15th August news update
from Weston Central Ward Councillors Mike Bell, Robert Payne and Caroline Reynolds
Hello everyone - welcome to issue 76 of our regular local email newsletter.
In this update we’ve got news about the new owners of the former Odeon Cinema, a new call to improve our roads and pavements and help for households with energy efficiency.
As always, if there are any issues we can help with, please get in touch.
Best wishes
Mike Bell, Robert Payne and Caroline Reynolds
Your Liberal Democrat team for Weston-super-Mare Central Ward
Former Odeon cinema has new owner
The Odeon in Weston has a new owner!
We’ve been in discussions with the Odeon regarding their plans for the future of the site since the historic, art-deco building closed two months ago. We’re very pleased to confirm that merlin cinemas bought the cinema last week.
This is great news for the town and we’re really pleased that after such a short period of closure, the cinema will soon be back to doing what it does best. We’ve spoken to Merlin Cinemas and assured them of our support for their work to maintain cinema operations at the building.
Merlin have assured us that they will be valuing and promoting the much-loved Compton organ and the role the building has at the heart of the town centre. They're hoping to reopen the cinema again in the near future and will be developing a short and long-term investment plan to improve the building, including the listed features.
Their investment is another sign of confidence in Weston town centre and the work we're doing together to share all that is great about living in, working in and visiting our town.
merlin cinemas is an independent cinema chain which specialises in operating character and predominantly coastal cinemas. They already run 17 cinemas across the country, most of which are in the south west.
Report safety concerns through new app
StreetSafe is a service that allows you to report safety concerns in public places anonymously. This includes issues like poorly lit streets, abandoned buildings, or vandalism, as well as instances where you feel unsafe due to someone following or verbally abusing you. Find out more at https://www.police.uk/streetsafe
Information submitted is used by the local police and council community safety teams to determine priorities for patrols, investigation and investment.
Councils call for more roads investment
The UK has fallen from the top to almost the bottom of the league when it comes to the amount we spend on repairing our local roads.
We can all see the effects of this here in North Somerset. We’ve been working to increase investment, get repairs done right first time and - from next year - will bring routine maintenance back in house to deliver better value for money and flexible solutions.
Latest estimates from the ALARM survey found that councils face a record £14 billion road repair backlog which it would take them 11 years to tackle without further support.
Rising levels of inflation which has pushed up the cost of materials such as bitumen as well as more extreme winter weather has made it harder for councils to tackle potholes and maintain local roads.
Decades of reductions in funding from central government to local road repair budgets has left councils facing the biggest ever annual pothole repair backlog.
In order to support motorists, the Government should work with councils to develop a long-term, fully-funded programme to catch up with the backlog.
Read more: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-66481761
Loft and cavity wall insulation
A new programme offering North Somerset households a range of low carbon energy-saving measures has launched.
Working with the National Grid, North Somerset Council is supporting the Connected for Warmth programme to fund free loft and cavity wall insulation for all homes in council tax bands A-D, as well as other energy-saving measures including smart heating controls and low energy light bulbs.
Together these improvements could save households hundreds of pounds a year on their energy bills, as well as reduce carbon emissions.
The funding for the programme comes from National Grid, the utility company which manages the distribution of energy across the country. It has made £50million available to initiatives which support households through the cost-of-living crisis.
To apply, visit www.evolvehes.co.uk/connected-for-warmth or call freephone 0800 107 8576. Over 1,000 homes have benefitted from the Connected for Warmth programme so far, but the funding is limited so households are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.
Get in touch
Contact Councillor Mike Bell on 07881 320 279 or email mike.bell@n-somerset.gov.uk or follow him on Facebook or Twitter. Mike serves on North Somerset Council and Weston Town Council.
Contact Councillor Robert Payne on 07904 026 096 or email robert.payne@n-somerset.gov.uk or follow him on Facebook or Twitter. Robert serves on North Somerset Council and Weston Town Council.
Contact Councillor Caroline Reynolds by emailing caroline.reynolds@wsm-tc.gov.uk. Caroline serves on Weston Town Council.