Business

Significant divorce reforms

THEDivorce, Dissolution and Separation Act (2020), represents the biggest shake-up in divorce law for more than half a century. It ends completely the need for separating couples to apportion blame for the breakdown of their marriage, helping them to instead focus on key practical decisions involving children or their finances and look to the future.

Previously, one spouse was forced to make accusations about the other’s conduct, such as ‘unreasonable behaviour’ or adultery, or face years of separation before a divorce could be granted. This was regardless of whether a couple had made a mutual decision to separate.

The changes mean that a spouse, or a couple jointly, can now apply for divorce by stating their marriage has broken down irretrievably. It removes unnecessary finger-pointing and acrimony at a time where emotions are already running high, and spares children from witnessing their parents mudslinging.

Importantly, it stops one partner from vindictively contesting a divorce and locking their spouse into an unhappy marriage. In some cases, domestic abusers can use their ability to challenge the process to further harm their victims or to trap them in the relationship. The reforms will put an end to this behaviour.

The Act also introduces a new minimum timeframe of 20 weeks between the start of proceedings and when individuals may apply for a conditional order of divorce. This will offer time to reflect, and potentially turn back, or where reconciliation is not possible to agree important arrangements for the future –such as those involving children, finance and property.

Specifically, the measures from the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act that came into force on 6 April 2022 include: • Replacing the current requirement to evidence either a conduct or separation ‘fact’ with the provision of a statement of irretrievable breakdown of the marriage (for the first time, couples can opt to make this a joint statement). • Removing the possibility of disputing the decision to divorce, as a statement will be conclusive evidence that the marriage has irretrievably broken down, except on limited technical grounds. • Introducing a new minimum period of 20 weeks from the start of proceedings to a conditional order of divorce being made, allowing greater opportunity for couples to agree practical arrangements for the future where reconciliation is not possible and divorce is inevitable. • Simplifying the language of divorce to make it more understandable. This includes replacing the terms ‘decree nisi’, ‘decree absolute’ and ‘petitioner’, with ‘conditional order’, ‘final order’ and ‘applicant’.

This legislation is a step in the right direction but there remains the issue over how to improve procedure for the post divorce division of the family assets to try to reduce the level of conflict and improve outcomes to the benefit of both parents and children. It is hoped that the Government will look into this in the near future.

EDWARD LYONS

Email: enquiries@lyonslaw.co.uk Website: www.lyonslaw.co.uk Telephone: 01275 332168

An established and progressive law firm providing a personal and cost-effective legal service for commercial and individual clients.

l Family & Divorce Law l Co-habitation disputes l Inheritance disputes l Wills and Living Wills l Powers of Attorney l Administration of Trusts l Property – sales and purchases

OFFICES AT: Chew Magna 01275 332168 Westbury-on-Trym 0117 950 6506 Kingswood 0117 967 5252

Travel agent named one of the best in Britain

GLOBAL Independent Travel, in Clevedon, earned a place in the TTG Top 50 Travel Agencies 2022, an annual power-list of the nation’s best agents by industry bible, Travel Trade Gazette.

TTG group editor Pippa Jacks said: “Now in its seventh year, our TTG Top 50 Travel Agencies initiative sees us tour the length and breadth of the UK and Ireland to find those travel agents who have worked smartest, provided the best customer service, and done most to contribute to a fairer travel industry, in the last 12 months.

“Travel agents have come through the most challenging two years in the industry’s history, but by offering expert advice and support to customers throughout the pandemic, our Top 50 winners have all won new clients and are looking ahead to a bright future.”

Global Independent Travel was visited by TTG to conduct a thorough assessment of customer service, expertise, innovation, and commitment to creating a great place to work and operating more sustainably.

Managing director, Lisa Weakley, said: “We’re a small Independent travel agent who work so hard. So winning this award was an amazing achievement for us and was so unexpected. And at such a tough time during the Covid crisis. Top 50 felt like a real light at the end of the tunnel.”

The TTG Top 50 ceremony took place at The Vox in Birmingham with almost 450 of the UK and Ireland’s top travel agents and supplier partners in attendance, with entertainment from Brit Award-winning singer Will Young.

The team (l to r) Laura, Lisa, Sheila, Laura P and Helen

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Find Somerset Workwear at the North Somerset Show

THE team at Somerset Workwear say they are looking forward to welcoming visitors to their trade stand at the North Somerset Show at Wraxall on Monday, May 2nd.

On display will be leading brands of workwear and safety footwear from Portwest, Fort, TuffStuff, Orn and Titan. Designed for trades whether construction, service or agriculture, you will find the product fit for the job.

On display will be a selection of work trousers and shorts, coveralls, coats and jackets, hi-vis clothing and examples of their quality polo shirts and t-shirts.

Amongst the range of safety footwear visitors will be able to see the amazing wellington boots from the Leon Boots Company. Why amazing? A wellie boot range that is so light that you need to see it to believe it!

Run by Mark and Caira Day, Somerset Workwear is based just off First Avenue on the Westfield Industrial Estate. It is an extension of the wellestablished specialist electronic assembly consumables and tools company Somerset Solders which moved from Chilcompton to Westfield in 2018.

Mark said: “We welcome any enquiries for our workwear range and are happy to discuss any customising your workwear requires using our inhouse embroidery service. And if you are unable to visit us at the show, then do please visit our trade counter on the Westfield Industrial Estate, Radstock!”

Ultra-light boots from the Leon Boots Company Look out for their distinctive trade stand

In-house embroidery service

TROUSERS, JOGGERS & SHORTS, POLO SHIRTS, T-SHIRTS, HOODIES & FLEECES, HI-VIS JACKETS, TROUSERS & WAISTCOATS, SAFETY BOOTS & WELLINGTONS, COVERALLS IN HI-VIS AND FLAME RETARDANT. ORDER ONLINE OR VISIT US TODAY

Visit our trade counter

Town Deal deadline approaching

Mark Adler looks at two of the 12 projects which are in line for a share of the £23.6m Glastonbury Town Deal

A SECOND open day event will be held in Glastonbury on Saturday, May 7th to offer the local community a chance to find out about the 12 projects which stand to benefit from the Town Deal funding.

The event will be held at St John’s Church in Glastonbury. Local residents and businesses are encouraged to visit to learn about the exciting opportunities and benefits that the funding could bring for the town. It follows a successful open day at the town hall in late February, which attracted more than 350 people. Feedback is now being used by the project teams as they continue to develop the business cases required by the government. The business cases must be submitted by the end of June, with an announcement expected in the autumn. Glastonbury is one of 101 towns in the UK to receive investment as part of the government’s Towns Fund scheme. It received the highest award in the South West and one of the highest per capita in England.

The open day runs from 10.30am until 2.30pm. For details: glastonburytowndeal.co.uk

Leisure centre plans

THE buildings at Tor Sports and Leisure Centre are set to receive £2million as part of a refurbishment and new-build scheme being proposed by the town board and owners Mendip District Council.

They hope to create a community sports and leisure hub, attracting more groups and organisations to the centre. Work could begin next year. One of those groups is Edge Acrobatics which launched last June and now has more than 100 members from four years old upwards. They have to meet in various venues in the area due to a lack of space.

It is also hoped that the regeneration of the site will generate further funds to enhance the sports pitches, including Glastonbury Cricket Club.

Preparing the wicket for the new cricket season, beginning in May

Tor Sports and Leisure Centre could benefit from a £2million investment Gracie (bottom) and Doria, two members of Edge Acrobatics

Mendip riches –protecting our grasslands with grants for landowners

JUST 1% of the UK’s land area is speciesrich grassland. The Mendip Hills bucks the curve here, with our south-facing slopes in particular supporting wonderful examples of species-rich limestone grasslands, and the AONB Unit has grants available to help landowners protect them and create more.

The stretch of limestone grasslands along the southern slopes of the hills is the largest area of this type in the UK and supports good populations of many pollinating insects due to the abundance of wildflowers in the warmer months. Pollinators supported by the nectar-rich grasslands on the hills, will spill out into the arable farms of the Plateau, and are crucial for the soft-fruit growers along the strawberry belt.

It's not just limestone grasslands the AONB is important for; due to the unique geology of the area, and the lead content of the soils, the Mendip Hills is one of the few places in the UK where you can find acidloving plants sitting happily next to their alkaline counterparts. Including meadows –also rare at a national level – the Mendip Hills AONB has a spectacular diversity of wildflowers in a relatively small space.

Grasslands are an ancient habitat that formed after the last Ice Age, and were then sculpted and expanded by early human activity. Shepherding and haymaking are a vital part of our landscape and cultural heritage.

But many grasslands have been lost, primarily due to fertilisation or overgrazing, interfering with the delicate species balance. And as more and more grasslands were lost, the surviving patches became too far apart for seeds or animals to spread between them.

Farmers and landowners can help strengthen our grasslands. If there is already good grassland on your holding, keeping it that way with managed grazing regimes and native breeds that can still maintain bulk on rough ground, plus avoiding any chemical inputs is a hugely valuable project –protecting the biodiversity, protecting the carbon sequestration of the soils, and protecting the beauty of the area.

If you would like to increase the speciesrichness of your holding to tie in with the surrounding landscape, or provide an oasis, there are ways to reduce the rigour of dominant grasses to allow native wildflowers to thrive – this can include changes to grazing patterns and taking hay cuts, and may involve increasing the number of local wildflower seeds in the soil, for example through green-haying.

And you don’t need to convert your entire field. Field margins and banks can provide essential corridors for species to move about in the landscape. Wildflower strips will increase the number of pollinators on your land, and also increase the number of predators like birds and beetles to control pest species.

Wildflowers will often find a way, if given an opportunity and some time, and require fewer financial investments than improved grasslands.

The preservation and enhancement of our beautiful grasslands is a type of public good, for which the government is committed to paying farmers and landowners for under the upcoming environmental land management schemes. Currently, the Farming in Protected Landscapes programme is open for applications, and would love to support projects that enhance and connect the species-rich grasslands of the Mendip Hills AONB.

Celebrating 50 years of caring together

Fifty years ago, the Mendip Hills was designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). From its distinctive characteristics, tranquil plateau and extraordinary views to the rich history, diverse wildlife, and abundance of outdoor and underground playgrounds, the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is a treasured landscape to millions. In 2022, through a series of events, activities, and special moments we are celebrating what makes our treasured land so precious. Go to www.mendiphillsaonb.org.uk to find out more.

Megan Godley Farming Engagement Officer Farming in Protected Landscapes Mendip Hills AONB Charterhouse Centre, BS40 7XR Office telephone: 01761 462338 Email: megan@mendiphillsaonb.org.uk www.mendiphillsaonb.org.uk

Making gardens wildlife friendly

SOMERSETWildlife Trust has launched a unique new open garden scheme for garden lovers and wildlife enthusiasts across the county.

Wilder Open Gardens will give amateur gardeners and anyone with even slightly green fingers the chance to share some of the special things they are doing for nature.

From balcony and patio gardens to large private estates and everything in between, anyone with a love of wildlife is encouraged to get involved.

The aim of the scheme is to inspire others to make their outdoor spaces more friendly for wildlife, no matter what size, in order to combat the huge decline in nature across the county – and to raise funds for Somerset Wildlife Trust at the same time.

Somerset Wildlife Trust’s Community Fundraiser, Kate Wilson, said: “Nature is in huge decline and climate change is exacerbating the rate at which this is happening. Literally every space for nature counts, large or small, so our gardens have a really important role to play in terms of reversing that decline and putting nature back into our gardens – and into our lives.” l Somerset Wildlife Trust will be hosting a special online event on May 4th, 7-9pm, to explain how local communities can take action for nature’s recovery by taking note of and recording the wildlife that’s right on their doorsteps. Details: Community Wildlife Mapping in Somerset | Somerset Wildlife Trust. EACH spring sees 55 new High Sheriffs appointed by the Queen to spend a year encouraging and supporting both the rule of law and the work of charities in their county. When Thomas Sheppard was appointed in Somerset in 2021 it was to an empty Wells Cathedral due to Covid. But this year, Jennifer Duke who lives on Exmoor, was able to celebrate becoming High Sheriff to a full house.

Jennifer is now the 961st High Sheriff of Somerset, and expects a very busy time ahead. She will be pursuing her personal support of young people across Somerset as well as playing an integral part in the county’s celebrations of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

Thomas spent his year seeking out and thanking those who had made particular contributions to the county. He said: “It was a happy revelation to see so much community spirit alive in Somerset.”

The trust has created a special Wilder Open Gardens pack. Details: somersetwildlife.org/wilder-open-gardens

On the road –for 50 years!

A BATH& North East Somerset highways engineer says he’s not hanging up his hard hat or hi-vis jacket just yet despite clocking up 50 years working on the area’s roads. Allan Sperring, who started work for the council on April 17th, 1972 aged just 17, is celebrating half a century of public service based at the council’s Clutton Road depot.

The grandfather of eight left school in 1970 when he was 15 and began his first job collecting milk churns from local farms, but the work ended when milk tankers were introduced.

He had to look for another job and there were two options that appealed to him – one was driving big tractors for the Forestry Commission and the other was working for the highways team at Somerset Council at Clutton.

Allan said: “I was really keen on tractors so went to see the man about working for the Forestry Commission, but the guy didn’t turn up. Instead I went to see Mr Bailey at the Clutton depot. Mr Bailey asked me, ‘How did you get here?’ I said I cycled from Harptree to Clutton and Mr Bailey said, ‘you’re fit enough – start Monday!’”

Allan Sperring

New High Sheriff

(Photograph courtesy of Mark Pickthall)

Jennifer Duke and Thomas Sheppard