18th March news update
from Weston Central Ward Councillors Mike Bell, Robert Payne and Caroline Reynolds
Hello everyone - welcome to issue 86 of our regular local email newsletter
This time we’ve got an update on Marine Lake, news of an improved Bristol hospitals bus service, upgrades to the Plaza Cinema and a top award for Weston!
As always, please don’t hesitate to get in touch any time if we can help with any local issue or answer a question.
Best wishes
Mike Bell, Robert Payne and Caroline Reynolds
Your Liberal Democrat councillors for Weston-super-Mare Central Ward
Marine Lake update
As our readers will know, the lake has been closed recently for dredging work. While that’s been happening, North Somerset Council has taken the opportunity to make some other improvements, including:
raking the beach
power washing areas of the walkway
relining areas around the steps into the lake
updating and repairing safety information and signs
general repairs
We’re still on track to reopen the lake again before the end of the month, in time for the Easter bank holiday weekend!
We’ve got plans for more work at Marine Lake, using the Levelling Up funding. These include improving walkways, steps and ramps, and other enhancement of the area including upgrading the public toilets.
RNLI granted freedom of Weston-super-Mare
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) Weston-super-Mare were granted Honorary Freedom of the Town recently by Weston-super-Mare Town Council.
As part of the celebration - in what is the RNLI’s 200th Anniversary, the RNLI Lifeboat volunteers and supporters paraded through the town before a ceremony on the Grand Pier.
Budget tax bombshell?
The Conservative Government chose to prioritise National Insurance tax cuts over investment in public services in the recent budget. But a report from the Office for Budget Responsibility has calculated that the typical worker on a £35,000 salary will be £383 worse off over this year and the next due to stealth tax rises – wiping out any potential gains from the national insurance announcement – with living standards set to remain below 2019 levels for the next two years.
Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Weston-super-Mare, Patrick Keating, said: “These figures show the reality of Jeremy Hunt’s unfair decisions which are set to clobber families for years to come. When people hear him talk about cutting taxes they know it’s an outrageous attempt to deceive the British public.
“Under this Conservative government families are facing soaring mortgage payments, sky-rocketing energy bills and now this endless stealth tax squeeze. Average household disposable income has fallen in this Parliament - the worse record in decades. We need a General Election now.”
Plaza Cinema refurbishment gets underway
Refurbishment of the Plaza Cinema Weston-super-Mare has started this month. The work, which is expected to complete by the end of March, includes:
specialist cleaning of the cream and black tiled exterior,
repairing the three former retail kiosks that sit either side of the entrance, and installing new glazed and timber shopfronts, and
repairing some damage caused by Storm Eunice in February 2022.
This will be the seventh project to be delivered as part of Weston-super-Mare’s High Street Heritage Action Zone Shopfront Enhancement Scheme, managed by North Somerset Council.
This is being funded thanks to a partnership between Merlin Cinemas, Historic England and the UK government's Levelling Up Fund.
Weston wins top award
Weston-super-Mare has won best town for Business Environment in ‘Let’s Celebrate Towns’. This is a competition that shines a spotlight on towns across the UK helping their businesses and communities to thrive.
The eight winners were announced at a ceremony held on 13 March at the House of Lords.
This competition is run by Visa, and supported by the British Retail Consortium. Weston-super-Mare was named a winner for the Business Environment category, which recognises towns that are working hard to build vibrant business networks and support local businesses so they can grow and thrive.
Eight towns won in total (two per category). They will each receive a £15k prize to put towards a community project that will benefit the town, as well as access to help and support for local businesses.
Free hospital shuttle bus extended
The free shuttle buses to Weston General Hospital and Bristol hospitals are being extended in North Somerset!
The buses are provided by Bristol & Weston Hospitals Charity to make it easier to get to hospital. From today (Monday 18 March), the buses will be stopping at more locations in Weston and on the route to Bristol.
There's more information about the service on their website - the new timetable will be available on there soon. Go to https://www.bwhospitalscharity.org.uk/bristol-weston-free-hospital-bus
Making it easier to recycle
You can now recycle paper and cardboard together in the same recycling box! This means you've got less sorting to do, and also saves time for our hard-working crews, as paper and cardboard can go in the same compartment on the collection vehicle.
Waverley excursions back for the season
We’re really pleased that Waverley Excursions will be back in North Somerset with a number of sailings from Clevedon, Portishead and Weston this summer.
The World’s last seagoing paddle steamer is returning to cruise the Bristol Channel from Friday 31st May to Sunday 23rd June.
Bookings are open from today for all Bristol Channel sailings. Book online at waverleyexcursions.co.uk or by calling 0141 243 2224.
What’s that I SEE?
Well done to the Weston Seafront team for organising the move of one of the old SEEMonster containers from the Tropicana to its new home at the SEEMonster garden, on the beach lawns. The container is being re-purposed as a store for Weston-super-Mare Pilot Gig Club.
The big crane then headed to the Maltlands in Weston to move a second container to the We SEE Trees Community Tree Nursery. Really good to see these two community groups getting support to make a difference.
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.