News in Midsomer Norton and Radstock

Creativity Works, an Arts and Health Charity based in Radstock, near Bath, is delighted to announce that it is working with Virgin Care to deliver the second phase of the Inspiring Care Homes Project. The project is funded by the Workforce Development Fund within Bath and North East Somerset, which seeks to provide support through wellbeing activities for care home staff and residents in this post pandemic period.

This phase of the project, which will run from December 2021 through till March 2022, will offer creative sessions aimed at supporting the mental and physical wellbeing of staff and residents for over 60 Care Homes based in Bath & North East Somerset, and will employ over 20 experienced socially engaged artists.

Peasedown St John's Community Library has received a funding boost, thanks to Bath & North East Somerset Council.

The library, which has seen a huge growth in service users since the end of lockdown, is part of B&NES Council's network of community services.

A range of tree-planting events have been running across Bath and North East Somerset to celebrate National Tree Week – and there's still more activities planned for residents to get involved with.

National Tree Week is the UK's largest annual tree celebration, running from Saturday 27 November to Sunday 5 December. Across the country, people will be planting thousands of trees to mark the start of the winter tree planting season.

The Radstock Mayor writes:

These last few days have witnessed some extremely cold temperatures and I am relieved that the central heating worked without mishap.

Pregnant women in Radstock are being encouraged to put their questions about the Covid-19 vaccine to a panel of the region's top maternity experts at an upcoming online event.

Taking place at 7.30pm on Wednesday 8 December, the virtual Opening Doors discussion forum is an opportunity for mums-to-be, as well as their partners, other family members and friends, to seek reassurance about having the coronavirus vaccine while pregnant.

Withy Lane in Oakhill was one of the last roads to be cleared of a fallen tree by tree crews following Storm Arwen.

According to Highways, the tree clearance crew worked all Monday (November 29) clearing fallen trees on 85 Somerset roads.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in North East Somerset.

Tish, Andy and Erin Jeffery from Farrington's promise a huge selection of trees this year including Nordmann Fir, Norway Spruce, Noble Fir and Fraser Fir and are encouraging local residents to visit and pick their perfect Christmas tree.

If you have ever thought to yourself, who ever wins those competitions?

Well in the case of this haul, a lady from Midsomer Norton.

Father Christmas has been up at the heritage station in Midsomer Norton - visiting the signal box to check everything was working correctly.

The control box in Midsomer Norton has been painstakingly rebuilt and restored to working order.

New data has revealed a drop in speeding offences across English roads this year from the

spikes registered during the depths of lockdown in 2020 according to the Department for Transport (DfT).