News in Wells

THE future of The Old Deanery on Wells Cathedral Green will become the focus of attention again now that more details about its sale have been announced.

A former Dean of Wells, the Very Rev Richard Lewis, now Dean Emeritus of Wells, has suggested that one new use for The Old Deanery could be as an art gallery.

THE Diocese of Bath and Wells has announced that it has appointed local agency Lodestone Property to oversee the sale of The Old Deanery in Wells when the historic building is offered to the open market.

Diocesan Secretary Nick May said: "We understand the building's significance and the fondness in which it is held by local people, as well as the staff who work here.

The diocese represents the Church of England in Somerset and as a church organisation, we take our responsibility of care for our community very seriously.

THIS year's Wells Art Contemporary exhibition will be held at Wells Cathedral during the summer.

Last year the open art competition attracted more entries than at any time since it began in 2012.

There were almost 1,400 submissions from 26 countries and the resulting exhibition was held in The Bishop's Palace during October.

Date: 23.01.2019
Time: 00:10
Location: Elbow Corner, Easton Lane, Pylle, Shepton Mallet

One fire appliance from Shepton Mallet was mobilised to a car on fire. On arrival crews confirmed the vehicle well alight and shortly requested assistance of a second appliance for extra water and personnel. This also came from Shepton.
Crews put the fire out using one main jet, a thermal imaging camera and hydraulic cutting equipment. The vehicle was believed to be abandoned and set alight deliberately, so the Police were informed. The vehicle was completely destroyed in the fire. 

Date: 22.01.2019
Time: 08:15
Location: Old Frome Road, Wells

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service received reports from our colleagues at Avon & Somerset Police of a two vehicle Road Traffic Collision where one person was believed to still be trapped.

On arrival, the Incident Commander confirmed a Road Traffic Collision involving two vehicles where there was one person trapped within the vehicle.

Date: 07.01.2019
Time: 14:49
Location: The Square, Shipham, Winscombe

A joint attendance of fire appliances from ourselves and Avon Fire & Rescue Service (Cheddar, Wells, Winscombe and Weston Super Mare) were mobilised following multiple calls from members of the public reporting smoke issuing from the roof of a property at the above location. 

At the time of mobilising this incident was treated as persons reported, due to information given at the time of call and within minutes of the first appliances (from Cheddar and Winscombe) arriving and entering the property, an elderly lady was rescued uninjured from the ground floor and did not require any further medical attention, after crews made sure she was ok.

This incident is now complete and was brought under control at 16:50hrs. Once crews established the cause as a chimney fire, involving a log burner on the ground floor of the 2 storey domestic property, they set to work extinguishing it from both the hearth and roof level. Initial investigations indicated this had spread to the roof but was later confirmed as smoke only which had percolated from the chimney stack in to the roof space, which was heavily smoke logged. Crews made good and steady progress extinguishing the fire with 2 breathing apparatus wearers, 2 hose reel jets, 2 thermal imaging cameras, a gas detection monitor and various ladders and safety equipment. These are the full and final details, crews have left the scene and damage was confined to the chimney only.

Date: 07.01.2019
Time: 12:46
Location: Stoberry Avenue, Wells

A fire appliance from Wells was mobilised to deal with a chimney fire at the above location, following a call from the occupant saying they had smoke in their living room, which had come back down the chimney from their wood burning stove.

After liaising with the occupant and investigating, our crew confirmed this to be the case and set to work from the hearth, first by removing the wood burner and then using chimney gear, together with a thermal imaging camera to extinguish it. Once satisfied that there were no hotspots and the area made safe, duty of care was left with the occupier.  

Date: 06.01.2019
Time: 13:29
Location: Old Wells Road, Whatley, Frome

Blue Watch Fire Control received a call from the occupant of a domestic property on Old Wells Road, Whatley, who was concerned there was a fire in the chimney of their house. One appliance from Frome was immediately mobilised to investigate.
On arrival crews found the chimney was well alight and requested a second pump for assistance, so Control mobilised the second pump from Frome station.
The fire was involving the chimney of a woodburning stove within a two storey domestic dwelling. Initially working with chimney equipment from the hearth, crews also used a triple extension ladder, roof ladder and safety at height equipment to extinguish the fire from the roof.
At approximately 14:30 crews believed the fire to be out, so monitored the chimney using a thermal imaging camera until satisfied there were no hotspots remaining.
Fire crews left scene at 14:45. 

POLICE response teams currently based in Wells will move to a new police station being opened in Shepton Mallet later this year.

The new police station will be based at Haskins Retail Centre in the town centre, and is expected to open in the summer or autumn.

CCTV images have been released by police of two people they want to speak to in relation to this