Somerset Confidential
@somersetconf.bsky.social
The news channel for Somerset (the English one). Just news, analysis & investigations from journalists who know their patch. No AI. https://somersetconfidential.substack.com
Also author, history & classical music buff
Wests Tigers, Packers and Arsenal
Also author, history & classical music buff
Wests Tigers, Packers and Arsenal
As Somerset Council prepare to ignore the results of an expensive consultation on car parking charges – we hold our hands up in despair.
And finally we look at a new, improved Ansford Parish Council…..
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/for-whom-t...
And finally we look at a new, improved Ansford Parish Council…..
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/for-whom-t...
November 14, 2025 at 5:31 PM
As Somerset Council prepare to ignore the results of an expensive consultation on car parking charges – we hold our hands up in despair.
And finally we look at a new, improved Ansford Parish Council…..
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/for-whom-t...
And finally we look at a new, improved Ansford Parish Council…..
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/for-whom-t...
Against a background of failing #pubs, we look at how rural communities have fought back and the rise of the community pub. The Bell in #CurryMallet is the latest in a long line….
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/for-whom-t...
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/for-whom-t...
November 14, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Against a background of failing #pubs, we look at how rural communities have fought back and the rise of the community pub. The Bell in #CurryMallet is the latest in a long line….
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/for-whom-t...
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/for-whom-t...
Our second, Beckery Construction, the company that was building the Life Factory in Glastonbury, is entering liquidation. A creditors meeting has been called. Is this the end? And what will the consequences be?
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/somerset-s...
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/somerset-s...
November 7, 2025 at 8:28 AM
Our second, Beckery Construction, the company that was building the Life Factory in Glastonbury, is entering liquidation. A creditors meeting has been called. Is this the end? And what will the consequences be?
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/somerset-s...
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/somerset-s...
We have two lead stories for you this week. The first is not pretty. Indeed its petty. #Somerset Council, having seen its plan to develop #Packsaddle Fields on the edge of #Frome thwarted, is acting like a spoiled brat.
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/somerset-s...
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/somerset-s...
November 7, 2025 at 8:27 AM
We have two lead stories for you this week. The first is not pretty. Indeed its petty. #Somerset Council, having seen its plan to develop #Packsaddle Fields on the edge of #Frome thwarted, is acting like a spoiled brat.
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/somerset-s...
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/somerset-s...
What happens when officers recommend approving a planning application, but councillors refuse it? And why would officers bring back an application that has already been refused? At Somerset Council the tension is rising.
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/everscreech
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/everscreech
November 6, 2025 at 5:44 PM
What happens when officers recommend approving a planning application, but councillors refuse it? And why would officers bring back an application that has already been refused? At Somerset Council the tension is rising.
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/everscreech
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/everscreech
This week for #wallpaintingWednesday we are off to #Tewkesbury Abbey in #Gloucestershire for this colourful #crucifixion painted in the Chapel of the Holy Trinity.
Believed to be 14th century. An interesting double image of God the son and God the father one superimposed on the other
Believed to be 14th century. An interesting double image of God the son and God the father one superimposed on the other
November 5, 2025 at 9:58 PM
This week for #wallpaintingWednesday we are off to #Tewkesbury Abbey in #Gloucestershire for this colourful #crucifixion painted in the Chapel of the Holy Trinity.
Believed to be 14th century. An interesting double image of God the son and God the father one superimposed on the other
Believed to be 14th century. An interesting double image of God the son and God the father one superimposed on the other
This is from the Metro.
Seriously?
I'd be the first to admit we too have typos and make mistakes. But we are a small news organisation in Somerset.
The Metro is not only a substantial paper with a significant staff, it is also part of a large group.
To me this is just awful...
Maybe its just me....
Seriously?
I'd be the first to admit we too have typos and make mistakes. But we are a small news organisation in Somerset.
The Metro is not only a substantial paper with a significant staff, it is also part of a large group.
To me this is just awful...
Maybe its just me....
November 5, 2025 at 4:45 PM
This is from the Metro.
Seriously?
I'd be the first to admit we too have typos and make mistakes. But we are a small news organisation in Somerset.
The Metro is not only a substantial paper with a significant staff, it is also part of a large group.
To me this is just awful...
Maybe its just me....
Seriously?
I'd be the first to admit we too have typos and make mistakes. But we are a small news organisation in Somerset.
The Metro is not only a substantial paper with a significant staff, it is also part of a large group.
To me this is just awful...
Maybe its just me....
This week for #stainedglassSunday we are in the city of #Wells in #Somerset. The glass here is full of ricj pickings but some is easier to find than others.
This rather sinister looking #bishop for instance - probably 14th century.
This rather sinister looking #bishop for instance - probably 14th century.
November 2, 2025 at 8:51 AM
This week for #stainedglassSunday we are in the city of #Wells in #Somerset. The glass here is full of ricj pickings but some is easier to find than others.
This rather sinister looking #bishop for instance - probably 14th century.
This rather sinister looking #bishop for instance - probably 14th century.
Somerset Council’s Leader is having another think about Bridgwater Eastover’s one way system, and we ask why, as some bee-harming chemicals are to be banned, is another one, extensively used in Somerset, still permitted?
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/gwr-is-bei...
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/gwr-is-bei...
October 31, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Somerset Council’s Leader is having another think about Bridgwater Eastover’s one way system, and we ask why, as some bee-harming chemicals are to be banned, is another one, extensively used in Somerset, still permitted?
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/gwr-is-bei...
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/gwr-is-bei...
In other news, there’s a new mental health ambulance for Somerset, we ask how much it will cost and what happens to those it picks up?
A CQC inspection finds a home for vulnerable adults in Bath “Requires Improvement” - again.
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/gwr-is-bei...
A CQC inspection finds a home for vulnerable adults in Bath “Requires Improvement” - again.
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/gwr-is-bei...
October 31, 2025 at 5:06 PM
In other news, there’s a new mental health ambulance for Somerset, we ask how much it will cost and what happens to those it picks up?
A CQC inspection finds a home for vulnerable adults in Bath “Requires Improvement” - again.
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/gwr-is-bei...
A CQC inspection finds a home for vulnerable adults in Bath “Requires Improvement” - again.
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/gwr-is-bei...
This week our lead story is about the confusion over the future of #GWR. Is the rail network that provides most of #Somerset ’s trains moving into public ownership? Our Government says yes, but can’t give a date. Why?
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/gwr-is-bei...
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/gwr-is-bei...
October 31, 2025 at 5:05 PM
This week our lead story is about the confusion over the future of #GWR. Is the rail network that provides most of #Somerset ’s trains moving into public ownership? Our Government says yes, but can’t give a date. Why?
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/gwr-is-bei...
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/gwr-is-bei...
For #wallpaintingWednesday this week we are off to #Somerset and the wonderfully understated church of All Saints #SuttonBingham set in an isolated location near the reservoir. And full of the most wonderful early paintings. Probably c13th century. This is the #Dormition of the Virgin Mary
October 29, 2025 at 2:18 PM
For #wallpaintingWednesday this week we are off to #Somerset and the wonderfully understated church of All Saints #SuttonBingham set in an isolated location near the reservoir. And full of the most wonderful early paintings. Probably c13th century. This is the #Dormition of the Virgin Mary
Every passing week seems to reveal something else that points to the increasing financial problems at Somerset Council. This is a summary to date.
Not just our view, but also the view of the council’s Finance Director too.
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/the-wisdom...
Not just our view, but also the view of the council’s Finance Director too.
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/the-wisdom...
October 27, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Every passing week seems to reveal something else that points to the increasing financial problems at Somerset Council. This is a summary to date.
Not just our view, but also the view of the council’s Finance Director too.
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/the-wisdom...
Not just our view, but also the view of the council’s Finance Director too.
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/the-wisdom...
This week for #stainedglassSunday we are off to #Essex and the church of #StMarytheVirgin in #Lindsell. There's just one window with mediaeval glass, clearly fragments taken from elsewhere, including two separate "donor panels" that look as if they once belonged in different windows
October 26, 2025 at 9:00 PM
This week for #stainedglassSunday we are off to #Essex and the church of #StMarytheVirgin in #Lindsell. There's just one window with mediaeval glass, clearly fragments taken from elsewhere, including two separate "donor panels" that look as if they once belonged in different windows
Today for #saintsonSaturday we are in #Buckinghamshire at the church of #NorthCrawley. Today we have a rare saint, seldom depicted in churches in England: St #Blaise said to be a healer and a bishop. Anyway here he is:
October 25, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Today for #saintsonSaturday we are in #Buckinghamshire at the church of #NorthCrawley. Today we have a rare saint, seldom depicted in churches in England: St #Blaise said to be a healer and a bishop. Anyway here he is:
There’s encouraging station news in WECA which may point the way to success for #Langport in the search for a new station.
We take a look at elections in #Dunster, #Glastonbury and #SheptonMallet. What do they tell us about Somerset politics?
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/hospices-d...
We take a look at elections in #Dunster, #Glastonbury and #SheptonMallet. What do they tell us about Somerset politics?
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/hospices-d...
October 24, 2025 at 1:01 PM
There’s encouraging station news in WECA which may point the way to success for #Langport in the search for a new station.
We take a look at elections in #Dunster, #Glastonbury and #SheptonMallet. What do they tell us about Somerset politics?
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/hospices-d...
We take a look at elections in #Dunster, #Glastonbury and #SheptonMallet. What do they tell us about Somerset politics?
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/hospices-d...
In #Somerset councillors are unified on a way forward for planning, but MP #SirAshleyFox seems not to have got the memo.
And a row has broken out between Sir Ashley and LibDem Council Leader #BillRevans over the one-way system in #Bridgwater.
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/hospices-d...
And a row has broken out between Sir Ashley and LibDem Council Leader #BillRevans over the one-way system in #Bridgwater.
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/hospices-d...
October 24, 2025 at 12:59 PM
In #Somerset councillors are unified on a way forward for planning, but MP #SirAshleyFox seems not to have got the memo.
And a row has broken out between Sir Ashley and LibDem Council Leader #BillRevans over the one-way system in #Bridgwater.
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/hospices-d...
And a row has broken out between Sir Ashley and LibDem Council Leader #BillRevans over the one-way system in #Bridgwater.
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/hospices-d...
This week in our lead article we take a look at the funding of our local end of life hospices. Why are they so poorly served by the NHS and so dependent on charity?
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/hospices-d...
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/hospices-d...
October 24, 2025 at 12:56 PM
This week in our lead article we take a look at the funding of our local end of life hospices. Why are they so poorly served by the NHS and so dependent on charity?
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/hospices-d...
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/hospices-d...
This week for #wallpaintingWednesday a rather gruesome image from the church at #CerneAbbas in #Dorset. One of 4 scenes from the life of #JohntheBaptist, this shows his beheading and his barely detectable head on a plate.
A very unusual painting, probably late 14th century - some say earlier
A very unusual painting, probably late 14th century - some say earlier
October 22, 2025 at 4:40 PM
This week for #wallpaintingWednesday a rather gruesome image from the church at #CerneAbbas in #Dorset. One of 4 scenes from the life of #JohntheBaptist, this shows his beheading and his barely detectable head on a plate.
A very unusual painting, probably late 14th century - some say earlier
A very unusual painting, probably late 14th century - some say earlier
And today for #stainedglassSunday we are off to #Dorset and the Church of #StNicholas at #Abbotsbury. Here only fragments of mediaeval glass survive, but this is a surprisingly delicate image of the #Virgin Mary is probably late 14th century/early 15th century.
October 19, 2025 at 6:00 PM
And today for #stainedglassSunday we are off to #Dorset and the Church of #StNicholas at #Abbotsbury. Here only fragments of mediaeval glass survive, but this is a surprisingly delicate image of the #Virgin Mary is probably late 14th century/early 15th century.
today for #saintsonSaturday we visit #Holne Church on #Dartmoor which has a screen believed to have been painted in the early 16th century. The paintings are rustic but no less interesting for that. Here we have #StSidwell, a local saint from #Devon.
October 18, 2025 at 7:40 AM
today for #saintsonSaturday we visit #Holne Church on #Dartmoor which has a screen believed to have been painted in the early 16th century. The paintings are rustic but no less interesting for that. Here we have #StSidwell, a local saint from #Devon.
Delighted to see our piece on the “persecution” of former Cllr Colbert taken up in @privateeyenews.bsky.social
October 15, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Delighted to see our piece on the “persecution” of former Cllr Colbert taken up in @privateeyenews.bsky.social
For #stainedglassSunday we are off to the #Champagne region of #France and the Cathedral of #Reims. Here is some original 14th-century glass in a window depicting a bishop (above him not pictured is #SaintLouis)
October 12, 2025 at 4:59 PM
For #stainedglassSunday we are off to the #Champagne region of #France and the Cathedral of #Reims. Here is some original 14th-century glass in a window depicting a bishop (above him not pictured is #SaintLouis)
For #saintsonSaturday today we are off to #Norfolk to the church of #WiggenhallStMary with a colourful early 16th century screen featuring a number of saints. This image is of #StScholastica . Not a saint we find too often in English churches, she was the foundress of #Benedictine nuns.
October 11, 2025 at 8:58 AM
For #saintsonSaturday today we are off to #Norfolk to the church of #WiggenhallStMary with a colourful early 16th century screen featuring a number of saints. This image is of #StScholastica . Not a saint we find too often in English churches, she was the foundress of #Benedictine nuns.
Meanwhile, Nick Colbert a former South Somerset District Councillor, is getting multiple bills for council tax he doesn’t owe, being summoned to court and generally hassled by #SomersetCouncil whilst trying to fight terminal cancer.
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/somerset-t...
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/somerset-t...
October 10, 2025 at 8:34 AM
Meanwhile, Nick Colbert a former South Somerset District Councillor, is getting multiple bills for council tax he doesn’t owe, being summoned to court and generally hassled by #SomersetCouncil whilst trying to fight terminal cancer.
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/somerset-t...
somersetconfidential.substack.com/p/somerset-t...