North Somerset Council is losing around a quarter of a million pounds a year on this badly-built car park and is locked into the lease until 2058

The council leader called it: "The worst deal any council has ever signed"

#LDReporter #WestonSuperMare #Weston-super-Mare

Last night, a politician told me I write "clickbait"

So to clear up any confusion: I don't just write stories to get lots of clicks — I want to get lots of people to #buyapaper too :)

There's a great Bath Chronicle in shops all week

#LDReporter

I spoke about the context behind this on Charlie Taylor on BBC Radio Somerset last week

As I said on the radio, we didn't then have the full details on pay protection but we now do (see two tweets above)

There's a fantastic double page spread on the elections in this weekend's Western Daily Press

Including my coverage of the dramatic West of England Mayor election and the breakdown of the vote by council area

#LDReporter #buyapaper

Candidates and activists are all gathered round ready for the declaration to begin here

Reform candidate Arron Banks is here at the count in Bristol for West of England Mayor.

He tells me: ‘It seems to be between us and the Greens: the Rebel Alliance.’

Lib Dem candidiate Oli Henman tells me: ‘Everyone said it was going to be close.’

He said: ‘Our vote is holding up well in B&NES. It’s going to be all to play for in South Glos.’

Bristol North East’s Labour MP Damien Egan is here.

He says: ‘We have got genuinely a really great candidiate so I really hope that Helen gets over the line. She will be a really good mayor.’

Now the real counting for West of England Mayor is underway in Bristol

According to the large screen at the count updating us here on what’s happening across the region, the verification is complete almost everywhere and proper counting in Bath is underway.

The turnout for the whole election will be announced altogether. When? “Soonish” is the word

Tony Dyer, Green leader of Bristol City Council tells me: 'We always knew it was going to be a very open race.'
'We have worked hard in Bristol but it depends on what happens elsewhere. Its a reflection of the region. It's a very politically diverse region.'

And the ballot boxes are open at the count here for West of England Mayor

Ballot boxes are arriving at the count here at Oasis Academy Brislington

Polls have closed. Here's Hungerford Community Centre about 20 mins ago, the polling station probably closest to the count here at Oasis Academy Brislington.

In another ten mins time, the ballot boxes from here will be rolling through the doors of the count hall

It's not often there's an international incident on the front of the #Bath Chronicle — but it's unpredictable times we're living in

Plenty of my #LDReporter stories on the dump, liveable neighbourhoods, and the latest council chamber drama inside

It's not too late to #buyapaper

This week as an #LDReporter has seen me go from a debate over a new hot air balloon festival to speaking to the water minister at the local sewage works. It's been an interesting week in #Bath so it's definitely a good day to #buyapaper!