Temporary Road Closure:ttro626370TD - Bickenhall Road, and Barrington Hill, Curland and Broadway

Please follow the link to view the above road closure; https://one.network/?tm=134505511 and the link for the Notice 2:https://api-gb.one.network/downloads/tm/1111/03-notice-2_134505511_3592240_c7448d5d18.pdf
The order becomes effective on 27th July 2023 and will remain in force for eighteen months.

The works are expected to commence on 4th August 2023 and last for 14 days to enable O'connor Utilities to install new fibre supply, on behalf of Lumen.

The contractor has indicated that access for Emergency Services through the site is permitted on this occasion.

Urgent / emergency Road Closure: – ttro210131TD - S50 -Bickenhall Lane, Hatch Beauchamp

Notification of a TTRN (urgent / emergency) road closure at Bickenhall Lane, Hatch Beauchamp and Bickenhall will commence on 29th July 2023 - 2nd August 2023 (00:00 - 23:59) for a total of 5 days.

This will enable Mike Ford Groundwork to carry out sewer connection work.

The contractor has indicated that access for Emergency Services through the site is not permitted on this occasion.

For any further information about this closure please contact Mike Ford Groundworks on 07850 348 319, quoting reference: ttro210131TD.

Please visit one.network https://one.network/?tm=133979202 where you will see the map of the affected area (in red), together with the supplied diversion route (in blue).

Please note: this diversion route could be subject to change on review.

Please follow the link to view the above road closure; https://one.network/?tm=134356319 and the link for the Notice 2:https://api-gb.one.network/downloads/tm/1111/03-notice-2_134356319_3581704_373d24a274.pdf
The order becomes effective on 20th July 2023 and will remain in force for eighteen months.

The works are expected to commence on 24th July 2023 and last for 26 days (08:00-17:30) to enable Global Crossing Telecommunications to carry out work to install new fibre supply.

The contractor has indicated that access for Emergency Services through the site is permitted on this occasion.

For any further information about this closure please contact OCU Group on 0771 727 4677, quoting reference: ttro691508TD

Closure: Curland Common Road - from the junction with Curland Road, southwards for a total distance of 575 metres

This Order will enable Airband Community Internet to carry out fibre cabling work.

The works are expected to commence on 10th July 2023 and last until 12th July 2023 between the
hours of 09:00 - 17:00 for a total of 3 days.

Please visit https://one.network/?tm=134057345 for further information on the alternative route.

Please note that should you require to view a closure which is more than two weeks ahead, you will
need to register for free with One.Network.

For information about the works being carried out please contact Airband Community Internet on
telephone number 07850 254 817 quoting reference number ttro279822TD

Neroche Parish Council, in association with the Community Council for Somerset, has conducted a Community Review to ensure that its future plans reflect what matters most to parishioners.

The survey is now completed and the report has been written.

It will be discussed by the Neroche Parish Council at the Parish Council Meeting of Tuesday 8th August.

Thank you for all those who took part.

A vacancy has arisen for a resident beneficiary in Flat 1, Staple Almshouse for a retired person or couple

The Flats are managed by the William Portman Almshouse Trust, a modest monthly contribution is required from each Resident beneficiary towards the heating costs and upkeep of the building. All applications will be considered but preference will be given initially to older persons with local links or with family living nearby.

Full details of how to apply please click here.

Three Councillor vacancies are available on the Neroche Parish Council, one in each of the Staple Fitzpaine, Bickenhall and Orchard Portman with Thurlbear parishes.

Details can be found in the documents below.

One of the challenges in reaching unpaid carers is that some people don’t see themselves as unpaid carers, either because they don’t like the label, or because they are ‘just’ looking

after their partner, child, or friend. This means lots of people are not aware of the range of support available to them. By sharing the attached information, you are helping people get

the support they are entitled to. For further information, see: /uploads/pdf/Carers_trifold_21.pdf

Operated by Somerset County Council, Dial a ride covers the Taunton and Wellington area including the Neroche villages.

The service is available from 08:30am to 16:30 Monday to Friday using a fleet of 16 seater minibuses. It is a door to door service for anyone wanting transport for medical appointments, shopping, leisure and social events. Buses are wheelchair friendly and the drivers are willing to lend a helping hand if needed.

Fares vary between £2 and £6 return with a bus pass although the cost will be confirmed at booking.

The booking number is 01823 331 226.

Further details can be found here

Fundamentally we disagree with this road in principal. You are imposing a major highway through a rural area which will have a hugely damaging effect both physically and mentally upon the local population. The benefit of the road will be negligible as delays will exist at either end particularly during the peak summer months and will only give a potential 7 minute time gain. The benefit to Henlade comes at too high a price for the shattered communities it is leaving in its wake. The current financial situation of the UK should mean that all expenditure be looked at to ensure value for money, on that criteria this project does not fare well. Announcements from the Government have just reduced the road maintenance fund by £480 million which will compound the detrimental effect on our rural lanes as the increased maintenance requirement will not be fulfilled.

You have so far done little to mitigate the failings of the scheme. Since 2017 communities situated between Thornfalcon and Ashill have pressed to have a junction between Ashill and Hatch Beauchamp. The fundamental benefit of such a junction is that local traffic would not have to travel through either Hatch Beauchamp or Ashill and neighbouring lanes to access the dualled A358. The A358 SAR recorded that a junction south of Hatch Beauchamp could mitigate the adverse impact of the dualling scheme. However, it was omitted from the Preferred Route following a high-level cost cutting exercise.

As the latest design limits Bickenhall Bridge to WCH and farm vehicles there is a strong case for extending the service road to Bickenhall Lane. The only alternative route is via Staple Fitzpaine Road, which would require considerable improvement along the section adjacent to the bridge over the Fivehead River; this concern was noted in the A358 SAR. Routing via Staple Fitzpaine Road would, however, have an adverse impact on WCH users that regularly use this road. The suggestion that traffic would use an alternative route via Cold Road and West Hatch Lane is nonsensical. Diverting traffic to narrow, hilly lanes, which are popular WCH routes is creating a safety hazard. A further effect of closing Bickenhall Bridge to vehicle traffic is that Griffin Lane is forecasted to become busier by some 250 vehicles a day. Griffin Lane is totally unsuitable for vehicle traffic as it is narrow, windy, hilly and in parts with a deep gully running alongside. Furthermore, Griffin Lane is well used by walkers and horse riders.

This proposal limits access to the A358 by the Neroche district to solely Staple Fitzpaine Road via the service road or West Hatch Lane via MTG junction, routes that are difficult for normal traffic and unsuitable for HGVs and large farm vehicles. To mitigate this loss of access NH must provide access to the dualled A358 via Bickenhall Lane.

The A358 Scheme provides one great improvement – the Henlade bypass that will improve the quality of life for communities in that immediate area. Beyond that area fourteen Parish Councils and Ilminster Town Council are very concerned that the Scheme has serious failings. We understand from the Consultation provided by NH that local communities do not agree with the fundamentals of the preliminary design.

The current scheme design will increase traffic, increase the mixture of vehicles and increase the time traffic will spend in the rural network and our villages. All these changes increase the likelihood of accidents. The loss of historic accessibility to the A358 will necessitate long diversions along unclassified and C class rural lanes and roads. Experience to date is that these roads are poorly maintained by SCC, evidenced by pot holes, uncleared gullies, limited cutting of road hedges and verges. In autumn and winter the rural network is very dark, often muddy and slippery and in many places flooded or obstructed by pools of water. These issues already make the rural network precarious. The increased traffic volume, incompatibility of traffic types (cars, vans, lorries and agricultural vehicles) with each other and WCH uses will increase mental and physical stress on local communities. School runs will become more stressful. Businesses will be handicapped. Community severance will increase. Combined with the environmental issues of noise and light pollution and disrupted habitats, the scheme does not consider in any depth these effects nor offers any mitigation of substance.

There is support available for anyone struggling with household bills in Somerset.

The Household Support Fund is designed to provide short-term urgent financial help to Somerset residents who are struggling to afford household essentials such as buying food, paying for energy and water bills and other essential household items such as beds and white goods.

For more information about the Somerset Household Support Fund go to: https://www.somerset.gov.uk/social-care-and-health/equipment-to-help-you/

Somerset County Council and NHS Somerset are launching a new Community Equipment and Wheelchair Service to help people live more independently.

Launching on Monday 1 August, the service will provide a range of equipment to help people live independently, offering loans to people for as long they need them.

The service will also include delivery and fitting, servicing, collection, and recycling.

More information here: https://www.somerset.gov.uk/social-care-and-health/equipment-to-help-you/

The Home Library Service delivers books to people who are unable to get to their local library, such as those who are housebound, living in long term care, carers, or people who are vulnerable due to long term conditions or disabilities. The service is open to people of all ages.

In a new short video with former BBC correspondent Clinton Rogers, Claire, aged 100years, explains how the service helps her to access new books, allowing her to keep her mind active. You can view the video here by clicking Somerset Home Library Service.

Somerset Libraries offer a wide range of brilliant services – as well an extensive collection of books, films, and digital products available to loan, there are health and wellbeing services, children’s activities and supported digital learning.

Somerset’s Home Library Service (HLS) is run by Somerset County Council with the support of amazing volunteers.

None of this would work without the brilliant team of friendly volunteers who make the service possible. If you have some spare time and a passion for reading, you may want to consider taking up a rewarding role as a HLS volunteer.

If you or anyone you know would like to receive the service, please contact Home Library Service manager Kirsty Jenssen by emailing kjenssen@somerset.gov.uk, or calling 07814 079831.
For more information, visit: Home Library Service (somerset.gov.uk