News in Wells

The original mute swan, Cygnus olor, who was taught to ring the Bishop's Palace Bell for food by the daughter of the Bishop, Lord Arthur Hervey, in the mid nineteenth century is on display at the Wells & Mendip Museum on Cathedral Green.

As part of their recently awarded Heritage Lottery Funding, the Swan is going to be conserved, it still being in the case constructed for it over 150 years ago, and put in a new humidity-controlled case. It will then become part of the new displays that will be appearing over the next two years as a part of the museum's Search & Learn Project.

Mendip District Council has published notices for the elections to Somerset County Council, and the city, town, and parish elections being held on Thursday, May 5.

These are important elections for Somerset with the creation of a new, unitary council in April 2023 – the first major change to the way the county is governed in almost 50 years.

Drug dealers who brought heroin and cocaine to Somerset from London have received prison sentences totalling more than 20 years for their role in a criminal enterprise estimated to be worth hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Three men and two women were sentenced at Taunton Crown Court on Monday (March 21) for conspiracy to supply class A drugs.

Somerset County Council has committed £250,000 to support refugees fleeing war-torn Ukraine as part of a county-wide response to the humanitarian crisis.

Somerset has a proud record when it comes to welcoming refugees, with the County Council working with partners, charities and the community to help more than 160 people safely resettle here since 2016.

L and C Scaffolding and Bovis Homes in Wells are working together to support the people of Ukraine.

Following consideration by both Houses of Parliament, the Secretary of State has made the Somerset Structural Changes Order 2022 which paves the way for the new Somerset Council to be established on 1 April 2023.

The Order comes into effect immediately and gives approval to the local elections on 5 May for 110 councillors to the County Council and to the elections for city, town and parish councils across Somerset. It also hands responsibility for building the single unitary council to a new Implementation Executive, while setting the legal basis for the new council that will replace Somerset County Council and four district councils (Mendip, Sedgemoor, Somerset West and Taunton and South Somerset) on 1 April 2023.

Buying fruit and veg is not only good for your health, but will also support children living in food insecurity.

From today (March 21) until Sunday, April 3, Tesco will give a donation when customers top up their trollies with healthy fruit and vegetables in store or at Tesco.com during the supermarket's Buy One to Help a Child event.

Some 47 organisations, including several from in and around Wells, have successfully secured grants from the Mendip Communities Fund.

Projects that secured funding of up to £2k and up to £30k include, improvements to village halls, skate park developments, music and seasonal events, a defibrillator, play area refurbishment, dance groups and equipment for a cricket club.

As the situation in Ukraine worsens, more and more people are being forced to flee their home country to find safety and sanctuary, and the people of Wells are being asked to do their bit to help.

Today (Friday, March 18), the Government has opened its Homes For Ukraine scheme for visa applications from Ukrainians and immediate family members who already have named people willing to sponsor them. People wanting to be sponsors who do not know anyone personally fleeing Ukraine can also record their interest in being a sponsor.

Petrol prices are continuing to rise. But where is the cheapest fuel in and around Wells?