Crash closes A358 as two are cut free from wreckage

THE A358 between Williton and Taunton was closed for a number of hours last night after two vehicles were in collision near Bicknoller.
Two men - one in each vehicle – were trapped in the wreckage and had to be cut free by fire and rescue crews using hydraulic cutting equipment.
They were handed over to waiting ambulance crews who took them to Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton.
Both men’s injuries were said not to be life threatening.
Fire and rescue crews attended the scene from Williton and Nether Stowey, together with a rescue tender from Taunton, and a command support unit from Wiveliscombe.
The accident happened between Newton Lane and Slough Lane just before 9 pm and blocked the A358 in both directions, causing long traffic queues as police redirected vehicles along country lanes.

New woman takes the helm for constituency's Lib Dems

FORMER Sedgemoor district councillor Marilyn Wallace (pictured) has taken over as chairman of Bridgwater and West Somerset constituency Liberal Democrats.
Mrs Wallace succeeds Janice Beasley, who lives in Cannington and who had been chairman for the past three years.
She was elected at the branch’s annual meeting of Bridgwater and West Somerset LibDems held in Nether Stowey.
Mrs Wallace, who lives in Chedzoy, said: “This will be an exciting and busy year as there will be both county council and European elections.
“We must also be prepared for a General Election when it comes.
“I am looking forward to working with our Parliamentary candidate Theo Butt Philip, our members, and supporters, and hope to encourage new people to join us in our social and campaigning events.”
Mr Butt Philip said: “Marilyn has been involved in the Lib Dems locally for many years as both an activist and a district councillor.
“Her experience will be invaluable.
“I would also like to pay tribute to Janice Beasley for the sterling work she has done as chairman for the last year.
“She has been a great source of strength and support to me and to the whole of the Bridgwater and West Somerset Liberal Democrats.”

Lock up village homes warning from police after spate of attempted burglaries

RESIDENTS of Nether Stowey were being warned to take extra precautions to secure their homes after a burglary and a series of attempted break-ins were discovered in the village.
The incidents all occurred during a single night and were thought to be the work of the same gang of thieves.
They all happened in the Banneson Road area during the early hours of yesterday.
Police are anxious to trace a group of men who were seen repeatedly driving along the road shortly before 5.30 am yesterday.
Their presence coincided with a break-in at one property, which the householder said had happened some time between 10.50 pm on Tuesday and 8.40 am yesterday.
The intruders searched cupboards and drawers, although it remained unclear whether anything had been taken.
During the same timeframe, several other properties were disturbed as somebody tried the locks on doors and windows after entering people’s gardens.
Police said although such incidents were rare, residents should be extra careful to ensure they secured their homes and kept any valuables out of sight.
Anybody with any information about the incidents should contact police by calling 0845 4567000 or using the confidential free Crimestoppers number 0800 555111.

Holnicote Estate rural workshop destroyed in electrical fire

A WORKSHOP on the National Trust’s Holnicote Estate was almost completely destroyed by fire early today.
The alarm was sounded by a tenant farmer at isolated Horner Farm, near Luccombe, at about 9 am.
A fire and rescue crew was initially sent to the scene from Minehead, but on arrival the officer in charge realised the incident was much more serious and called in further crews from Dulverton, Wiveliscombe, Nether Stowey, and Lynton.
It is thought an electrical fault was to blame for setting alight the converted barn premises.
The fire quickly ripped through the 164 feet by 33 feet building, although nobody was hurt in the incident.
It took several hours for the firefighters to put out the blaze using compressed air foam, two hose reel jets and one main jet.
Approximately 70 per cent of the building was destroyed and machinery and tools inside the workshop were even more badly damaged.
National Trust senior rural surveyor Andrew Lawes said although a detailed fire investigation report was awaited, it appeared that faulty electrics were to blame.
Mr Lawes said: “Our insurers and loss adjusters will visit in the New Year to survey the extent of the damage to the barn.
“We are relieved nobody has been hurt and are grateful to the fire and rescue service for their efforts in containing the fire so quickly and preventing the spread of damage to other parts of Horner Farm.”

Stolen stone cockerels hold sentimental value

POLICE are appealing for information following the theft of two sentimental stone ornamental cockerels from the doorstep of a Quantocks village home.
The ornaments, which were a gift to the owner’s late husband, hold great sentimental value and were believed to have been stolen between 10 am and 1 pm on Friday, November 14.
They were kept outside the front door of the owner’s home in Mill Lane, Nether Stowey.
Police are keen to talk to anybody who was in the area at the time or who may have seen something suspicious.
Anybody with any information should contact Bridgwater Police Station on 0845 456 7000 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

• Our photograph shows the two stone cockerels. Photo by Avon and Somerset Constabulary.

Kennel Club award for dog-friendly Nether Stowey B&B

A NETHER Stowey B&B has been awarded a Kennel Club honour for an innovative attempt to beat the credit crunch.
The Old Cider House (pictured), in Castle Street, won the Open For Dogs award after a national vote for the most canine-friendly businesses.
Ian Pearson and his partner Lynne Abbott, who bought the Edwardian property six years ago, particularly encourage visitors with dogs.
The couple provide them with a welcome pack containing details of local walks, dog collar identity tags, and homemade dog biscuits.
They have a black labrador, Ozy, who also greets guests on arrival.
The couple received a certificate and engraved golden dog bowl at the Kennel Club’s annual Discover Dogs event held in London earlier this month.
Mr Pearson also runs Somerset's smallest micro-brewery, Stowey Brewery, which he started in an outbuilding in 2006.
He said: “Our customers love having the dogs around and we think it is so important as a business to make dog owners feel welcome.
“We keep up-to-date with the most dog-friendly walks in the area and we are delighted to have won the Kennel Club’s award.”

Villagers to give police thoughts on quality of life issues

RESIDENTS of Nether Stowey and Over Stowey are being invited to attend a meeting later this week to discuss any issues they feel are affecting their local communities.
The Partners and Communities Together meeting (PACT) will be held in Nether Stowey Village Hall, on Friday at 7.30 pm.
PACT allows local people an opportunity to have their say on matters affecting their neighbourhood - anything from litter or noise to street lighting or anti-social behaviour.
In short, anything that impacts on their quality of life.
The meetings are designed to bring communities together with local police teams and key representatives from various partner agencies and organisations.
Everybody is welcome to go along with ideas on how their neighbourhood could be improved.
Anybody who would like to discuss any policing issues affecting their area, but is unable to attend the PACT meeting on Friday, can instead contact their rural neighbourhood policing team at Bridgwater Police Station on 0845 456 7000 or visit www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/inyourarea.

Traffic delays on A39 after crash and fire

A THREE-vehicle crash in which one caught fire caused delays on the A39 at Nether Stowey this morning.
Firefighters from Nether Stowey were called to the incident shortly after 8.30 am.
All the drivers and passengers of the vehicles had managed to free themselves before the fire brigade arrived.
A small fire in one of the vehicles was believed to have been caused by an electrical fault following the crash.
The blaze was put out using a hose reel jet, and damage was limited to part of the engine compartment.

Baccalaureate winner Grace becomes UK 'A-level student of the year'

ONE of first students to receive the new award for AQA Baccalaureate was today announced as ‘A-Level Student of the Year 2008’.
Grace Chesterton (pictured), of Nether Stowey, who attended Richard Huish College, in Taunton, received the prestigious ‘A-level Student of the Year’ award through the Assessment and Qualifications Alliance (AQA) at a seminar in London.
She beat more than 310,000 other examination entrants for it.
Grace was also joint-top student in the country for her performance in a brand new award for the AQA Baccalaureate (Bacc) and received a solid silver medal for this.
There were more than 800 entries for the AQA Bacc this summer and Grace was joint top with one other student.
AQA director general Dr Mike Cresswell said: “We are delighted that the Student of the Year is one of the first to win our new award for the AQA Bacc.
“We are very proud of our new Baccalaureate and believe that it greatly enhances young people’s opportunities in further education and employment.”
A total of six medals were awarded today across six groups of subjects.
Grace was chosen from these top student contenders as the ‘A-level Student of the Year’ on the basis of her academic performance in A-levels taken this year. She has four A grade A-levels and one AS at grade A.
She received a trophy, a cheque for £500, and a certificate to mark the occasion.
As a self-confessed life-long enthusiastic reader, Grace is now studying English language and literature at Oxford University.
The awards presentation was held in partnership with five major companies with an interest in education and lifelong learning.
The main speakers at the seminar were the chairman of new regulators Ofqual, Kathleen Tattersall, and Dr Mike Cresswell.

A-level student Grace is one of top six in the country

A NETHER Stowey student is to receive a national award next week from the Assessment and Qualifications Alliance (AQA) after gaining four A grades at A level as well as one A grade at A/S level.
Grace Elizabeth Chesterton (pictured), of Bishop Road, was aged 18 when she took the examinations in Richard Huish College, Taunton.
She is one of six top-performing students to become AQA award winners, each of whom will receive a solid silver medal and a framed diploma to mark the occasion at a prestigious ceremony in London on Monday.
Grace said: “I have many hobbies and interests which I have been pursuing both in and out of college.
“I love playing the violin, both classical and folk music, and played in my college orchestra.
“Over the past four years I have also loved helping at a local children’s club and in many other community-related events.
“As a life-long enthusiastic reader, I am really pleased to have been offered a place at Oxford University, where I am reading English.”
Grace won her award in a new category introduced this year, the AQA Baccalaureate Syllabus.
AQA director general Dr Mike Cresswell said: “This event recognises outstanding performance in A-level examinations and celebrates the success of our young people.
“Our award winners have achieved outstanding success, and I congratulate them and wish them every success in the future.
“We are delighted to introduce an award for our AQA Baccalaureate (Bacc) qualification this year.
“The AQA Bacc is an inclusive qualification which recognises and celebrates the achievements of well-rounded students with A-levels and more.”
Also at Monday’s ceremony, the A-Level ‘Student of the Year’ will be chosen from among the six award winners, who will additionally receive a trophy and a framed diploma and a cheque for £500.
The awards are co-sponsored by AQA and a number of companies with an interest in the field of education.
The award winners come from 330,000 full A-level examination entries taken with AQA.

Villages' motorists warned of Quantocks police blitz on thoughtless parking

POLICE in the Quantock Hills are warning people in Cannington and Nether Stowey to park considerately and legally, or face being given a fixed penalty notice.
The move comes after a series of complaints from residents and parish councils in both villages where parking has at times obstructed highways and been dangerous to pedestrians and other road users.
Despite talking to offenders and offering words of advice, the problems have persisted, so police officers and Police Community Support Officers have now been instructed to take action against those breaking the law.
PCSO Karen Evans, from the Bridgwater rural safer, stronger neighbourhood team, said: “The parking in both villages has been inconsiderate at best, at times dangerous and illegal.
“In the past we have tried our best to deal with these issues by finding owners of vehicles and giving words of advice, but following further complaints form local residents and parish councils we have been forced to take a tough stance.
“Unfortunately people seem to think that controlled areas of zebra crossings, bus stops, and loading bays can be used as their own personal parking space while popping into the shop for 10 minutes.
“This is not the case and, although it is not our wish to issue tickets, I would urge people to heed this warning or face the consequences.”

A39 crash traps woman in car

FIRE and rescue crews freed a woman trapped in the wreckage of a car on the A39 near Holford on Saturday, January 12.
Two vehicles were involved in the collision, which happened at about 5.30 pm.
A fire engine from Nether Stowey and a rescue tender from Taunton attended the scene.
The woman casualty was freed using hydraulic cutting equipment and then taken to hospital by an ambulance crew.

Witness appeal after A39 'road rage' assault on driver

POLICE have issued an appeal for witnesses after a car driver was assaulted in an apparent case of ‘road rage’ on the A39.
The incident happened shortly after mid-day on Sunday, November 18, when the victim was in his car following another vehicle along the A39 toward Nether Stowey.
A Toyota Land Cruiser then pulled out of a side road, causing the vehicle in front of the victim's car to brake sharply.
The victim also had to brake.
The Toyota later stopped in Castle Street, in Nether Stowey, and the car in front of the victim drove on, while the victim pulled up and an altercation followed between the two drivers.
The argument resulted in the victim being punched several times and he was taken to Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton, where he received treatment for a facial injury.
A man has been arrested on suspicion of assault and is being questioned by police.
Police believe there may have been a number of people in the Castle Street area at the time, as it is a busy residential street.
People may have witnessed the incident and could have useful information to help the police inquiry.
Anybody with information is asked to contact Bridgwater CID on 0845 456700, or they can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, where they do not have to give their name and they could receive a reward.
The secure Crimestoppers contact form can also be used at https://www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/crimestoppers/ContactForm.aspx.