News in Wells

There is a wealth of information on Mendip District Council's website, which provides lots of details about the forthcoming elections on 5 May. This will be helpful for voters, for those standing for election at county level who will, if elected, oversee the transition to a new unitary council, and also for those candidates standing for election at city, town and parish level across the Mendip district.

On the website, residents will find:

The Bishop's Palace is one of the iconic buildings in Wells that is being recreated in mosaic as part of the Wells in Mosaic project - a community project to install a beautiful piece of permanent art in Wells. The completed work, a 6 metre wide circle, in the form of a walkable map of our historic city centre, will include many other famous landmarks and features that are so familiar.

Wells in Mosaic will create a legacy for everyone to enjoy for centuries to come; the photographs illustrate how the mosaic is progressing (it's all prepared in reverse) and, in particular, the staggering attention to detail.

Wells WI January 2022 meeting report

Anne reminded people to look at the shortlisted resolutions and vote for the one they would most like to see adopted as a national campaign: girls' clothing to be fit for purpose; reviewing sentencing for women offenders; recognition of ASD/ADHD in girls and women; equality in law for the menopause; and tackling digital exclusion.

No one likes litter but not everyone is happy to pick it up.

So we can be grateful to Deborah Woolven-Orrett who organised a team of 60 volunteers to collect discarded rubbish from all the residential streets in Wells and most of the approach roads to the city at the weekend. One group cleared Waitrose's car park in return for tea and cakes.

With local elections for the new unitary council in Somerset, and city, town and parish councils taking place in May, voters in Mendip are being reminded to make sure they are registered to vote and are able to take part on polling day, Thursday 5 May. It's quick and easy to register to vote, but after the deadline of 14 April, it will be too late.

The call for voters to sign up comes to encourage as many people as possible to register ahead of elections taking place this year across Somerset. Work to prepare for the biggest local elections Somerset has seen for a long time, is well underway.

Tenants who find themselves struggling to pay for their rent are encouraged to contact Mendip District Council's Housing Options Team for advice and support, as early as possible, to help prevent them becoming homeless.

The Council's experienced and knowledgeable Officers are on hand to assist tenants facing financial difficulties, and find solutions to ensure residents do not become homeless.

The historic Bishop's Barn and Wells Recreation Ground are to be returned to the City of Wells.

At a meeting of Mendip District Council's Cabinet last night (Monday 7th February), members approved the transfer of trusteeship of the Wells Recreation Ground charity to Wells City Council. At transfer, Mendip District Council will no longer have any legal or financial responsibility for the Trust.

The projects that have been awarded money from the Mendip Climate and Ecological Emergency Fund, have now been announced.

Projects selected include, installing solar panels on a farm, establishing hedgerows, retrofitting a community hub and installing bat, bird and insect boxes, to name a few.

Already renowned for being a place of calm, beauty and wellbeing, The Bishop's Palace's monthly guided Wellbeing Walks now also offer visitors a chance to take steps to feeling well both physically and mentally.

During the Walks, visitors are encouraged to set aside their usual thoughts for a moment and enjoy the mental and physical benefits that the beautiful setting of the Palace gardens provide.

Ten new native coppice trees have been planted by Thatchers Cider as part of the Queen's Green Canopy campaign to mark Her Majesty's Platinum Jubilee.

Martin Thatcher and his daughter Eleanor Thatcher planted the trees, which are accompanied by a commemorative plaque, alongside the popular Strawberry Line and adjacent to the family run cider mill at Myrtle Farm in Sandford.