials have to be suspended but we’re really hopeful this can be resolved soon we know Zipp Mobility are working hard on a solution The Council is committed to sustainable transport options as part of its net zero 2030 climate change objective and e-scooters were playing an important role in working towards this We are disappointed to have to suspend our service in Somerset due to an unforeseen issue We are working hard on a solution and apologise for the inconvenience this has on our riders and the wider community in the interim For best viewing experience of this website Please enter a place name in the search bar After provisionally the warmest May Day on record in the UK higher than average temperatures will subside over the weekend Environment Agency Updated: 07:54 (UTC+1) on Tue 6 May 2025 Fine and settled under the influence of high pressure A chilly start but with plenty of clear skies bringing long spells of sunshine Cloud thickening from the west later in the afternoon but remaining dry for all with light winds Evening cloud gradually clears away leaving a dry night with clear spells Wednesday brings a mixture of sunny spells and cloudy skies A few spots of rain may be felt in the far southwest Widely dry and settled with high pressure dominating this week Dry across the vast majority of the UK with clear or sunny spells but also some patchy cloud Cloud will likely thicken across the far north and northwest during the weekend with some outbreaks of rain for a time There is also a small risk of some heavy showers in the far south or southwest high pressure will be dominant across the UK This will bring predominantly fine and dry weather for the majority of places Temperatures are likely to be slightly above normal for the time of year although there is a chance of some cold nights Fairly typical weather for the time of year is most likely through this period fine and dry weather is more likely to dominate although this will be interspersed with occasional spells of rain and showers with a risk of heavy rain and thunderstorms in places temperatures will most likely be near to or slightly above average Date published: 2024-09-24 | Category: Bath, Community Funding, Focusing on prevention, Health and Care, Keynsham Area, Public Health, public safety The installation of twelve kits providing emergency first aid to someone suffering a life-threatening injury is under way in Bath and Keynsham thanks to a £2,500 contribution from ward councillors The bleed kits are designed to be used by bystanders to save lives in instances of catastrophic blood loss by giving them the tools to stop the bleeding until paramedics arrive They contain equipment including trauma dressings and instructions on how to use them.  The scheme is a joint initiative between Avon and Somerset Police, HeartSafe and NHS England South West to place Emergency Bleed Kits in local communities.  The bleed kits have been supported by £2,500 funding from Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Ward Councillors Empowerment Fund which enables ward councillors to contribute to local projects that directly benefit residents and address the concerns of the local area An additional kit at Ubley Parish will be funded separately by Councillor Anna Box said: “We hope these bleed kits will never be used but it’s vital they are available in case of emergencies They will equip people to save the lives of others if the worst happens Every second counts in instances of catastrophic bleeding and these kits could make the difference between life and death.” Any organisations wishing to fund additional kits or have suggestions for other sites can email the council’s community engagement team at connecting_communities@bathnes.gov.uk  A map of the locations of bleed kits across the country can be found on the HeartSafe website These four bubbly personalities from Aeroville Secondary School in Somerset East are some of the students who attended the Agri Career Roadshow in the Eastern Cape “Agriculture needs young people and it is becoming increasingly important that we introduce learners to the amazing opportunities within the industry.” on day one of the second stretch of the VKB Food For Mzansi Agri Career Roadshow which kicked off in Eastern Cape today Food For Mzansi partnered with the Eastern Cape Department of Education for the Eastern Cape leg of the roadshow The halls were packed and the atmosphere electrifying as hundreds of learners from various high schools across Cookhouse and Somerset East attended the career exhibitions ready to make informed decisions about their respective futures Jordaan says that the sooner students are able to determine their strengths and what they are interested in “Initiatives like today are proving to be very important to the future of agriculture The sector needs fresh faces with innovative farming methods and solutions.” Exhibitors and learners were pleasantly surprised by a visit from the Mayor of the Blue Crane Municipality including Food For Mzansi and their agricultural partners “We need to grow our kids and this career exhibition will expose learners to various career opportunities,” exclaimed Manxoweni Learners that flooded to the Food For Mzansi exhibition stand said they expected the exhibition to be a boring “I stepped in here thinking that it was going to be a long day of boring speeches I learned that I have other options and should explore them before making my final decision,” said a gr who is a subject advisor at the Eastern Cape Department of Education’s office in Graaff-Reinet says they are pleased with the number of learners who turned out this year and hope that they will use this opportunity to establish a career interest “When you ask grade 12 learners what they would like to do Career expos like today are extremely vital to school students especially grade 9 learners,” says Juries Food For Mzansi is looking forward to meeting even more learners at the following stops on our VKB Food For Mzansi Agri Career Roadshow Late registrations are still accepted for the scheduled Western Cape and Limpopo career days 10h00 – 11h00 Jansenville Secondary School 12h30 – 14h00 Carel du Toit Secondary School John Penrose loses his seat to Labour's Dan Aldridge Marcus Fysh is beaten in Yeovil by the Lib Dems' Adam Dance And Ian Liddell-Grainger is unseated by Rachel Gilmour from the Lib Dems Bath - Lib Dem hold Bridgwater - Con hold Taunton and Wellington - Lib Dem gain Yeovil - Lib Dem gain Frome and East Somerset - Lib Dem gain Glastonbury and Somerton - Lib Dem hold North Somerset - Labour gain North East Somerset and Hanham - Labour gain Tiverton and Minehead - Lib Dem gain Wells and Mendip Hills - Lib Dem gain Weston-super-Mare - Labour gain You can find more national results news here Thanks for sticking with us as we mark a historic day in British politics welcoming the country's first Labour prime minister since 2010 We're now closing our live election coverage for Somerset You can find out more about the result in your constituency here, while there will be further coverage and reaction to the 2024 General Election here Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingMunt hails 'the power of persistence'published at 17:01 British Summer Time 5 July 202417:01 BST 5 July 2024Being elected as the MP for the new constituency of Wells and the Mendip Hills is "testament to the power of persistence" has traditionally been a blue v yellow battleground and Ms Munt comfortably won the seat this time around with the Conservative Party candidate Meg Powell-Chandler a distant second Ms Munt said the Lib Dems "are completely tuned into the needs of people in the West Country" Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingMixed feelings for Bridgwater MPpublished at 16:55 British Summer Time 5 July 202416:55 BST 5 July 2024Conservative MP Ashley Fox says he's "enormously proud" to have been elected in the new constituency of Bridgwater "It's a fantastic privilege," he said who says his main priorities will be to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour improve local high streets and support the NHS said the national result had been "terrible" for his party Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingListen: Meet your MPs for Somersetpublished at 16:52 British Summer Time 5 July 202416:52 BST 5 July 2024Want to know more about the Somerset MPs who will be filling the green benches of the commons Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharing'Labour needs to look out for Reform vote'published at 16:44 British Summer Time 5 July 202416:44 BST 5 July 2024Image source Reform UKReform's candidate for Taunton and Wellington says his party has made a real impact across Somerset coming third behind the Conservative Party's Rebecca Pow (12,392 votes) and Lib Dem winner Gideon Amos who attracted 24,331 votes He said: "We've been able to take 16% of the vote here from a standing start as many of my colleagues have done throughout Somerset "The party in government have really got to look out." Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingListen: Rebecca Pow 'disappointed' to lose her seatpublished at 16:37 British Summer Time 5 July 202416:37 BST 5 July 2024Conservative Rebecca Pow was another member of her party to lose their seat She was elected as MP for Taunton Deane between 2015 to 2024 and was standing as the candidate for the newly-formed Taunton and Wellington seat It was a heavy defeat which saw her poll about half of Liberal Democrat winner Gideon Amos' 24,331 votes Ms Pow said she was "disappointed" in the result adding: "It was always going to be a challenge "There's a very changed picture." Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharing'Today is a day to celebrate'published at 16:11 British Summer Time 5 July 202416:11 BST 5 July 2024Image source PA MediaIn a speech after she held her seat for Bath but next week in parliament the serious will start." She promised to "make sure that our NHS and our public services are coming back from the brink" that "those who are struggling in Bath with the cost of living are getting a fair deal" and "last that we turbocharge our energy to get to net zero" Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingLib Dem council leader ready to work with Labour governmentpublished at 16:04 British Summer Time 5 July 202416:04 BST 5 July 2024Image source LDRSThe Liberal Democrat leader of Somerset Council says he's optimistic the new Labour government will listen to and work with the local authority Bill Revans told BBC Somerset he's looking forward to speaking with ministers as soon as they're appointed It comes as the local authority is facing a financial emergency Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingKey winners in the Westpublished at 15:17 British Summer Time 5 July 202415:17 BST 5 July 2024Overnight we saw dramatic changes to the political landscape in the west of England Not only did some well-known and long-serving MPs lose their seats but many took on brand new seats in Parliament after boundary changes created new constituencies Click here to see some of the key winners in the west Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharing'Today's election is just stunning'published at 14:17 British Summer Time 5 July 202414:17 BST 5 July 2024MP Sarah Dyke added it's an "absolute honour" and a "huge privilege" to be elected as the Liberal Democrat MP for the new constituency of Glastonbury and Somerton "Today's election is just stunning," she added who can trace her family back 250 years in the area says she is "deeply rooted" in the community "I am so grateful to everybody across Glastonbury and Somerton who's put their trust in me "I hope I don't let them down," she said Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingNew MP calls for upgrade to Taunton's hospitalpublished at 13:27 British Summer Time 5 July 202413:27 BST 5 July 2024The new Liberal Democrat MP for Taunton and Wellington is Gideon Amos Speaking after his victory he said it was a priority to improve the local hospital "Musgrove Park was promised an entirely new hospital by the Conservatives after the last general election in 2019," he said "We've still got buckets in the corridors in the maternity unit catching the leaks from the roof We need to get the upgrade approved." Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharing'We've got Mogg-xit done'published at 13:10 British Summer Time 5 July 202413:10 BST 5 July 2024Image source, Jonathan Brady/PA WireSpeaking after his victory in North East Somerset & Hanham Labour's Dan Norris - who oust Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg - said the win was "a great honour" Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharing'We've won a victory of unimaginable scale'published at 12:51 British Summer Time 5 July 202412:51 BST 5 July 2024Sadik Al-Hassan said it was an "absolute honour" to be North Somerset's first Labour MP after Conservatives claimed the seat for 100 years "I cannot wait to get to help North Somerset and the constituents "I really want to get to work because there are so many problems that we need to fix and I am committed "I'm so proud of that - and it has delivered us a victory of an unimaginable scale," he added while Liam Fox received 18,499 (34.4%) votes Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingBest quotes from the night in the Westpublished at 12:41 British Summer Time 5 July 202412:41 BST 5 July 2024Emma GrimshawBBC News Afterwards he spoke out against some of his former colleagues Incoming MPs also delivered animated speeches Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharing'I wish Paddy was here to see it'published at 12:41 British Summer Time 5 July 202412:41 BST 5 July 2024Image source widow of the late leader of the Liberal Democrat party Paddy Ashdown has celebrated the party's election success "I can't wipe the grin off my face - it means everything I just wish Paddy was here to see it and to celebrate "He would have been especially thrilled to see two Lib Dems elected locally Adam Dance in Yeovil and Sarah Dyke in Glastonbury and Somerton which cross over into what was his old seat as well as so many other Liberal Democrat MPs in the West Country "But his interest was on the whole party and he would be gobsmacked at the national result - just speechless which didn't happen very often," she said Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingNever has an election been as dramatic as thispublished at 11:09 British Summer Time 5 July 202411:09 BST 5 July 2024Paul BarltropPolitical Editor Never has the political map of the West changed so dramatically in a single night A region which was previously a sea of Conservative blue has gone overwhelmingly Lib Dem yellow and Labour red Serving cabinet ministers like Mark Harper Former Secretaries of State like Jacob Rees-Mogg Some knew they were on the brink; in places like Cheltenham and South Swindon the Tory majorities last time were slender Liam Fox had represented North Somerset for three decades; the area has never had a Labour MP – until now Michelle Donelan’s old seat was split up due to boundary changes; she chose Melksham and Devizes and removed a string of other Conservatives on their way to reinstating the West Country as a heartland As the campaign progressed they had sensed things were looking better and better – but ending up with nearly half the area’s seats still exceeded all expectations Labour celebrated in places they had not expected taking seats that had looked like outside chances But they will be stung by the loss of Thangam Debbonaire in Bristol Central But the small party that many will feel has had the most influence for the least gain is Reform UK which the Tories feel was at their expense I have covered elections in the West for three decades Never has an election been as dramatic as this Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingAnna Sabine plans to 'crack on' with her promisespublished at 11:05 British Summer Time 5 July 202411:05 BST 5 July 2024The newly-elected Anna Sabine who won the Frome and East Somerset seat for the Liberal Democrats plans to "crack on" with her promises we have a really big problem with road safety on the roads around the town "The second thing I've been working on is water quality and sewage in our rivers "I feel like there will be a lot of people who are like kids on their first day of school so I feel I will blend in with all the other newbies "I really felt quite strongly that we needed better quality politicians in this country," she told BBC Somerset while the Conservatives' Lucy Trimnell received 11,165 (23.9%) votes Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRebecca Pow - 'I have had the chance to do some good'published at 10:52 British Summer Time 5 July 202410:52 BST 5 July 2024Ruth BradleyPolitics reporter Rebecca Pow said she has had a "challenging time" when she served as an MP but was pleased to work in "her dream job" for Department for Environment She was elected as a Conservative MP for Taunton Deane between 2015 to 2024 The constituency was won by Liberal Democrat Gideon Amos who received 24,331 (48.4%) votes "I can't pretend it hasn't been challenging it's extremely challenging - the things that go on behind the scenes it's an enormous pressure that you take on and I think women have an awful lot more pressure than the men but bad things happen to lots of people and I have had the chance to at least do some good." She added: "I'm going have a bit of a rest give my family more time and address my husband's passing because I've been working 70 hour weeks." Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingLib Dem 'walking on sunshine' after winpublished at 10:38 British Summer Time 5 July 202410:38 BST 5 July 2024Liberal Democrat Rachel Gilmour said she was "walking on sunshine" after winning the Tiverton and Minehead seat from Conservative candidate Ian Liddell Grainger "I knew that my team and I had worked hard enough to win but I'm just so grateful to my constituents I'm really humbled to be able to represent them "It's not just a rural constituency there's a very rural and also deprived part of it I don't like to refer to any of my constituents as deprived but rural poverty is a big issue," Ms Gilmour said She plans to be "a completely different MP to Ian" "I think I'm going to be more accessible "We've just come out of a 14-year catastrophe "I do think farmers have been treated very badly I'm particularly able to represent them." Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharing'We have a mandate to transform the country'published at 09:57 British Summer Time 5 July 202409:57 BST 5 July 2024Ruth BradleyPolitics reporter Long-standing Somerset Labour councillor Andrew Govier has welcomed his party's landslide win despite Labour coming fourth in most of the Somerset seats "We've had enough of the drama and circus of the Conservatives in government "All the time that's been going on the hard work hasn't been done - public services and national infrastructure have gone to waste," he told BBC Radio Somerset Mr Govier said it will be "good to have a serious person in charge" "He's transformed the Labour party into an election-winning machine that has the mandate to go forward and transform the country," he added Air quality across Bath and North East Somerset is continuing to improve with nitrogen dioxide concentrations decreasing across the board two new reports published today show (September 9) The Bath Clean Air Zone (CAZ) Annual Report 2023 compares 2023 data with the 2019, pre-Covid pandemic baseline and shows average nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations within the Clean Air Zone are 32% lower representing a reduction of 10.5 micrograms per cubic metre (μg/m3) over four years none of the 65 monitoring sites within the CAZ recorded an annual average NO2 concentration greater than the legal limit of 40 μg/m3 a reduction of 10 sites when compared to 2019.  concentrations within the CAZ have fallen by 8% Average NO2 concentrations for 2023 in the Bath urban area outside the zone are 34% lower than in 2019 a reduction of 8.7μg/m3 with readings taken from 56 monitoring sites that recorded data in both 2019 and 2023 No sites within the CAZ boundary recorded greater than 40 μg/m3 Compliance has also improved with an average of 496 non-compliant vehicles seen in the zone each day compared with 1,742 per day during the launch week of the CAZ in March 2021 Net proceeds from CAZ are supporting local reinvestment to sustainable transport and air quality improvement projects. This includes delivery of the western section of Scholars Way, a proposed cycle route across the south of the city, and a School Streets pilot scheme that is in preparation. The proceeds are also supporting the local highways capital improvement programme which includes upgrades to footpaths, bus stops, cycle schemes and installation of new pedestrian crossings.  There is more good news for the area in the Air Quality Annual Status Report 2024 which gives an overview of data for the whole of Bath and North East Somerset in 2023 from 169 NO2 monitoring sites and 3 particulate matter (PM) monitoring sites There remain three declared Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) for NO2 covering the major road network in Bath and sections of the A37 in Temple Cloud and Farrington Gurney. AQMAs for Saltford and Keynsham were revoked in June 2024 following NO2 levels no longer exceeding 40 µg/m3 and following a public consultation The Annual Status Report details that all NO2 results from the automatic monitoring network were below the annual average objective of 40 µg/m3 and there were no exceedances of the 1-hour objective All sites had decreased slightly since 2022 at 6% For particular matter (PM10) all results were below the annual average objectives although there were 23 exceedances of the 24-hour mean objective (35 exceedances allowed) at Windsor Bridge in Bath due to nearby construction work deputy Leader and cabinet member for Climate Emergency and Sustainable Travel said: “It’s fantastic to see from these two reports that Bath and North East Somerset is continuing to see a fall in air pollution which means we are all breathing cleaner air and having the impact on our health reduced “It’s reassuring that the CAZ is still working to improve air quality outside of the zone as well as within it that non-compliance has decreased by 73% since 2021 and that 947 polluting vehicles have been replaced under our financial assistance scheme It is also good news for the whole of Bath and North East Somerset that nitrogen dioxide and particulates are below the annual objectives and that two previously declared Air Quality Management Areas are no longer needed there is no clear evidence of a safe level of exposure to particulate matter or NO2, so we will continue to closely monitor air quality and strive to continue compliance with nitrogen dioxide concentrations within the CAZ in particular focussing our efforts on two sites that recorded over 36 µg/m3.  “Thank you to the public and businesses for your commitment to supporting the council to improve air quality especially those who have upgraded vehicles.” People wishing to help reduce pollution in Bath and North East Somerset can: Bath’s CAZ was launched on 15 March 2021 to urgently tackle harmful levels of air pollution caused by the most polluting taxis buses and larger commercial vehicles regularly driving in the city It was the first to be launched outside London and works to reduce pollution in Bath by levying a £9 or £100 a day charge on anyone driving a chargeable higher emission vehicle in the zone This excludes private cars and motorcycles which are not charged.  Learners at Aeroville Senior Secondary School in Somerset East were greeted by locked gates on Tuesday morning when fed-up parents decided to shut down the school in protest against the shortage of teachers Community members and parents say little to no teaching had taken place since schools reopened last week Frustrated community members held a peaceful march on Tuesday morning in an attempt to put pressure on the Provincial Education Department to fill the vacant posts “Our kids cannot go to a school where there are 53 kids in a class with no teacher in front of them,” said concerned parent He said the decision to close the school also followed attempts by the principal last year to negotiate with the Department "The principal went so far as to take CVs from people from other provinces that suites our criteria and he attached those CVs to the emails to the department,” he said Horne further alleges that the Education Department had ignored the principal’s recommendations and had suggested that non-Afrikaans-speaking educators be sent to the school but if someone comes who cannot speak Afrikaans to our Afrikaans learners then our kids will fail [because] learners will have to adapt to English.”   Eastern Cape Education Department spokesperson Malibongwe Mtima acknowledged the teacher shortage at Aeroville we are aware that there are seven vacancies Four offer letters will be issued today from the Fundza Lushaka placement list,” he said Horne said: “The problem is we need seven or eight teachers What about the other three classes that don’t have any teachers?” Date published: 2024-08-06 | Category: Delivering for local residents, Democracy, Focusing on prevention, public safety A statement from Bath & North East Somerset Council Leader Kevin Guy: “Over recent days we have seen a small number of people seeking to bring unacceptable disorder and violence to the streets of our towns and cities and whose communities – as our own – are served by Avon and Somerset Police  I wish to express my own thanks to the police officers and staff from other services who have been on the front line of dealing with these disturbances professionalism and dedication in the face of quite unacceptable criminality.  I would expect the full force of the law to be used in response to criminal behaviour like this.  “In our democracy there is plenty of room for protest and for expressing legitimate concerns and it does not reflect the values of our own communities here in Bath and North East Somerset or across the wider area I wholeheartedly support the Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner Clare Moody when she says that ‘we are a strong diverse and vibrant community where people from all walks of life live peacefully alongside one another’ “The council will continue to work with the police and partners to engage with our diverse communities to ensure that everyone can feel safe.”  Date published: 2024-07-22 | Category: Regeneration and Development Bath & North East Somerset Council and the University of Bath have announced a new partnership to develop a vision for the future of this key site The two organisations have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to determine the development of the riverfront site in the heart of the city.  The leadership of the University of Bath and Bath & North East Somerset Council are delighted to begin their collaboration on a joint vision for regenerating the 2.2 hectare city-centre brownfield site in the Bath City Riverside Enterprise Zone Signing the Memorandum of Understanding allows conversations to start about exciting possibilities including new space for research bringing important economic activity to the heart of the city  The parties will use the existing outline planning permission for the Bath Quays North site as a basis for these discussions.  Cabinet Member for Economic and Cultural Sustainable Development, said: “The development of the Bath Quays sites – both South and North - are a key aspect of delivering our economic strategy for this authority “With the recent announcement of two significant lettings Bath Quays South is now almost fully let and is securing hundreds of jobs in the city generating real economic benefit and renewal “Delivery of the Bath Quays North site is now our focus and the recent planning approval marks a major development in delivering the scheme.  “This agreement marks a significant milestone for the city and University following the collaboration which resulted in the signing of our Civic Agreement and for the work of the Future Ambition Board These commitments set out the case for our city’s anchor institutions to work in partnership with business the public and third sectors to drive inclusive economic prosperity create high value jobs and enhance public wellbeing in line with the Economic Strategy for Bath and North East Somerset 2024-2034.  “We look forward to working with the University of Bath over the coming months to make our Bath Quays North vision a reality.” President & Vice Chancellor of the University of Bath said: “This exciting opportunity could create a new dimension to a range of university activities boosting our life-changing research and job-creating innovation This agreement marks the beginning of our conversations but the site could enable more public involvement with our science and research and help our city retain more of our graduate talent start-up and spin-out businesses that begin life at the University of Bath and attract further inward investment.  “We at the University of Bath are deeply proud of our home city and this agreement could unlock the next phase of the University’s development enabling us to play an even bigger role in building the vibrant and thriving city and region we seek.” As conversations develop about new possibilities the University and B&NES Council will be keen to explore opportunities and engage with potential partners Both the University of Bath and the council were signatories to the recent Future Ambition Civic Agreement which brought together four of Bath’s anchor institutions after working over several years to develop effective ways to meaningfully collaborate It's a crucial first step in any multi-stage development that the initial phase provides significant amenities for the first residents especially when the full masterplan might take a decade or more to complete Golden Sedayu is hitting all the right notes with its $3.8 billion Burswood Point masterplan—a major redevelopment of the land surrounding Belmont Racecourse on the Swan River the developer is focusing on two towers: Somerset East and Somerset West These apartments will be the first of approximately 4,500 dwellings to be delivered across the 38-hectare precinct Golden Sedayu has strategically included a range of amenities to ensure that the first residents of the masterplan are well catered for residents and guests are welcomed by Somerset's sculptural two-tower form The architectural design by DKO Architecture features rising tiers of balconies with greenery Somerset’s amenities offer panoramic views of the surrounding landscape The highlight of the development's amenities is the 20-metre infinity pool that appears to cascade towards the Swan River An observation deck offers a private viewing experience of the nearby racetrack with Optus Stadium and Matagarup Bridge as a backdrop making it suitable for gatherings and social events Somerset's deck also includes areas dedicated to restorative yoga and meditation complemented by a wellness centre that has a gymnasium surrounded by greenery Golden Sedayu has designed a residents’ dining room Part of stage one will also include a boulevard with various shops, cafes and supermarkets. Burswood Point will have 91,000 sqm of retail and commercial space all up on its completion The masterplan will also have 110,000 sqm of parklands and a 2.5-kilometre foreshore Located just 3.5 kilometres from the CBD, Burswood Point is envisioned as a "city within a city," transforming Perth with a new lifestyle and entertainment hub. It is the largest mixed-use urban development Perth has ever seen Over $200 million of site works have been completed and construction of the two Somerset towers will commence in Q1 2025 We're on a mission to radically improve the quality of Urban communities being developed across Australia We aim to showcase every development in Australia to help you find the perfect new home!