The Radstock Mayor Cllr Rupert Bevan writes:

Few of us, I think, have been left unaffected by recent events surrounding the supply of fuel. The weather has been mercifully temperate although one has to think twice about turning on the central heating as the evenings become cooler. This is probably not the place to rant or apportion blame but what astonishes me is the fact that so much damage can be wrought by the reckless, inaccurate reporting of so few, engendering an atmosphere of abject frustration as we queued for the dwindling supply of petrol.

Like many, the company running my 'cheap' fixed rate gas and electricity quickly found itself undercapitalised and went under, as did the company in competition with it! At least I wasn't completely orphaned and the third company turned out to have cheaper energy than either of the first two.

I look forward to the day when there will be alternative forms of fossil free energy, an example of which is that converted from the water temperature differential existing in the old coal mines

It seems to me that the only way that these national crises can be avoided in future is by organising the supply of essentials locally. Not only energy but food and clothing. Whilst on the subject of local provenance, Radstock could use a butcher and a baker. The important thing is the town becomes self-contained so that the residents are no longer compelled to take their cars out on shopping sprees to neighbouring towns in search of staple goods.

Radstock, this is our opportunity!

Rupert Bevan