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
Congratulations to the Thomas Poole Library for the Kings Award for Voluntary Service
THE THOMAS POOLE LIBRARY, NETHER STOWEY WINS THE KING’S AWARD FOR VOLUNTARY SERVICE
All of us at the Thomas Poole Library, Nether Stowey are delighted, grateful and proud to announce that we have been given the King’s Award for Voluntary Service. We are among four volunteer groups in Somerset and 231 in the UK to receive the award.
The library is entirely managed and run by volunteers, and (in partnership with Somerset Council) we provide a public library service to Nether Stowey and its surrounding villages. We also play a vital role as a community hub for our growing population. We are a Warm Safe Space, we have a small café, we provide plenty of activities for children and adults, and we host regular evening talks on all kinds of subjects. We have just embarked on a mini-Arts Festival, and also a permanent exhibition on our local environment and heritage; we are planning many future projects, including a mini-Environment Festival and the re-design of the children’s section of the library. All this means a great deal of hard work, and we are thrilled and so grateful that the dedication of our wonderful team of volunteers has been rewarded.
The King’s Award for Voluntary Service is the highest award given to volunteer groups across the UK – indeed, it is equivalent to an MBE. Awards are given to groups that are truly outstanding and making a big difference to their local community, and that have the highest standards in everything they do. The awards are announced on November 14, the King’s birthday. Recipients of the award will be given a certificate signed by the King and a glass crystal trophy, presented by the Lord Lieutenant of the county, and two representatives of the organisation will receive an invitation to a Royal Garden Party.
For us at the Thomas Poole Library, the true reward is that the huge efforts of our amazing team of volunteers have been recognised. We will not rest on our laurels; this award will spur us on to find new ways to promote the joys of books and reading and to serve and support our community.
Take care – works at the cemetery – 12-14 November
Work has started on hedge laying at the cemetery. Although the contractors will do their best, please take as there is a lot of debris (broken off twigs etc) in the cemetery and and on the pavement in front of the cemetery. This will all be cleared up as soon as the work is complete.
Laying the hedge will create a healthier, rejuvenated hedge which will improve the habitat for wildlife. Although initially it will look a bit tatty, once Spring arrives the hedge will grow new shoots filling in the weaving, and by the following Spring it will look wonderful.
The hedge-laying is being carried out by a professional (and award-winning) hedge layer.
Many thanks also to the Quantock National Landscapes who have awarded us a grant covering half the cost from the Quantock Hills & Vale Landscape Development Fund.
Public consultation – Hinkley Point C variation to an environmental permit
The Environment Agency is responsible for regulating environmental protection at nuclear sites, ensuring that people and the environment are properly protected.
NNB Generation Company (HPC) Ltd needs environmental permits from us to cover the work and the controls that it needs to put into place for construction, commissioning, operation and decommissioning of any new power station.
What’s happening now?
Hinkley Point C is applying for a variation (change) to an environmental permit it holds for work on its construction site near Bridgwater, Somerset.
The company wants to change existing, and add new, discharges of trade effluent to the construction water discharge activity permit. These are related to testing of the site’s fire hydrant system and cold commissioning activities.
- For more information use this link.
- For the consultation use this link. Consultation closes 30 November 2025
Please contact the Permitting and Support Centre on 03708 506 506 if you need printed versions of the documents.
New Councillor co-opted – welcome Becky Hannam
The Parish Council were delighted to co-opt Becky Hannam to the Parish Council at the meeting on Monday 13 October.
A full list of Councillors, local Somerset Council members and our MP is here
The Council still has two vacancies. Being a Parish Councillor is a great opportunity to work for the community and help decide how to meet the concerns of residents and what is best for Nether Stowey. You need to have the concerns and best interests of the parish as a whole at heart. On average, you will need to spare a few hours a week. We understand that people who work or have caring or other commitments and are not always freely available, and we will try to take this into account. More details are available on the Co-option page here or call in at the Parish Office.
Free Community Harvest Lunch
Sunday 28 September at St Mary’s Church Centre.
Book at the Benefice Office 01278 732855 or qv.benefice@gmail.com
Sedgemoor revenues and benefits system to be offline for 3 weeks during upgrade
Received from Somerset Council 12 September
Essential services affected as Sedgemoor upgrades its revenues and benefits system from 8 to 29 September
omerset Council is migrating its system for council tax, benefits and business rates, with the legacy Mendip area being the first area to make the switch.
From the evening of Monday, 8 September, there will be a minimum 3-week disruption for Sedgemoor residents while the changeover takes place.
During this period:
- Online forms – there will be some disruption to online forms. More details will be available on our website nearer the time. Claims for benefits or changes in circumstance will still be available.
- Customer services will be unable to process changes or claims during this time but will continue to give advice.
- The Council’s notice page will let customers know when services are back.
- Housing Benefit customers. Customers will receive a letter with details of their Housing Benefit payment dates to keep them informed as payment dates will be aligned across somerset.
- Payments online and via the automated telephony line can be made as normal.
- Direct Debits will continue as normal. While no issues are anticipated, customers who wish to cancel or amend their Direct Debit scheduled for 21 September or 1 October should contact their bank directly.
- Bank details: Service User Numbers and Mandate References are changing. Look out for more information.
Residents are reminded that the Council will never contact them to ask for bank details by phone, email or text message.
For the latest updates on the system upgrade, visit the Council’s Important notice for Mendip and Sedgemoor residents page.
Contact Somerset Council: via their website, or telephone 0300 123 2244, or e-mail: generalenquiries@somerset.gov.uk
Notice of Conclusion of Audit 2024/25 Accounts
Annual Governance & Accountability Return for the year ended 31 March 2025
Sections 20(2) and 25 of the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014
Section 16 of the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015 (SI 2015/234)
1. The audit of accounts for Nether Stowey Parish Council for the year ended 31 March 2025 has been completed and the accounts have been published.
2. The Annual Governance & Accountability Return including the auditor’s certificate and opinion is available for inspection and copying by any local government elector of the area of Nether Stowey Parish Council on application to:
Caro Slaymaker
Clerk to the Parish Council
10am-1pm Monday-Wednesday and Friday
3. Copies will be provided to any local government elector of the area on payment of £1 for each copy of the Annual Governance & Accountability Return.
Announcement made by: Caro Slaymaker
Date of announcement: 12 September 2025
- Notice of Conclusion of Audit
- Sections 1, 2 and 3 of the Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR) for the year ended 31 March 2025
More information at https://netherstowey-pc.gov.uk/your-parish-council/accounts