Daniel Mumby
@danielmumbyldr.bsky.social
Local Democracy Reporter for Somerset, based at the Somerset County Gazette. All views mine, personal stuff on Twitter @mumbyatmovies. Stories or queries to [email protected]
Pinned
Here's what I'll be covering next week:
MON: No meetings
TUE: #Somerset Council planning east
WED: SC executive
THUR: SC climate & place scrutiny + constitution & governance
FRI: No meetings
#LDReporter
MON: No meetings
TUE: #Somerset Council planning east
WED: SC executive
THUR: SC climate & place scrutiny + constitution & governance
FRI: No meetings
#LDReporter
Here's what I'll be covering next week:
MON: No meetings
TUE: #Somerset Council planning east
WED: SC executive
THUR: SC climate & place scrutiny + constitution & governance
FRI: No meetings
#LDReporter
MON: No meetings
TUE: #Somerset Council planning east
WED: SC executive
THUR: SC climate & place scrutiny + constitution & governance
FRI: No meetings
#LDReporter
November 28, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Here's what I'll be covering next week:
MON: No meetings
TUE: #Somerset Council planning east
WED: SC executive
THUR: SC climate & place scrutiny + constitution & governance
FRI: No meetings
#LDReporter
MON: No meetings
TUE: #Somerset Council planning east
WED: SC executive
THUR: SC climate & place scrutiny + constitution & governance
FRI: No meetings
#LDReporter
Part of the former Crispin shopping centre in #Street could be demolished in the new year to make room for a new retirement community: www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/2565495... #LDReporter #Somerset
Disused Somerset shopping centre to be demolished for retirement complex
Part of the vacant Crispin Centre in Street could be knocked down in the new year ahead of a new retirement community being delivered
www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk
November 27, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Part of the former Crispin shopping centre in #Street could be demolished in the new year to make room for a new retirement community: www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/2565495... #LDReporter #Somerset
Nearly 150 homes will be built on the southern edge of #Crewkerne following this ruling by the Planning Inspectorate: www.chardandilminsternews.co.uk/news/crewker... #LDReporter #Somerset
Crewkerne residents fail in last-ditch efforts to stop nearly 150 new homes
Tilia Homes will begin construction of 145 new homes on the Maple Grove site on Lang Road in the summer of 2026 following a successful appeal
www.chardandilminsternews.co.uk
November 27, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Nearly 150 homes will be built on the southern edge of #Crewkerne following this ruling by the Planning Inspectorate: www.chardandilminsternews.co.uk/news/crewker... #LDReporter #Somerset
#Taunton’s new 'park and bus' facility, at the #OrchardGrove development on the #A38 #Wellington Road, will be up and running before #Christmas, a senior #Somerset councillor has promised: www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/2565296... #LDReporter
Taunton's new A38 'park and bus' facility will open before Christmas
The facility will allow residents of the Orchard Grove housing estate to use public transport to access facilities in Taunton town centre without…
www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk
November 26, 2025 at 4:46 PM
#Taunton’s new 'park and bus' facility, at the #OrchardGrove development on the #A38 #Wellington Road, will be up and running before #Christmas, a senior #Somerset councillor has promised: www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/2565296... #LDReporter
Plans for a new solar farm along the #Bridgwater and #Taunton Canal have been scaled back due to #flooding concerns: www.bridgwatermercury.co.uk/news/2565250... #LDReporter #Somerset
Planned solar farm on Bridgwater and Taunton Canal scaled back
A massive solar farm on the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal will be scaled back following concerns about flooding and landscaping
www.bridgwatermercury.co.uk
November 26, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Plans for a new solar farm along the #Bridgwater and #Taunton Canal have been scaled back due to #flooding concerns: www.bridgwatermercury.co.uk/news/2565250... #LDReporter #Somerset
#Minehead motorists face four months of #roadworks after #Christmas as #Somerset Council upgrades traffic signals at the junction of the #A39 and the #A396 towards #Dunster: www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/2565211... #LDReporter
Minehead motorists face four months of roadworks to upgrade key A39 junction
Motorists travelling on the main road to Minehead will face up to four months of roadworks after Christmas as a key junction is upgraded
www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk
November 26, 2025 at 1:43 PM
#Minehead motorists face four months of #roadworks after #Christmas as #Somerset Council upgrades traffic signals at the junction of the #A39 and the #A396 towards #Dunster: www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/2565211... #LDReporter
Seven #Somerset GP surgeries will officially merge in January 2026 following approval by #NHS commissioners: www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/2565177... #LDReporter #Crewkerne #Ilchester #SouthPetherton #Somerton #Martock #StokesubHamdon
Seven Somerset GP surgeries to merge after Christmas
The NHS Somerset integrated care board has given the green light for seven doctors' surgeries in rural Somerset to be run under a single contract
www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk
November 26, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Seven #Somerset GP surgeries will officially merge in January 2026 following approval by #NHS commissioners: www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/2565177... #LDReporter #Crewkerne #Ilchester #SouthPetherton #Somerton #Martock #StokesubHamdon
#Somerset Council leader @billrevans.bsky.social has slammed the Local Government Boundary Commission for England's "frustrating and strange" decision to delay a report into the new boundaries for the 2027 local elections: www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/2564943... #LDReporter #LE2027
Somerset Council leader slams 'frustrating & strange' delays to boundary changes
The Local Government Boundary Commission for England has given Somerset residents three more months to give their views
www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk
November 25, 2025 at 3:42 PM
#Somerset Council leader @billrevans.bsky.social has slammed the Local Government Boundary Commission for England's "frustrating and strange" decision to delay a report into the new boundaries for the 2027 local elections: www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/2564943... #LDReporter #LE2027
New council houses will be coming to the small village of #CharltonAdam near #Somerton - and the local pub could soon reopen too :) www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/2564914... #LDReporter #Somerset
New council houses and pub refurbishment coming to small Somerset village
Nine new council houses will be provided as part of The Grove estate in Charlton Adam - which will also see the local pub refurbished and reopened
www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk
November 25, 2025 at 3:02 PM
New council houses will be coming to the small village of #CharltonAdam near #Somerton - and the local pub could soon reopen too :) www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/2564914... #LDReporter #Somerset
KFC's bid to serve chicken to #Bridgwater residents until 5am daily has been delayed after a councillor failed to show up for the licensing hearing: www.bridgwatermercury.co.uk/news/2564839... #LDReporter #Somerset #A38 #M5
KFC's bid to serve Bridgwater until 5am delayed by councillor absence
KFC applied to keep one of its Bridgwater outlets open until 5am every day - but Somerset Council has pushed back a decision until the new year
www.bridgwatermercury.co.uk
November 25, 2025 at 2:06 PM
KFC's bid to serve chicken to #Bridgwater residents until 5am daily has been delayed after a councillor failed to show up for the licensing hearing: www.bridgwatermercury.co.uk/news/2564839... #LDReporter #Somerset #A38 #M5
Efforts to build a new railway station to serve #Somerton and #Langport have not entirely hit the buffers, according to #Somerset Council: www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/2564744... #LDReporter @sarahdykeld.bsky.social
Delivering new Somerset railway station 'on the horizon' despite government cuts
Somerset Council has promised to keep pushing for a new railway station to serve Somerton and Langport as part of its local transport plan
www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk
November 25, 2025 at 11:44 AM
Efforts to build a new railway station to serve #Somerton and #Langport have not entirely hit the buffers, according to #Somerset Council: www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/2564744... #LDReporter @sarahdykeld.bsky.social
The cost of sailing, kayaking or paddleboarding off the west #Somerset coast is set to rise by four per cent from April 2026: www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/2564595... #LDReporter #inflation #Watchet #Minehead
Cost of sailing, kayaking and paddleboarding on Somerset coast to rise by 4 per cent
The cost of sailing, kayaking and paddleboarding off the west Somerset coast will rise by four per cent across the board
www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk
November 24, 2025 at 3:36 PM
The cost of sailing, kayaking or paddleboarding off the west #Somerset coast is set to rise by four per cent from April 2026: www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/2564595... #LDReporter #inflation #Watchet #Minehead
#Somerset Council has spent more money on temporary traffic lights around the #CastleCary sinkhole than it would have cost to fix the problem: www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/2564473... #LDReporter #B3152 #roadworks
Temporary traffic lights near Somerset sinkhole cost more than repairing road
Temporary traffic lights have been in place for 18 months to protect pedestrians and motorists from a sinkhole
www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk
November 24, 2025 at 1:26 PM
#Somerset Council has spent more money on temporary traffic lights around the #CastleCary sinkhole than it would have cost to fix the problem: www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/2564473... #LDReporter #B3152 #roadworks
East Farm in #Lympsham, near #WestonsuperMare, will be sold off by #Somerset Council in its ongoing quest to balance its books: www.burnhamandhighbridgeweeklynews.co.uk/news/2564401... #LDReporter #A370 #Budget2026
Large farm near Weston-super-Mare to be sold off by Somerset Council
Somerset Council will be selling off the farmhouse at East Farm and much of the surrounding land as it struggles to balance its books
www.burnhamandhighbridgeweeklynews.co.uk
November 24, 2025 at 11:38 AM
East Farm in #Lympsham, near #WestonsuperMare, will be sold off by #Somerset Council in its ongoing quest to balance its books: www.burnhamandhighbridgeweeklynews.co.uk/news/2564401... #LDReporter #A370 #Budget2026
Great news for #Bridgwater parents as #Somerset Council gives the green light for the town's newest primary school at a cost of just over £7.7m: www.bridgwatermercury.co.uk/news/2564436... #LDReporter #NorthPetherton #Wilstock #Stockmoor #CIL
Work to begin soon on Bridgwater's new £7.7m primary school
The new Wilstock Primary School will be constructed on Cosmos Drive and will welcome its first pupils by September 2027
www.bridgwatermercury.co.uk
November 24, 2025 at 11:33 AM
Great news for #Bridgwater parents as #Somerset Council gives the green light for the town's newest primary school at a cost of just over £7.7m: www.bridgwatermercury.co.uk/news/2564436... #LDReporter #NorthPetherton #Wilstock #Stockmoor #CIL
#Bridgwater may have faced "another year of roadworks" if the Dunball roundabout upgrade had not been delivered in its now-finished form: www.bridgwatermercury.co.uk/news/2564209... #LDReporter #Somerset #A38 #M5 #levellingupfund #townsfund ##activetravel #LCWIP @bwcyclecampaign.bsky.social
Bridgwater faced 'another year of roadworks' without Dunball roundabout upgrade
Somerset Council has completed a £10.7m upgrade of the Dunball roundabout in Bridgwater - and has responded to criticism about the project
www.bridgwatermercury.co.uk
November 22, 2025 at 11:22 AM
#Bridgwater may have faced "another year of roadworks" if the Dunball roundabout upgrade had not been delivered in its now-finished form: www.bridgwatermercury.co.uk/news/2564209... #LDReporter #Somerset #A38 #M5 #levellingupfund #townsfund ##activetravel #LCWIP @bwcyclecampaign.bsky.social
Implementing Sunday car parking charges in #Somerset could "irrevocably damage" town centres, the leader of a #Taunton church has said: www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/2563813... #LDReporter
Sunday parking charges would 'irrevocably damage' town centres
Somerset Council could implement Sunday car parking charges across the county - despite the vast majority of residents being against the plans
www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk
November 21, 2025 at 11:57 AM
Implementing Sunday car parking charges in #Somerset could "irrevocably damage" town centres, the leader of a #Taunton church has said: www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/2563813... #LDReporter
46 new homes will be built on the #B3152 South Street in #CastleCary following a successful appeal to the Planning Inspectorate: www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/2563713... #LDReporter #Somerset
46 homes coming to growing Somerset town following appeal
Councillors turned down plans for homes on the B3152 South Street in Castle Cary in January - but this decision has now been overturned
www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk
November 20, 2025 at 2:51 PM
46 new homes will be built on the #B3152 South Street in #CastleCary following a successful appeal to the Planning Inspectorate: www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/2563713... #LDReporter #Somerset
A new "forest nursery", providing pre-school education for up to 20 children, could soon be built on the boundary of #Stogumber Cricket Club in rural #Somerset: www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/2563689... #LDReporter
'Forest' nursery planned near rural Somerset cricket club
Up to 20 pre-school children in rural Somerset could take advantage of a new "forest kindergarten" planned near Stogumber Cricket Club
www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk
November 20, 2025 at 12:23 PM
A new "forest nursery", providing pre-school education for up to 20 children, could soon be built on the boundary of #Stogumber Cricket Club in rural #Somerset: www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/2563689... #LDReporter
If you want to stop a massive new solar Farm being built between #Chard and #Crewkerne, you've only got a few weeks to give your views: www.chardandilminsternews.co.uk/news/chard_n... #LDReporter #Somerset
Residents of small Somerset village face fight to stop solar farm
A 64-acre solar farm could be built in a small village between Chard and Crewkerne - with a public inquiry taking place in February 2026
www.chardandilminsternews.co.uk
November 19, 2025 at 4:56 PM
If you want to stop a massive new solar Farm being built between #Chard and #Crewkerne, you've only got a few weeks to give your views: www.chardandilminsternews.co.uk/news/chard_n... #LDReporter #Somerset
#Somerset Council will try to recover public money spent on this failed #Glastonbury regeneration project as a formal police investigation continues: www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/2563388... #LDReporter #Somerset #townsfund
Council to 'recover' public money linked to troubled Glastonbury project
Somerset Council will try to "recover" public money associated with the troubled regeneration of the Red Brick Building on the edge of…
www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk
November 19, 2025 at 2:17 PM
#Somerset Council will try to recover public money spent on this failed #Glastonbury regeneration project as a formal police investigation continues: www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/2563388... #LDReporter #Somerset #townsfund
Home secretary Shabana Mahmood MP has criticised #Bridgwater MP @ashley7fox.bsky.social for comments he made in parliament after her immigration reforms were announced: www.bridgwatermercury.co.uk/news/2563354... #LDReporter #Somerset #migrants #asylum
Home secretary criticises Bridgwater MP over migrant hotel comments
Shabana Mahmood MP said she was "not going to take any lessons" from Sir Ashley Fox MP on hotel use, accusing him of "lecturing"…
www.bridgwatermercury.co.uk
November 19, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Home secretary Shabana Mahmood MP has criticised #Bridgwater MP @ashley7fox.bsky.social for comments he made in parliament after her immigration reforms were announced: www.bridgwatermercury.co.uk/news/2563354... #LDReporter #Somerset #migrants #asylum
Three new children's homes will be delivered in #Somerset following a generous £1.5m by the Department for Education: www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/2563149... #LDReporter #SEND
Three new children's homes being provided in Somerset through £1.5m grant
The Department for Education has provided crucial funding to allow more vulnerable Somerset children to receive care closer to their families
www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk
November 19, 2025 at 10:13 AM
Three new children's homes will be delivered in #Somerset following a generous £1.5m by the Department for Education: www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/2563149... #LDReporter #SEND
A lack of capacity at #Somerset secondary schools near the #M5 could make it harder to deliver extra #SEND units on mainstream sites, council officers have admitted: www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/2563073... #LDReporter
'No capacity' for future special needs units in Somerset schools near M5
Secondary schools within the M5 corridor in Somerset may struggle to accommodate more special needs units for the foreseeable future
www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk
November 18, 2025 at 5:35 PM
A lack of capacity at #Somerset secondary schools near the #M5 could make it harder to deliver extra #SEND units on mainstream sites, council officers have admitted: www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/2563073... #LDReporter
For the second time in three months, #Somerset Council has emphatically turned down plans for 40 new homes on the #B3081 #Prestleigh Road in #Evercreech, mere yards from a working pig farm: www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/2563031... #LDReporter
40 homes near working Somerset pig farm refused twice in three months
Plans for 40 new homes near a working pig farm in the village of Evercreech, near Shepton Mallet, have been refused by councillors for a second time
www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk
November 18, 2025 at 12:43 PM
For the second time in three months, #Somerset Council has emphatically turned down plans for 40 new homes on the #B3081 #Prestleigh Road in #Evercreech, mere yards from a working pig farm: www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/2563031... #LDReporter