The Wheel Summer 2023

Summer eventS , local newS and more.

Bringing together Clandown, Haydon, Radstock and Writhlington.

Hello, summer is here and so is a new edition of The Wheel! This issue, find out who were the lucky winners at the latest Dragon’s Den and see the latest updates for all the local projects taking place in and around Radstock.

We hope you have a lovely summer, if there is anything you’d like to include in our next issue, please do let us know!

We’ll see you again in the autumn.

maYor’S meSSaGe

Beat tHe Steeet

radStocK muSeum

draGonS’ den

YoutH connect

BatH PlaY ProJect

HaYdon BatcH BIoBlItZ

radStocK FaYre

communItY HuB

aGe uK SuPerStore

Swallow cHarItY

lIttle loSt roBotS

rIver truSt

Swan tranSPort

SIGHt SuPPort

radStocK In Bloom

HoPe HouSe centre

clerK’S meSSaGe

The next edition of The Wheel will be in September 2023. If you would like your group to be included in the next edition, please contact us on 01761 437962 before the deadline of 8th August 2023.

If you have difficulty reading the print, please contact the Town Clerk for a large print copy. You can also view The Wheel on the council’s website at www.radstock-tc.gov.uk.

The Wheel is produced by Ignyte Media Ltd, Bathway Farm, Bathway, Chewton Mendip, BA3 4LN. Tel 01761 410141. Whilst every care has been taken to ensure the data contained in this publication is accurate, neither the publisher nor its editorial contributors can accept, and hereby disclaim, any liability to any party for loss or damage caused by errors or omissions resulting from negligence, accident or any other cause. Ignyte or Radstock Town Council does not officially endorse any advertising material included within this publication. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or stored in any retrieval system in any form without the prior permission of the publisher.

MAYOR’S MESSAGE

Welcome to the 11th edition of The Wheel, I write this as the Town Council awaits the forming of a new Council on 15 May 2023 when we welcome new members.

It is with sadness, we say a fond farewell to the following: Colin Currie, Gary Dando, Elizabeth Derl-Davis and Robert Langley, who have, between them, represented Radstock in their individual wards for decades. We thank them for all the time, energy and commitment they have given and wish them all the very best.

Looking to the future, we look forward to founding a new Council and working together with new and old members to deliver the very best to the people of Radstock.

We have much going on and much to celebrate, 2023 sees the town remember 50 years since the closure of the last Somerset coalmine in 1973. The Town will commemorate the anniversary with a Fayre, which will take place on Sunday, 4th June. There will be much to enjoy with professional theatre walkabout acts, outdoor performances, local musicians, drop in workshops and much more.

You will soon see a new interpretation board in the Miners’ Memorial Garden illustrating the beautiful planting and ecology, work continues on the Bee Bold Pollinator project down at the Southfield Community Garden. The outdoor classroom will be installed by the end of May and the area is being transformed by the stalwart volunteers, who have given their time to create compost bins in a dead hedge and plan the all-important planting that will feed the Radstock bees and pollinators.

We look forward to In Bloom’s spectacular floral creations brightening the town this summer and await with excitement the announcement of their plans for 2023.

The beginning of May saw the Coronation of His Majesty The King on Saturday, 6th May, we hope you all enjoyed the extended Bank Holiday weekend and were able to join in celebrations.

Please enjoy this edition of The Wheel and do let us know if there is anything you would like to be included in future editions.

May I take this opportunity to wish you an enjoyable summer, I look forward to seeing you around Radstock.

With

Best Wishes, Nick Toogood Mayor of Radstock

BEAt thE StREEt IS comInG to tHe Somer valleY!

A popular interactive game that makes exercise fun is set to launch across Paulton, Radstock, Midsomer Norton, Westfield, Peasedown St John and Timsbury.

Beat the Street was created by GP Dr William Bird to encourage people to explore their local areas and to make exercise fun. It has been played by more than 1.6m people in more than 120 locations in the UK and increased levels of physical activity among adults and children.

The game is open to anyone of any age who would like to take part and takes place in the Somer Valley from Wednesday, 17th May to Wednesday, 28th June. Children use a card and map which will be provided by participating primary schools, and adults can pick up a free card from one of the distribution points listed on the Beat the Street Somer Valley website at www.beatthestreet.me/somervalley Alternatively, players over the age of 13 can download the free Beat the Street app to play the game with their phone.

There are prizes for the teams that walk, cycle or wheel the furthest, with vouchers for books and sports equipment on offer. There is also a leaderboard for individuals, as well as a total points leaderboard and an average leaderboard, so opportunities for teams of all sizes to win prizes.

Once the game is underway, players find their nearest “Beat Box” – or sensor - which will appear on lampposts around the Somer Valley. There will be 55 sensors that record each players’ point tally. These sensors are contactless, so that you don’t need to touch them – simply hover your card over the Beat Box and it will beep and flash to record your points. Visit two Beat Boxes within an hour and collect 10 points for each Beat Box, then keep going!

Beat the Street Somer Valley is being delivered by Intelligent Health and has been commissioned by The Active Way. The Active Way is led by Bath & North East Somerset Council and funded by Active Travel England. Additional funding has been provided by the National Lottery via Sport England. Rebecca Reynolds, Director of Public Health, said: “It’s free to take part in Beat the Street and it’s open to everyone regardless of age, ability or background. It’s an inclusive and compelling game that encourages you to exercise in a fun way with friends and family, plus it’s a great way of getting to know your local area.

“The Beat the Street game has been played nearby in Somerset and has been extremely successful in terms of encouraging people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds to get active as a community. We can’t wait to see how many miles people clock up.”

More information will be available at www.beatthestreet.me/Somervalley and on social media at @BTSSomerValley

tEAM

Withthe conclusion of the trial for the murder of Charley Bates, I hope some closure can now be given to the parents and friends who were so deeply affected by this tragic event. A conviction for murder and a long prison sentence hopefully sends the right message to young people nationwide, let alone Radstock to not carry knives on them. With a blink of an eye, a young life can be lost and another young life spends a large chunk of theirs incarcerated.

Unfortunately, I have recently noticed an increase in anti-social behaviour amongs groups of youths in the area. This is not just isolated to Radstock, but also encompasses the neighbouring areas of Midsomer Norton, Westfield and Peasedown St John. Overall the police are aware of who is causing the anti-social behaviour and are working hard with partner agencies, such as education, local authority, town councils, youth offending teams, youth connect and most importantly, parents to tackle the scourge of anti-social behaviour. Recently I received a letter of thanks from a member of the public who stated: “Thank you for taking my case seriously and having empathy and understanding to see the negative and distressing effect that anti-social behaviour had on my life.” These words are not mine but the words of a victim of crime.

I mentioned parents earlier as the most important cog in tackling anti-social behaviour, because they are the true arbiters of what is right and wrong and should be teaching their children. I would always encourage parents to be actively be aware and intrusive around what your children are doing before you get a knock on the door from one of my officers.

There is always an increase in anti-social behaviour when the weather improves and the days are longer. I will ensure the neighbourhood team at Radstock deal effectively and robustly with it but I will say it just isn’t down to us and all citizens have a responsibility to pull together to create a sense of community and belonging. I would encourage if you see antisocial behaviour, report it on 101 or 999 (in an emergency). If you are a parent of teenagers reading this – what are your children doing today? Are you happy their behaviour meets your standards?

Lee Humphreys Police Sergeant 432

newS From RADStOCk MUSEUM

We have the following fascinating temporary exhibitions on display:

British Dragonfly Society exhibition now – 20th August

We are pleased to tell you that the British Dragonfly Society are curating an Exhibition at Radstock Museum this summer. It covers topics such as the History of Dragonflies, their evolution and fossils; The amazing ways that Dragonflies have adapted for survival; Dragonflies vs Damselflies; Their life cycle and their current state in the UK; Dragonflies in Somerset and how to take action for them.

There’s lots of colourful information on posters and in display cabinets and leaflets to take away. We will also incorporate some activities for children to spark their interest in Dragonflies and Damselflies.

To complement this exhibition, there is also a display of Writhlington School’s long association with dragonflies.

Exhibition of Toys of yesteryear now – 20th August

This exhibition is an opportunity to see and learn about the toys that children had to play with in the

mining era of North Somerset. Some are homemade reflecting the skills and economic hardship of miners and their families. It is an opportunity for us to display some of the many local artefacts stored in Radstock Museum’s collection and for you and your family to compare toys of yesteryear with the toys of your childhood and the present day.

For all exhibitions, normal entry charges apply. Apart from a few exceptions, all entrance tickets are valid for unlimited free re-entry for a year. Visit www. radstockmuseum.co.uk. for opening times, entry charges and more information. We look forward to seeing you at the museum.

DRAGONS’ DEN

We held our ninth Dragons’ Den style event on Friday the 21st of April at the Whisty Hall, Radstock, with ten awards of £500 up for grabs. It was extremely well attended by representatives from thirteen local projects, who had ninety seconds to creatively present their ideas to the receptive audience.

Our theme for this Dragons’ Den was GREEN, so project ideas were required to improve the environment or connect people with the great outdoors.

Robin Moss, from our Big Local team, led the proceedings and kept the event on track with time.

Robin updated the audience on the many projects we’ve been involved in and what we’re going to do over the next couple of years. He gave a special thanks to Somer Valley Rotary Club, for generously contributing £500 towards the grant pot. Soon enough, the pitches began and the timer

started – 90 seconds doesn’t sound like a long time, but you would be surprised at how much information can be shared!

The three friendly dragons took it in turns to ask an encouraging question at the end of each pitch, so that the contestants had a further opportunity to shine.

Our brilliant dragons were Angela Emms, Philanthropy Manager at Quartet Community Foundation; Phil Edmonds, Treasurer of the Somer Valley Rotary Club; and Jenny Cowie, Funding Officer at TNL Community Fund. Before the event started, the contestants had the opportunity to network with the dragons and find out what kind of support was available from their organisations.

In our Dragons’ Dens, it’s the community that decides who wins. Almost seventy votes were counted while some delicious cakes provided by the SWALLOW café were devoured.

Winning projects based in Radstock include:

Writhlington Action Group – want to increase the number of people able to take part in their litter picking sessions, and the money will help cover the cost of adult and junior sized litter pickers, as well as high vis reflective vests, warning markers, and rings to hold litter bags.

Radstock Park Run – who aim to set up a weekly park run taking place along the beautiful Greenway between Radstock and Midsomer Norton in order to providing support for the community’s health.

Trinity Church School – are going to create a bank of wild flower meadow and a space for planting pollinator friendly plants and trees.

Natural Theatre – will provide a series of free sessions run by their professional performers leading to a performance at the Radstock Festival. The theme of the first piece will be connected to future sustainable power sources.

Radstock In Bloom – are purchasing a solar power source for Southfields community garden, helping them to power moth traps for bio-research, power a projector for talks, and opens up more environment events and classes for the space.

P.E.O.P.L.E – are going to create a safe and supported space where people who are lonely, or have mental health difficulties, can grow produce and benefit from the therapeutic nature of gardening.

Youth Connect South West – will purchase equipment and plants for their new gardening project, involving young people from the local area, helping them to learn new skills, and take pride in their work that will be on public display.The Radstock and Westfield Big Local team would like to say a huge thank you to everyone that attended this very successful Dragons’ Den style event, as without you, it wouldn’t work! The event is resident led, resident supported and residents will lead and access the projects that won – that’s what Big Local is all about!

Carrie from Youth Connect and Mark from Natural Theatre sharing a moment.

Jane and Michelle from Writhlington Action Group being presented their certificate.

YOUth CONNECt SoutH weSt

Youth Connect South West youth services operate from Radstock Youth Hub on Church Street in Radstock and are open Monday and Wednesday evenings.

Monday’s project, RIRO which is an art-based project involving young people learning new skills in the creative field runs for young people 13-19 between 7-9pm. The project has been funded by Creativity Works.

The young people attending have been working in 2D and 3D using a range of mediums, materials and had sessions with local artists – they are working towards hosting an interactive art session at the Radstock Fayre on Sunday 4th June for young people and the community.

We are still open for new young people to join sessions, just turn up at the youth centre to join in.

Wednesday’s senior session 7pm- 9pm for young people aged 13-19 and continues to work with Ruby from Little Lost Robot, with funding from Creativity Works and WECA to host a series of industry standard art projects. In the winter the young people learned about stone carving, which added to the work they have been undertaking this spring. Understanding how to use welding equipment and create further pieces to contribute to a new community bench, in memory of Charley.

Whilst some elements of this is completed by the artists, the young people have been building speakers from scratch and decorating the speaker boxes.

Combine this with the DJing sessions we have been running, thanks to Bath Festivals, the team hope the young people can deliver an event to showcase their skills and work.

Radstock Youth Hub won a grant from the recent Dragon’s Den, through Big Local, to run two garden projects, one that will focus on learning new skills in gardening and the other to grow and eat foods, from plant to plate. We will be starting these projects soon – if you are interested in getting involved pop down to the centre on a Wednesday evening.

For more information about sessions in Radstock at our Youth Hub, please contact;

Carrie Ford, NES Youth Work Team Leader -

07875488718

Facebook - Youth Connect SouthWest

Instagram - @youthconnectsouthwest

BAth AREA PLAY PROjECt

Bath Area Play Project are excited to be coming back to Radstock Rec on Weds 26th July from 1 – 4pm

Open to all families with school age children 5 – 11 years, younger children are welcome to join in too!

There will be a wide range of exciting space themed play opportunities including loose parts play, messy and lots of imaginative play.The spin painting bike, a giant inflatable slide and football coaches from Bath City FC Foundation.

For children in receipt of Free School Meals, there will be a booking system to receive a free packed lunch.

We will also be in Paulton on 31st July and Westfield on 16th August as well as other locations across B&NES.

Please like BAPP Facebook page Bath Area Play Project | Bath | Facebook for updates.

We would welcome local business support: can you donate any wood or nails for our woodwork sessions? Lengths of plastic guttering, any large wooden reels or plastic barrels? Remnants of fabric, end of rolls of fabric for costumes and creative play.

Please get in touch if you can help (01225) 832479

Open Morning and Evenings at Wellsway School

Year 5 - Tuesday 4th July - Tours from 9.15am – 10.45am

Year 6 - Thursday 21st September - Tours from 6.00pm – 8.00pm

Year 6 - Tuesday 26th September - Tours from 9.15am – 10.45am

We are delighted to confirm our two open morning dates; we are offering tours to students and families who are interested in joining Wellsway School in September 2024. Visitors always comment on the purposeful, caring and happy ethos of the school, so what better way for you to find out about our vision and values than to come and experience them for yourselves? For those parents/carers who are unable to attend, there will be an additional Year 6 Open Evening in September. The morning will provide an opportunity to see the school in action; to visit curriculum areas and discuss the Wellsway School experience with students and staff.  Please be advised that the morning will finish at 10.45am, the last tour will depart at 10.20am. Our staff and students are the biggest advocate for our school and I am sure when you visit, you will see why we believe Wellsway School is a unique community.

Sixth Form Open Evening

Thursday 5th October, between 6.00pm – 8.00pm

We are delighted to invite key stage 4 students to our Sixth form open evening. On the evening students will be able see the enhanced range of subjects and enrichment opportunities on offer at Wellsway school and learn how we work as a collaborative Sixth Form ‘Futura Sixth’ to be a truly comprehensive sixth form. Students will have the opportunity to speak with staff; attend a presentation from school leaders; speak with sixth form students and discover more about our wide range of courses and experiences that support students throughout Post-16 and on to their next step. This will be followed up by our Open Morning for external applicants, on Wednesday 18th October 2023, between 9.05am - 10.45am.

Somer valleY redIScovered hAYDON BAtCh BIOBLItZ

70 people, including families and children, recently attended a ‘bioblitz’ event at Haydon Batch to record as much wildlife as possible for the City Nature Challenge, West of England, 2023. The event was organised by Somer Valley Rediscovered and the Natural History Consortium and supported by Cam Valley Wildlife Group. There were experts on hand to help with plant, insect, and bird identification but due to the somewhat inclement weather, it was mainly plants that were identified on the day. Plants spotted included Birds Foot Trefoil, Viper’s-Bugloss and Field Wood Rush. Overall, nearly 200 different species of plants were recorded, which really does show what an important site this is for its grassland and associated wildlife.

Participants were encouraged to download the iNaturalist app and upload any pictures of wildlife spotted. The app works by submitting a photo of the wildlife seen, giving identification suggestions of what it thinks you have so you don’t need to be a wildlife expert to use it! Once the record has been verified by a team of online scientists and wildlife enthusiasts, it can be used to inform local and national wildlife conservation work. For more information and to download the app, go to uk.inaturalist.org

Somer Valley Rediscovered will be running more events at Haydon Batch over the coming months. Keep in touch by following us on Instagram and Twitter @somer_valley and keep an eye out of our new website coming soon, www.somervalleyrediscovered.co.uk

We will also be looking for volunteers to get involved with practical conservation projects and wildlife monitoring. If you are interested in finding out more, please contact our Volunteer Co-ordinator, emma_carlisle@bathnes.gov.uk

RADStOCk FAYRE

SundaY June 4tH, 11am to 4Pm

What better way to spend the last Sunday of half term than at the glorious Radstock Fayre?!

Following last year’s hugely successful Jubilee Festival in Radstock, another fantastic event is planned this June. There will be plenty of theatre shows and live music, as well as have a-go creative workshops and stalls from local businesses and organisations. The Radstock Co-operative sponsored Community Stage will also be showcasing the very best of our local talent and the wonderful Swallows Café will be open all day serving delicious food and drink.

Radstock resident and Creative Producer of the event, Mark Bishop, says: “It’s going to be awesome. We

had such a great day last year with such positive feedback that we just had to do it again. It will be a perfect mix of local and national talen... with some bonkers theatre shows and loads for the young people to do. During the event, we will also be commemorating 50 years since the last coal was mined in Radstock in 1973. Come along for a great free family day out!”

There are even ways that you can perform at the festival! The Natural Theatre will be running a series of free workshops leading up the event, with the world-famous company running groups for both young people aged 11+ and adults.

For more information on these workshops, please email mark@naturaltheatre.co.uk. See you there!

COMMUNItY POLLINAtOR FUND

The Southfield Community Garden project is coming on leaps and bounds and much has taken place since we last updated you in the Spring edition of The Wheel.

Hard landscaping has been completed and has truly transformed the area. A base for the outdoor classroom is in place and we await with excitement its installation at the end of May.

The classroom will be at the heart of the garden there to raise awareness and encourage the community to address the ecological emergency and educate all on how they can play a part in supporting our local bees and pollinators.

We look forward to welcoming 1st Radstock Beavers who, at one of their March meetings, heard all about the Bee Bold Pollinator project and voted to spend an evening meeting helping to create and build a Bug Hotel for the Southfield Community Garden. This will contribute towards their “Community Impact Badge” and is just the sort of involvement the project enjoys and encourages.

Volunteers have been hard at work and compost bins have been created and work on dead hedges has begun. You may wonder what is a dead hedge?

A dead hedge is an upright structure of woody cuttings woven between vertical stakes. They provide a tangled maze and a perfect hideaway for birds such as robins, dunnocks, wrens and blackbirds and they’re also great for insects!

The Bloomers have been hard at work planning the planting that will see a huge variety of nectar and pollen-rich flowering plants that will enhance biodiversity and pollinator habitats and will include Russian Sage (Perovskia Blue Spire), Rosemary officialisn and Anemone (hybrida Japanese anemone).

Huge thanks go to everyone who is supporting this amazing community project and we look to welcoming the continued support of volunteers, local residents, community groups and partners over the coming months. If you are interested in volunteering ,please contact us, we would love to hear from you.

We look forward to sharing further updates as the project continues to develop.

For further information contact us:

council@radstock-tc.gov.uk

01761 437962

www.radstock-tc.gov.uk

radstockinbloom@gmail.com

RADStOCk COMMUNItY hUB & LIBRARY

As well as our regular activities and events at the Library (see below), Radstock Library and Community Hub hosts one off events, including a wonderful Bird Box Build over the Easter Holidays.

Our outdoor space was filled with the sound of sawing and hammering as local craftsman Jeff, supported by volunteers Julie and Mike, worked with the youngsters to mark, measure, cut and fix the boxes. Now we are waiting to see if the birds like them as much as we do!

We are looking forward to the annual Summer Reading Challenge, ‘Ready, Set, Read!’, focused on reading, sport and play. From 8th July to 11th September, taking part in the free Challenge, children will be able to join a superstar team and their marvellous mascots as they navigate a fictional summer obstacle course brought to life with illustrations and on-line activity cards rewarded by free incentives including stickers.

All our events are advertised on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/RadstockHub and keep an eye on posters at the Library for up to date information.

On the morning of the first Tuesday of the month, the sound of chatter and laughter, usually drowning out the clicking of knitting needles, fills the air as the Knitter and Natter group share time together in the morning. Do come along and join in the fun

On the mornings of the First and Third Thursday of the month, the Library is filled with songs, musical instruments and stories during ‘Read and Rhyme’ from 9.30am onwards.

We have a board and card games gathering on the morning of the third Tuesday of the month. We have a selection of board games and so, even if you’ve not played for ages, pass the time in the warm with the company of like-minded people, and see if you

can remember the rules.

We are hoping to start a regular Book Club, meeting about every four to six weeks at the Library. If you think you may be interested in coming along, please email council@radstock-tc.gov.uk to let us know and we will keep you updated.

Our computers and printer are available for general use – and for a small charge, we can help with copying or scanning small numbers of documents in colour or black and white.

Thanks to the Radstock in Bloom team, we have litter pickers and rubbish bags you can borrow to help keep our streets clean – youngsters love seeing how much they can pick up and it gives going for a walk

another purpose.

The Library is free to join and membership gives you access to e-books to download, audio books, magazines and newspapers, as well as over 2.5million books across the 145 Libraries West partners.

We have books for all ages –picture books for the very young, books for young readers, graphic novels, books for teenagers, books offering help with relationships, feelings and life events, such as going to school for the first time or visiting the doctor, books with advice for adults on lifestyle, books for gardeners, cooks, home decorators - plus the usual crime and adventure novels, romantic and fantasy novels.

We look forward to seeing you soon.

AGE Uk SUPERStORE

The Age UK Superstore in Radstock offers an extensive range of quality items, including clothing, furniture, electronics, books, and much more. With our affordable prices and regular donations, you can be sure to find a bargain every time you visit.

Our friendly staff are always on hand to help you find what you’re looking for and answer any questions you may have. Plus, we offer a convenient home delivery service for larger items, making your shopping experience even more hassle-free.

But that’s not all - by shopping at the Age UK Superstore, you’re also supporting a fantastic cause. All profits go towards supporting older people in the community, every purchase you make helps us

fund vital services such as befriending, information and advice, and much more, so you can feel good knowing that they’re making a real difference.

This year we have the support of The Wombles. By donating your unwanted goods you’re also helping to reduce waste that ends up in landfill.

So why not pay us a visit today? Our Superstore is located at Frome Road, Radstock and we’re open every day. We look forward to seeing you soon! And, if you like us that much, why not volunteer with us?’

School Uniforms

Norton Hill • Somervale

Welton Primary

Shoscombe Primary

St Benedict’s Primary

Fosse Way School • Westfield Primary

Midsomer Norton Primary

St John’s Primary

High Littleton Primary

St Nicholas Church School

Leigh On Mendip Primary

St Julian’s Church School

Farrington Gurney Primary School

BUY NOW AND SPREAD YOUR PAYMENTS

77 High Street, Midsomer Norton BA3 2DE

Tel: 01761 418972

Website: nortonsports.co.uk

Email: nortonsportsandcamping@hotmail.com

SWALLOW ChARItY tHIrtY For 30 cHallenGe

Swallow Charity is celebrating its 30th Anniversary this year, and to raise money to help keep the charity thriving and supporting people with learning disabilities for the next 30 years and beyond, they are holding a Challenge Month this June. There are lots of ways that you can get involved! SWALLOW are calling out for people to take on a challenge based around the theme of 30. Maybe you could walk 30 kilometers in a day, cycle to work for 30 days, bake 30 cakes to sell, ask for 30 donations to SWALLOW for your birthday – the possibilities are endless.

SWALLOW is also organising a very special Schools’ Challenge so that people of all ages can get involved.

There will be a challenge sheet for children to take part in during the month of June – including things like ‘complete 30 acts of kindness’ and ‘dance for 30 minutes’ – with goody bag prizes to be won for those who complete the most challenges. Schools can also take part in a collective challenge – star jumps for the little ones and laps around the playground for the older ones.

SWALLOW members who have learning disabilities are also doing their bit to raise money. Some are taking part in sponsored walks, fun runs and more. If you, your workplace or school would like more information on how you can help, please get in touch with Jade at SWALLOW on jadeogden@ swallowcharity.org or call 01761 414034.

LIttLE LOSt ROBOtS

On Tuesday mornings, Little Lost Robot CIC are running free Creative Radstock sessions at the former Trinity Methodist Church, The Street, BA3 3PL. Sessions take place 9.30am - 11.30am, every Tuesday during term times. These are free to attend and open to everyone, just drop in, there is no requirement to book. The programme varies during school holidays - contact the organisers for more information.

Activities are primarily aimed at adults, but children are always welcome to take part or play with our selection of preloved toys. Snacks and refreshments are provided for free. Creative Radstock is by

professional artists and creative producers who are part of Little Lost Robot CIC.

Drop in to learn new skills, start a new creative project of your own, or simply make and chat in good company. The artists running these workshops work with local creatives and skills within the community. They look towards local natural and social history for inspiration and aim to help develop confidence in existing skills and create opportunities for building creative careers. Sessions are low pressure and visitors are encouraged to do as much or as little as you wish. For more information, please visit www.lostrobot.org/ radstock or email producer@lostrobot.org.

BRIStOL AvON RIvER tRUSt

Would you like to help us protect our rivers and streams along the Cam & Wellow Brooks?

You can join Bristol Avon Rivers Trust (BART) as a River Detective to make a positive difference for the environment where you live!

Our citizen science project, BART River Detectives, involves taking monthly water quality samples in your local area to help monitor our rivers and streams which are in poor health and currently vulnerable to pollution. By getting involved, you will be a part of an important programme that aims to recruit a

network of citizen scientists across the Bristol Avon catchment to collect valuable data and identify areas for improvement.

You will be provided with a free monthly water testing kit and given access to upload your results onto our interactive map where you can see all the data collected by other BART Detectives!

To express your interest or to find out more about this project, please contact our Project Assistant Molly at molly@bristolavonriverstrust.org

See wHat SWAN tRANSPORt do In Your communItY

Leave the doom and gloom behind and think about joining our team, helping to get people active, getting out and meeting new people. If you have use of a car and want to stay healthy and boost your wellbeing, consider becoming a volunteer driver with Swan.

Whether you are a young driver or more experienced, we would love to hear from you and whatever time you can give will be valued. This is volunteering that works around you not the other way around. We pay mileage expenses based on the Inland Revenue rates and training and support is provided.

This role has direct contact with people and if you are not sure what it entails, you can try it out before deciding to join. Swan has a brilliant team of volunteer drivers who can show you the ropes and take you on a typical journey, so that you can see if

this is something you would benefit from and enjoy doing. Our driving team help to get people who have no transport of their own to take journeys across B&NES. We have regular and ad hoc trips with a wide variety of journeys and as a driver, you decide what type of journeys you enjoy, so you can pick what you like, all the passengers you take will be mobile enough to get in and out of the car with minimal assistance.

Swan Transport assists residents in Bsth & North East Somerset who are older and disabled people on low income. It enables people to participate in social, recreational and community opportunities and helps people remain independent.

If you are interested or just want to find out more, contact us on 01761 439548 or email office@ swan-transport.co.uk and talk to Sarah or Ann who can explain a bit more and answer your questions about volunteering as a driver with Swan.

A SAD FAREWELL tO RADStOCk tOWN COUNCIL

For twelve years, I’ve had the enormous privilege of representing the Central Area of Radstock on the Council. I was inspired to become a town councillor as a volunteer effort because this is an exciting way to contribute to making a better future for the town. Local councils are the first step on the political ladder and, as such, are the very heart of democracy.

At this time, Radstock is on the threshold of building a more vibrant and relevant future. The acquisition of Trinity promises the start of a new lease of life for our town and with the exciting innovations at Hayden Batch and the WECA support, everything is looking hopeful.

Recently, age and osteoarthritis have inconveniently intervened and I feel that I no longer possess the energy and physical dexterity to continue to fulfill the demands of my office. I, therefore, have reluctantly reached the conclusion that it’s time to “pass the torch on to the next generation.”

I thank all my friends and neighbours who gave me their votes, which enabled me to be part of this twelve-year exciting political adventure and strongly encourage constituents in my area to get involved and take up the challenge.

Thank you and warmest regards,

Elizabeth Derl-Davis

SIGht SUPPORt SoutH weSt

Sight Support West of England works to improve the quality of life of visually impaired and blind people in Radstock and beyond. We believe that sight loss shouldn’t stop people reaching their full potential, so our services are aimed at giving people the tools they need to live independent and fulfilling lives. Working across Bristol, Bath & North-East Somerset, and South Gloucestershire, we are the only charity in the region providing local, face-to-face support. With our partner charity Wiltshire Sight, we also work across Wilshire and Swindon.

Thanks to the grant awarded by Radstock Town Council, we will be able to continue supporting those living with sight loss in Radstock.

The Community Sight Loss Advisor for Radstock can offer practical support, as well as information and advice on all things sight loss related at monthly hubs across the region. Our hub in Midsomer Norton, where as well as guidance, you can also try out equipment and see demonstrations of useful living aids, is held on the 2nd Friday of each month from 10 am to 12 pm at Unit 14, 14 South Road, Midsomer Norton, BA3 2EZ. There is also a friendly social group held here at the same time. Please just pop in, appointments are available but not necessary. To find details of all our hubs, please see our website www.sightsupportwest.org.uk

We have other services that may also be useful to anyone living with sight loss. As well as our monthly e-newsletter of news and events for visually impaired people, we publish a twice-yearly magazine called Visible. It features interesting and useful articles, charity updates, and links to helpful organisations. We also run a course for people newly diagnosed with sight loss called ‘Moving Forward’, which is a series of talks on all things sight loss related. We offer a free audio-book postal service, and technology training. Finally, we run our ‘Eye Can’ Exhibitions which are held in Bath, Swindon, Bristol and Salisbury. These events bring over thirty providers of services, technology, and equipment together under one roof.

If anyone would like any more information about our services, please contact info@sightsupportwest.org.uk or call 0117 322 4885.

RADStOCk IN BLOOM

As we move into Summer, I’m delighted to say that this year sees Radstock in Bloom move up into the under 10K Champions of Champions class. With our success of winning our category and Ayre Cup, comes the chance to pit our town against some of the heavy weights of In Bloom in the southwest.

We will, of course, give it our best shot, and with lots of dedication from our team and all those community groups and traders, we enter this time not to win the overall champions or Gold, but to gain experience, learn and have fun doing it, so when the next Champions of Champions comes round, we can aim higher.

That said, it has been a very busy Spring for Bloom, we will be installing the new look coal trucks purchased by the town council and will be adding sustainable planting in early summer. Maintenance has been ongoing in our beds and planters around town.

Southfields Community Garden is coming along nicely but we are always after helping hands, this will be judged in the It’s Your Neighbourhood category this year, with a view to move it into the main route in the coming years, as it establishes and grows.

You may have noticed the bunting hung for the King’s Coronation. Those Radstock Knitters have been busy counting, dropping, and casting on. They will be providing us with more lovely surprises to share with you all as we move closer to judging and summer in Radstock.

And then there is of course, our lovely bloomers, those unsung heroes who just get on with it, if you’re lucky to see one, stop have a quick chat and if you have an idea, things you like? even things you dislike? let them know. As a group we thrive on feedback.

Finally, as I approach the end of my term as chair, I’d like to think that as a team we have made an impact over the last five years, and we have done what we

have always set out to do first and foremost; To make Radstock a brighter cleaner place for our residents, traders, and visitors.

We had some bonuses along the way; Silver gilt in 2019, Gold in 2021, Winning the Ayre cup and being named best in our category in 2022 and now an opportunity to compete with the very best in the southwest.

My chairship runs until November 2023 and I’m sure that given the chance, I will return to the chair in the future but for the now, I’d like to focus on what’s left of my horticulture career wherever it takes me, becoming an established RHS Bloom judge and being part of the Radstock In Bloom team.

Good luck Bloomers, let’s give these lovely people of Radstock and our RHS judges a show and thank you all for your love and support of Radstock in Bloom.

Sean Fletcher

Helping you live independently

Your local supplier of superior quality mobility aids in Somerset and the South West.

We offer a wide range of mobility equipment and vehicles, we can also offer bespoke products that can be tailored to meet your individual requirements. Our friendly staff will help you choose a wheelchair or rise and recliner chair that is perfectly sized for you. Either visit us in our showroom or we offer a free no obligation home assessment.

We also have an engineering department that offers servicing, and repairs on your mobility products either in our workshop or at your own home.

Contact us today we will always be available to offer you advice or answer any questions you may have.

Riser & Recliner Chairs, Powered Wheelchairs, Scooters, Stairlifts, Walking Aids and Pressure Care.

Photographs: Construction of the bug hotel, The Coronation bunting and the In Bloom Big Help Out.

hOPE hOUSE CENtRE

In July 2022 Hope House Surgery and the local Children’s Centre & Family Services Team moved to the new Hope House Centre situated on Waterloo Road, Radstock.

The Hope House Centre incorporates a community health and wellbeing space supported by the Radstock and Westfield Big Local Partnership, with a Big Local grant administered on behalf of the Big Lottery Fund. This community space can be used for activities relating to health and wellbeing, allowing the centre to host educational and support sessions in Radstock, avoiding the need to travel further afield. Many organisations are already using the range of rooms available at the centre including Southside (Domestic Violence Support), The National Diabetes Prevention Programme, The Wellbeing College, DeafPlus, Off The Record and St Mungo’s.

This new location benefits from on-site parking for patients, as well as dedicated disabled parking spaces next to the entrance and a bike rack. Being located on the Sustrans network the centre encourages staff and residents to cycle and walk where possible and has a water refill point located in the waiting area free for anyone to pop in and use.

The building is designed to meet high standards of environmental efficiency and includes an extensive solar panel installation to the south elevation to provide electricity and hot water, with all new appliances having been carefully chosen based on their efficiency ratings, as part of the centres commitment to the environment and in recognition of the climate emergency.

It is hoped that the Hope House Centre will become a place that the community of Radstock and surrounding areas feel they can visit for many reasons and a place that they will always be welcome.

RADStOCk NEIGhBOURhOOD DEvELOPMENt PLAN

“Your Radstock, Your Say”

Neighbourhood planning gives communities direct power to develop a shared vision for their neighbourhood and shape the development and growth of their local area.

The Steering Group who are leading on the development of the plan for Radstock have put together a questionnaire which will give you a chance

to have a say in influencing the future of Radstock for the next 20 years and beyond.

We thank you in advance for taking the time to fill in the questionnaire out, your comments and suggestions will be very valuable in the development of the Neighbourhood Development Plan for Radstock.

hAYDON vILLAGE hALL - Que cluB

Haydon Village Hall was formed in 1954 by the local miners from Kilmersdon colliery, the timber building burnt down and was rebuilt by the members. Over the years, there has been significant changes to the building, with windows being added, new doors fitted and an extension to the cellar.

In lockdown the village hall gained planning permission to build an extension for new toilets and storage area, this is nearing completion. When complete, we will rip out the existing toilets and build a community kitchen for all to use.

With the help of Radstock Town Council and especially our local councillor Gary Dando, who worked with the committee at the club to help with the planning. BANES has granted planning permission for us to build a football pitch sports field at Haydon for all to use, this is an ongoing project.

The Haydon sports football team, formed by Paul Kingman, who has had a great year winning promotion for the team, Paul welcomes any one who would like to play.

Haydon Village Hall is there for the community. Currently, it is used as headquarters for the local snooker league, we have 2 full size snooker tables at the club and a pool table, darts board and skittle alley, all are welcome to come along and use the facilities, we are open from 7pm – 11pm Monday to Saturday, Sunday, 12 noon - 4.30pm and then again, 7pm - 11pm.

The club telephone number for enquiries is 01761 322015

Richard Clifford Committee member

FUtURE BRIGht

Is Future Bright for me?

Future Bright offers FREE one-to-one career coaching to residents:

• in Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol and South Gloucestershire

• aged 18 and over

• in paid work (including zero hours and selfemployed)

What will I get? We will…

• Support you to create a career action plan

PAULTON DENTAL & IMPLANT CENTRE

• Explore career progression opportunities with you

• Help you with employability tools and skills such as CV, personal statement, application and interview techniques

• Help you to build your confidence and motivation

Our support is tailored to each individual and the level of support may vary depending on your individual circumstances.

How do I sign up?

Go to www.futurebright.org.uk and fill in our online form or call 01225 395555 for a chat with the team.

Tel: 01761 416057

reception@paultondental.co.uk Ivy Cottage, High Street, Paulton BS39 7QA

Smile Transformations in Paulton

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www.paultondental.co.uk

Dental Implants

Constantly improving our facilities, our equipment is kept up to date and our staff are highly trained in order to deliver a high level of dental care and a complete range of dental treatments to our patients.

P.E.O.P.L .E

Well summer is nearly upon us and we all look forward to some sunshine and opportunities to continue our work within Radstock.

We are delighted to have been supported by Radstock Town Council and intend to develop our services year on year for the community, this will of course include looking at ways in which we can support Trinity Methodist Church in the town centre.

The award of the Dragon’s Den grant from the Big Local has been a huge joy for us. The nerves held and we gave our pitch to a very supportive gathering at the Whisty Hall! We are hoping that our “Pots and Potter” project will enable diverse groups of people to enjoy a relaxing space and watch the seeds of their efforts grow!

If you are interested in getting involved with this then please do contact us. We are hoping to replicate a summer of themed events of afternoon tea which we will distribute to people within the community. Please keep an eye out for this and we will liaise with other groups within the town regarding dates.

As local residents ourselves and a number of our loyal volunteers, we are committed to tackling social disadvantage and supporting all who fall within this wide ranging remit within our town.

Please do contact us if you wish to know more about what we do and if you need our support, or if you would like to volunteer alongside us. The contact number is 01761 402687 or email info@ peoplelimited.co.uk

We hope you all have a wonderful summer and keep safe and well.

Jenny, Ty and all at PEOPLE

IF THE UK SPENT JUST £5 A WEEK WITH THEIR LOCAL SHOPS & BUSINESSES INSTEAD OF ONLINE OR WITH MULTI-NATIONALS, IT WOULD BE WORTH APPROX £16 BILLION GOING DIRECTLY BACK INTO OUR TOWNS.

WHICH MEANS REAL JOBS, BETTER FACILITIES AND A NICER PLACE TO LIVE.

MAKES YOU THINK DOESN'T IT?

CLERk ’S MESSAGE

Hello. The next copy of the Wheel seems to come around so quickly the signs of winter are finally gone!

May sees the new Council term and we welcome new Councillors. It is lovely to have some new faces but equally, it is sad to say farewell to those Councillors who leave us having supported the Town Council over the last 4 years (some for much longer!).

As always, we have been very busy and I hope you find this issue of the Wheel extra informative.

There is a lot to be excited about. Radstock Town Council are working with many groups, organisations and individuals supporting the numerous projects that are coming to Radstock. The Bee Bold project at Southfield with Radstock In Bloom, Bath and NE Somerset Council with the Radstock Regeneration,

Active way, Beat the Street and Somer Valley Rediscovered Green Spaces project.

Over the last few months the Radstock Neighbourhood Development Plan group have been working to put together a questionnaire that will help shape the plan for the future of Radstock. The questionnaire is included with this edition of The Wheel and we very much hope you can find the time to complete and return.

Don’t forget The Radstock Fayre will take place on Sunday 4th June 2023 from 11am to 4pm. This years’ fayre celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the last Somerset pit closure. It’s a FREE event for all the family and friends to enjoy. We look forward to seeing you there.

Take care.

George

Your town COUNCILLORS

Cllr Rupert Bevan – Radstock Centre Ward

Cllr Lavinia Corrick – Radstock Writhlington Ward

Cllr Chris Dando – Radstock Centre Ward

Cllr Adrian Dodgson – Radstock Clandown Ward

Cllr Liam Kirby – Radstock Centre Ward

Cllr Lesley Mansell – Radstock Haydon Ward

Cllr Barbara Pitt

– Radstock Haydon Ward

Cllr Bruce Shearn

– Radstock Clandown Ward

Cllr Matthew Shearn – Radstock Writhlington Ward

Cllr Nick Toogood – Radstock Writhlington Ward

These are your new town councillors. Details on how to contact them and pictures will be available in the Autumn issue.

Cllr Dominic Tristram – Radstock Centre Ward

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