Parish Council Update - October

The new unitary authority for Somerset comes into being next April, and it will be responsible for all local services – Somerset West and Taunton will no longer exist as a district council. Part of the planning for that takeover involves forming new bodies called LCNs (Local Community Networks). A consultation on the grouping of parish and town councils areas into LCNs finished on 17th October. The Parish Council asked to be included in an area that roughly corresponds to the former Taunton Deane District, the other alternatives were a crescent around Taunton that included Wellington or an area where we were at the extreme northwest, and included Ilminster and Crewkerne.

You may have seen in the Somerset County Gazette that some protesters from the village brought placards to a County Council meeting and then the A358 Community Forum hosted by National Highways this month. This was a useful way to get our concerns more widely known and to make council and other contacts who will be useful when making representations to the Planning Inspectorate after the Development Consent Order is submitted. It seems that NH plans to do this BEFORE publishing the results of this summer's supplementary consultation.

As wildlife, scenery and trees were the most mentioned as important environmental matters in the recent survey, you may wish to take part in Somerset Wildlife Trust's campaign see here.

There is a planning committee meeting this Wednesday 26th at 7pm - see agenda.

Kevin Comer

Chair, Hatch Beauchamp Parish Council