Pre-election news – 31st  March 2022 Understandably, the Council is very concerned with what it can do to assist with the Ukraine situation. A Council’s finance is understandably restricted to benefit the residents of the [...]

The current international situation in Ukraine is exacerbating energy costs and contributing further to the so-called ‘cost of living’ crisis which sees the current UK inflation rate at 5.4% and widely expected to be over [...]

From next Monday, you’ll start to see the new ‘Welcome to Shepton’ signs being installed on the outskirts of town. We have 8 signs replacing the existing green signs at the same locations. The signs [...]

So, with Unitary and Town Council elections just around the corner and the recent addition of two replacement members of staff to the team it is all change in Shepton Mallet Town Council. One of [...]

Dudley, Eunice and Franklin certainly blew away the cobwebs last weekend. Trees came down across town including in Collett Park but thanks to our efficient contractors - both our Park Rangers and at County Highways [...]

After a two-year hiatus, it was great to announce last week that we are bringing back Collett Park Day! The most loved event in the town’s calendar was cancelled for obvious reasons but this year [...]

Last Saturday saw twenty-one trees planted in Collett Park as part of the start of our celebrations to mark Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. Trees were planted by people from the seven age groups [...]

2022 marks the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee; the first time a British Monarch will have served for 70 consecutive years. We are planning a number of events over the extra bank holiday weekend in June (Thursday [...]

Happy New Year! I hope all residents managed to find time to relax over the festive period. Although it continued to be far from ‘normal’, I don’t think I’m alone in thinking that 2022 is [...]

Autumn is well and truly with us and many town centre businesses are gearing up for their busiest time of year – Christmas Day is only 71 days away! To help enhance the centre over [...]

Looking for something to do at the weekend in Shepton with friends or family? A free activity that explores our town and gets you out and about? Yesterday saw the launch of the Shepton Mallet [...]

Over the past few weeks, a speculative new housing planning application has been made by Redrow Homes to build up to 125 dwellings on land adjacent to the Old Wells Road, on the outskirts of [...]

In the absence of our chairman who is on holiday for one more week, the Town Council didn’t want you to not hear about the great things still going on. So, for this week I’m [...]

A smorgasbord of activity this week from the Council as, even though we approach the middle of summer, there is no let-up in our activity! First the fun stuff: On Saturday as part of our [...]

Last week saw an announcement from the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government that Somerset is to undergo a changing of local government to a ‘unitary’ model. Two proposals were being considered; [...]

‘Freedom Day’ has come and gone but if your family is anything like mine, the continuing affects of the virus are almost more apparent now than ever before. All of our schools unfortunately succumbed to [...]

One thing I’ve learnt whilst being a Councillor is that it is nothing if not a role of communication and coordination. I’ve always been a believer that the best ideas don’t come from a small [...]

July is here, the sense of normality gradually returning after last Monday’s government Covid restriction relaxation announcement and the typical British weather continues to throw everything at us we would expect at this time of [...]

Last Monday saw the re-opening of our much loved library in our town centre. Only a couple of years ago, this community asset was forced with a simple, binary choice; to either close or relocate [...]

Last week I wrote about how we are making improvements to the skate park. Before that we have been investing in new surfacing for Town Street and the Market Place. We also have numerous projects [...]

Five years ago, Shepton Mallet’s concrete skate park at the West Shepton playing fields was built and it has been a consistently busy and popular facility since it’s opening. Thanks to the resident-led charity Friends [...]

With the April showers (I know!) finally dispersing, and hospitality opening up again, now’s the time to get outside; our newly resurfaced market place is a good place to start – come and have a [...]

This week many of our favourite pubs, cafes and restaurants were able to welcome customers back indoors. Some had been able to operate with outdoor seating but many had been eagerly awaiting May 17th to [...]

Last week the residents of Shepton Mallet’s West Ward were able to elect five new councillors to the Town Council. Thank you to everyone who exercised their democratic right and congratulations to all five of [...]

One of the Town Council’s four strategic areas of focus is ‘Protected Environment’; we take an active role to maintain and enhance the green and clean environment by being environmentally conscious and sustainable. So, what [...]

Normally at this time of year, the working group who organise the Collett Festival would be entering the final preparation phase to ensure the event is a great success. The Council took the decision in [...]

I hope everyone had a pleasant and relaxing Easter. The spring weather finally seems to be arriving after the cold of Easter. The re-opening of local hospitality businesses and shops this week and the return [...]

Being a town councillor is nothing if not being a communicator. Since our world was abruptly turned upside down a year ago, the Town Council has had to change the way we communicate, both internally [...]

Over the past few weeks I’ve talked about how the town is tentatively planning to recover from a post-pandemic world; I’ve talked how businesses are adapting to a ‘new normal’ and what support mechanisms have [...]

The ‘potential reorganisation of local government’ are words that don’t instil excitement in many people’s minds but such an activity will have a profound effect on all our lives; the everyday delivery of public sector [...]

As my two kids returned home from Whitstone school on Monday, shattered from being back at school for the first time in two and half months, it was another sign that life, just a little [...]

The last year has been tough for many people in our town, not least for local businesses who’ve endured a rollercoaster of opening and closing with each new peak in the virus. Now, finally we [...]

Whenever Shepton or a Shepton initiative is mentioned in the national press, it’s virtually always positive coverage. For instance, this month Shepton Mallet was featured in the lifestyle and interior magazine Country Homes & Interiors, [...]

Watching the shenanigans of Handforth Parish Council last week on YouTube was at first glance potentially comical but ultimately rather sad. Of course, it was remarkable to watch grown adults descend into a ‘Lord of [...]

Last year, the council decided to create a new committee – ‘People & Promotion’ – to reflect the priorities of our Town Plan ‘Investing in Shepton’s Future 2020-2024’. This committee is where the council will [...]

One of the highlights of the Shepton calendar is nearly upon us; the annual Snowdrop Festival, celebrating the life of James Allen, the pre-eminent Snowdrop galanthophile. Sadly, due to the pandemic, the Shepton Mallet Snowdrop [...]

The news is full of the effects of the Covid pandemic, whether that be health, economic, the way people now work, travel or communicate. A hot topic since the new year has been how the [...]

I regularly state that the Town Council is a small organisation made up of 16 volunteer elected Councillors and 5 paid members of staff, some of whom are part time. Supporting a growing town such [...]

Resignation and vacancy We announce the resignation of Councillor Gemma Kayum from the town council and thank her for her enthusiasm and participation over the last few months. Gemma has several pressing commitments and is [...]

Something rather momentous happened in our town in the strange lull between Christmas and New Year. Last Tuesday 29 December, the launch of the local Covid vaccination programme started and over 3 days, 1000 people [...]

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