Road Closure: Over Stowey 23 March
The road through Over Stowey will be closed between Adscombe Lane and the Church for Openreach to carry out works on 23 March between approximately 9.30am and 3.30pm/
Further details at One Network ref GB147571895
RSV: The little-known jab that could keep over 75s out of hospital this winter
Are you aged 75 to 79? You can protect yourself from serious lung infection.
- Every year, thousands of older people need hospital care for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection.
- It affects the lungs and can cause pneumonia.
- RSV vaccination is the best protection, with over 75’s a priority for a free NHS vaccine.
- If you’re aged 75 to 79 (or turned 80 after 1 September 2024) your GP surgery will contact you for an appointment.
Parish Council meeting – Monday 9 February
This meeting will be held at St Mary’s Church Centre at 7pm. Members of the public are welcome to attend and there is an opportunity to speak at the beginning of the meeting.
The agenda is available here and also available in the Parish Office window and on notice boards at The Cross and at Harry Prowse Close and Church View.
Parish Council Budget 2026/27
At the Parish Council meeting on 12 January the Council agreed the budget and precept for the next financial year (from 1 April 2026).
Despite increasing costs all over, and the extra services that we have taken over from Somerset Council, we have found a way to reduce the budget, saving an average household about £12 per year, 9.7%. We have done this by careful management, and by successfully applying for grants to meet costs that would otherwise have come from the budget.
The Parish Council are conscious that money is tight for everyone and we hope that this will go a small way to help offset the big increase that Somerset Council and other bodies are hoping to put on their part of the Council Tax bill.
As we approach the end of the financial year, it’s a good to time to remind local organisations and groups that the Parish Council set aside funds each year to provide grants to support you and to benefit the community. We still have funds left to be awarded before the end of March. If your group needs support please think about applying. The deadline is 28 February.
To qualify you must show how your group or organisation benefits the area or the residents of the Parish. You do not need to be a registered charity but usually your organisation must generally be open to anyone to join, although there are certain exceptions. If you think you would like to apply but need advice, please give Caro a ring or drop in for a chat, otherwise the application form and guidance are available at Local organisations and activities – Grants on our website or available from the office. There is a finite pot of funds, so qualifying grants are offered on a “first come, first served” basis.
See here for a list of Grants awarded to local organisations and other costs paid by the Parish Council on behalf of local organisations
A39 Road Closures near Cannington 25 Jan, 1 and 8 Feb
We have been advised of road closures for the next three Sundays while Openreach replace telephone poles in the area between Ashford Lane/Oatley Lane to Blackmore Lane near Cannington. Working hours will be 8am until 4pm
Details are available at https://one.network/?tm=GB147343205
Enquiries should be made to Openreach or Sunbelt Rentals on telephone number 0370 050 0792 quoting reference number ttro846518N.
Road Closure – A39 at Nether Stowey – NEW DATES 14-15 possibly also 16-17 January (overnight)
We have been advised of a road closure for pre-surface dressing patching works at the A39 (Cannington Road) from Old A39 Road/entrance to Budley Farm to the junction with the Over Stowey Road (near the Cottage Inn). A total distance of 1546 metres.
The contractor, Kiely Bros, has confirmed that the dates are now Wednesday 14th January 2026 for two nights only, but they have an option for up to four nights in case of bad weather.
One.Network website shows the dates as originally given by Somerset Council and there are some road signs giving the old dates. Kiely Bros says this is now wrong. For any further information about the works being carried out please contact Kiely Bros on telephone number 0121 772 3800 quoting reference number ttro826823N and postcode TA5 1LL.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
Merry Christmas to everyone in Nether Stowey and, on behalf of the Parish Council, we wish you all a happy and prosperous new year.
The Parish Office will be closed from 1pm on Friday 19th December 2025, and will reopen at 10am on Monday 5th January 2026.
The Clerk will be available by phone between 10am and 1pm only on the following days:
22 and 23 December and 29 and 30 December
At other times, the phone service and e-mail will be checked periodically, and if you leave a message we will call you back on the next working day.
You can find information for reporting problems with roads, street lighting etc on our website at netherstowey-pc.gov.uk/useful-links
Contact the Clerk: 01278 733779
or clerk@netherstowey-pc.gov.uk
In an emergency please contact any Parish Councillor – list here
EDF Community Bus – Christmas/New Year Service
Regular Service resumes Monday 5 January 2026 – timetable here
Somerset Council Boundary Review consultation re-opened
Have your say!
Local people have a further chance to give their views on new electoral boundaries for Somerset Council
Find out more and have your say via the LGBCE website
The Local Government Boundary Commission for England is reopening its consultation on proposed new division boundaries for Somerset Council.
It is inviting residents and local organisations to share their views. The consultation will run from 25 November 2025 to 14 January 2026.
The consultation is being reopened because the Commission initially, and incorrectly, understood Somerset Council’s preference for predominantly single-councillor divisions as a formal request for a uniform pattern of single-member divisions under the legislation guiding its review process. No such formal request had been made by the Council.
This may have led some people to believe that multi-councillor divisions would not be given due consideration, as a formal request for single-member divisions carries greater weight in the Commission’s considerations than a general preference.
To ensure fairness and transparency, the Commission is reopening the consultation so that all views, including any supporting multi-member divisions, can be taken into account. Any submissions previously made will still be considered and do not need to be re-submitted.
After reviewing all responses, we aim to publish our final recommendations in March 2026. Subject to parliamentary approval, the new arrangements will take effect at Somerset Council’s elections in May 2027.
Full details of the proposals are available on the Commission’s website: Somerset | LGBCE
People can also give their views by e-mail at reviews@lgbce.org.uk, and by post:
Review Officer (Somerset)
LGBCE
7th Floor
3 Bunhill Row
London
EC1Y 8YZ
Meet Nether Stowey Parish Councillors – Sat 29 November 10am-1pm
Meet the Council
An opportunity to meet and chat with Parish Councillors.
- Learn what the Council does for the village
- Understand what we can and what we cannot do
- Chat about what concerns you
- Give us your thoughts about the future of the village