Refuse collectors beat the snow in West Somerset

REFUSE and recycling services in West Somerset were running almost as normal this week, despite the heavy snowfalls.
Somerset Waste Partnership said it was fortunate that collections in the more rural areas, such as on the Quantock Hills and on Exmoor, were not scheduled until later in the week.
Dustbin lorries had instead been able to concentrate on the urban areas, where it was easier to cope with the weather conditions.
However, the household waste recycling centres in Minehead and Dulverton were both closed yesterday as staff had difficulty in travelling to work.
The partnership’s strategy and communications leader David Mansell said yesterday: “There has been a little bit of disruption, mostly in the rural areas.
“We are going to try and catch up as quickly as we can, which could include working over the weekend, but that obviously depends on how the weather turns out.”
Elesewhere in Somerset, there was widespread disruption as refuse and recycling lorries were taken off the roads, particularly in rural areas, because of the danger of accidents.
In West Somersetr, the waste partnership’s collection fleet was fully back on the road again this morning and was focussed on today’s scheduled rounds before looking to tackle the backlog later.
Extra vehicles, such as green waste lorries, had already started on the task of clearing the backlog.
The partnership was advising residents to leave out their refuse containers and it would try to clear them as soon as possible.
The Minehead and Dulverton household waste recycling centres had also reopened today.
However, the partnership warned some garden waste might not be collected this week as the vehicles had been deployed to help catch up on missed refuse collections.
Garden waste would be collected as normal in the next cycle.
Anybody who experiences serious problems because of the deferred garden waste collections should contact West Somerset Council by calling 01643 703704.

Food festival support organisation winding down after decade of success

THE organisation behind the Exmoor Food Festival and the emergence of Somerset as the number one local food county in the country is winding down its affairs after a decade of successful work.
Somerset Food Links has been offering support and advice to a growing number of small start-up food and drink producers since it was formed in 1999.
Now, the not-for-profit company will become dormant at the end of the financial year.
However, the infrastructure and intellectual assets of Somerset Food Links could be utilised by the food and drink sector if new funding streams became available.
The company has created a rich legacy of food and drink events and resources which stretch from one end of the county to the other.
Its achievements include setting up Somerset Farmers Markets Ltd, which now runs 16 farmers markets each month, in communities across the county. It also founded the annual food festivals on Exmoor, the Quantock Hills, in the Mendips, on the Blackdown Hills, and in South Somerset, as well as being integral in the formation of the Wellington Food Town project.
Other huge success stories for Somerset Food Links include:
Somerset Community Food, a charity educating people about growing and cooking food
Levels’ Best, now a premier landscape brand, for marketing quality food and drink produced from the Somerset Levels and Moors
Somerset Local Food Direct, a web-based food and drink home delivery service offering produce from more than 80 local producers
Somerset Food Links’ work has mainly been project based with an aim of creating sustainable organisations.
All of these enterprises are independent and are run by their own boards or members.
The three remaining employees of Somerset Food Links will be pursuing other interests.
Somerset Food Links managing director Andrew Moore said the decision to wind down the operation had been taken reluctantly and with sadness, but the board recognised the organisation needed a new focus and would not be able to achieve this in the current economic climate.
Mr Moore said he was extremely proud of Somerset Food Links past and present staff who were largely responsible for the organisation’s achievements.
He said: “There has been an enormous amount of goodwill from fellow food and drink producers, who we have all enjoyed working with, and have helped form the embryo of a network of businesses that produce some of the best products in the country.
“We are also very grateful to all the other individuals and organisations who have contributed to Somerset Food Links.
“In particular, we are grateful for the grant funds and sponsorship without which we would not have been able to achieve our outputs.
“They include councillors and officers of Somerset County Council, the five district councils in Somerset, Natural England, The National Trust, and in particular Exmoor National Park Authority, which facilitated much important work on Exmoor.”
Somerset Food Links deputy director, Elaine Spencer-White said: “A measure of the resounding success of Somerset Food Links is the fact that during our 10 years we have seen the number of recognised food and drink producers in Somerset more than double.
“Somerset’s food and drink producers produce a fantastic range of goods that is now more easily available to residents, which creates both direct and indirect employment as well as a healthier population.
“However, there is still much work which could be done if the funding was available as the food and drink sector is never static and there is still growth to be achieved and better infrastructure to be developed.
“If you look at the bigger picture of climate change and rising food prices around the world, then you appreciate that local food supplies need to be nurtured.
“They can play a substantial role in the economy of a rural county like Somerset by providing employment, improving the health of the population, and reducing food miles, which is good for the environment.”

Somerset was judged by UKTV Food to be the county with the greatest number of local food producers in 2007.

• Our photograph shows Somerset Food Links deputy director Elaine Spencer-White. Photo submitted.

Landlord John invites hunt to birthday breakfast after 40 years

A HUNT meet returned to the village of Kilve for the first time in 40 years to help pub landlord John Thompson celebrate his birthday.
Members of the West Somerset Vale Hunt were invited John and Nicky Thompson to have breakfast at The Hood Arms before riding out.
Dozens of villagers also turned up to join Mr Thompson, who was 61, in seeing off the hunt.
Hunt master Deb Cossey said: “It was lovely to see the great community support.
“Riding is a great tradition which some villages have lost, so it was good to bring it back to Kilve after so long.”
Mr Thompson said: “Everybody seemed to enjoy themselves and it was great to see so many people show their support.”
The West Somerset pack hunts on Tuesdays and Saturdays between the Quantock Hills and the Brendon Hills.
n Next week, John and Nicky Thompson will be travelling ‘Around the world with wine’ during an evening which celebrates eight of the world’s best wines.
Each wine will be savoured as a wine master gives an insight into the region, flavour and characteristics of each wine.
An appropriate food dish will accompany each glass.
The event is scheduled for Friday January, 30, at 7 pm and is limited to 50 guests with admission only by ticket at a cost of £45 per head.
More information is available by calling 01278 741210 or emailing info@thehoodarms.com.

Quantocks flytipping 'man with a van' is convicted

FLYTIPPERS are being warned they face stiff penalties if they commit environmental crime by dumping rubbish indiscriminately in the countryside.
It follows the conviction of a ‘man with a van’ who dumped waste from a closed village post office in the Quantock Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
Andrew Austwick, aged 41, of Lyngford Square, Taunton, admitted the flytipping flytipping when he appeared before Taunton Deane Magistrates.
Austwick dumped an assortment of rubbish, including a glass-fronted display fridge, a cash register, and other items at 20 Acre Plantation, near Cothelstone, on August 1 last year.
The Quantock Hills AONB Service alerted Taunton Deane Borough Council to the incident and environmental protection officer Paul Stevens carried out extensive and complex inquiries to identify the culprit.
The trail eventually led Mr Stevens to an address in Taunton which was Austwick’s home.
Austwick was prosecuted by the council and the magistrates ordered him to complete 70 hours of unpaid work for the benefit of the community and to pay prosecution and clear-up costs totalling £500.
The magistrates told Austwick: “Your actions were quite intentional. You were out to make a quick buck. You hit the jackpot in terms of damaging the environment.
“The whole enterprise was motivated by financial gain and you were operating without a licence. Do not do it again.”
Maria Casey, prosecuting on behalf of the council, told the court the waste had been cleared away by the council’s direct labour team at a cost of £280, and prosecution costs were incurred.
Austwick told the magistrates: “It was my own fault. I should have gone by the rules and I did not. I am sorry.”
After the case, the council’s environmental services portfolio holder, Councillor Mel Mullins, said: “It is satisfying to note that the courts have recognised the seriousness of this offence by awarding a very substantial penalty.
“We live in a beautiful part of the country and we want to keep it that way.
“Let anybody who may be thinking of flytipping be in no doubt of the council’s determination to gather evidence and prosecute cases of this environmental crime.”

• Our photograph shows some of the rubbish which Austwick flytipped on the Quantocks. Photo submitted.

Poison alert for pet owners on Quantocks as buzzard dies

PET owners are being warned by police to be vigilant after the death of a buzzard on the Quantock Hills which had been poisoned with a banned pesticide.
The dead buzzard was found by a walker on the hills. It was lying on top of a dead pheasant not far from a game bird release pen.
Post mortems on the buzzard and the pheasant showed both had the banned pesticide carbofuran in their bodies.
Carbofuran was once widely used to control insects in a variety of field crops, including potatoes, corn, and soybeans, and is known to be highly toxic to birds with just a single grain causing death.
Police said they believed the pheasant may have been baited to target animals which preyed on game birds, but they were unsure if was left specifically for buzzards.
Together with officials from Natural England, police officers searched the Quantocks earlier this month for any signs of the banned substance and to carry out safety checks on pesticide stores.
Police wildlife crime officer Sgt Andy Whysall said: “The indiscriminate poisoning of wildlife is a serious matter which affects all who use the countryside.
“Pet owners walking on the hills are advised to avoid contact with animal carcasses, suspect baits, pesticides, or pesticide containers.”
Natural England spokesman David Trump said: “Dogs have a tendency to pick things up while walking and some pesticides are fairly quick acting, so sometimes by the time owners realise their pet is unwell it is too late.
“It is also potentially hazardous to children and people in general.
“We want people to be aware and to report anything suspicious to the police.”
Animal Concern charity spokesman John Robins said bird poisonings were often difficult to solve because they took place in remote areas and the birds could fly some distance away from where they took the bait.
Mr Robins said: “We urge people to contact the police immediately and not to touch anything they find because it is evidence and it can be lethal.”
It is a criminal offence carrying a maximum fine of £5,000 to supply, sell, store, or use any non-approved pesticide.
The Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme investigates deaths of wildlife where there is evidence that pesticide poisoning may be involved and has appealed for information about the buzzard’s death.
Anybody with information should call 0800 321600.

• Our photograph shows the carcass of the buzzard found on the Quantocks. Photo submitted.

'Frankenstein' experiements on Quantocks are subject of auction letters

EARLY experiments on the Quantock Hills conducted into electricity are the subject of letters recently acquired by Somerset County Council’s Record Office.
It has purchased two letters written in the 1830s by local man Andrew Crosse (pictured, left) detailing his experiments within the field of electricity.
The experiments were conducted at Fyne Court, Broomfield.
The letters have been catalogued and will be added to the holdings of the Somerset Record Office (pictured, below), alongside other material already held relating to Crosse, who experimented with the presence of electricity in the atmosphere.
Crosse’s experiments and the resulting spectacular effects of lightning and loud bangs caused alarm at the time among people living on the Fyne Court estate.
It was stories about these experiments, which Crosse recounted during a series of lectures, which were said to have inspired Mary Shelley to write her famous novel, ‘Frankenstein’.
Shelley reputedly attended one of Crosse’s lectures in London.
Somerset’s Head of Archives, Janet Tall, said: “These letters are an important addition to the archives, which help to give an insight into the work of a local man experimenting with electricity at a time when this was a new field.”
Adult and community services portfolio holder Councillor Justin Robinson said: “This is very exciting for the Record Office, and we are proud to be able to provide access to the letters.
“I would encourage people to visit the office, which provides new experiences and an insight into the history of Somerset.”
The council purchased the two letters at auction for £400.
Both letters talk about ‘some products formed in a new manner’ and also speak of a desire to see the work being conducted into ‘animal magnetism’.
The Record Office’s catalogue also includes publications and a few other letters, mentioning progression with electro-voltaic batteries, on which Crosse also worked.
The letters are now catalogued (reference number A\CYG) and can be viewed free of charge in the office.
Anybody who wants to visit the office should make an appointment up to three weeks in advance by calling 01823 337600.

Appeal for information after ride-on lawnmower stolen

POLICE are appealing for information after a ride-on lawnmower was stolen from an outbuilding on the Quantock Hills.
The John Deere X410 (pictured) was taken from a barn in Spaxton, between 9 pm on Monday, October 27, and 8 am on the following morning.
Suspects forced entry to the building and took the lawnmower, although no other property was reported to have been taken.
Police are appealing for witnesses, who may have seen anything suspicious to contact them.
PSCO Katey Wells said: “Securing rural garden buildings and out houses is a priority. Make sure all doors and windows are secured, with visible locks.
“It is also beneficial to join the rural watch scheme, a security marking initiative.
“For more information you can contact the beat team via www.avonandsomerset.police.uk.
“Alternatively, you can speak to the crime reduction team at your local police station.”
Anybody with information which may help police with their inquiries in the lawnmover theft should contact the Bridgwater police station on 0845 456 7000.
Or, they can use the independent Crimestoppers charity anonymously and confidentially on 0800 555111.
A secure Crimestoppers contact form is also available online at https://www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/crimestoppers/ContactForm.aspx.

Singing songs of hardship from Bulawayo on the Quantocks

ALL the way from Bulawayo, in Zimbabwe, to the foothills of the Quantock Hills - that is the journey made by Umdumo WeSizwe (pictured) to share their songs of love, hope, worship, courtship, hardship, and African social commentary.
Umdumo WeSizwe will be perfoming in Holford Village Hall on Friday, November 14, mesmerising the audience with their harmonies, tip-toe dance routines, and vocal music that is laced with music styles of Afro pop, jazz, R&B, and reggae.
Established in 1994, Umdumo WeSizwe (meaning Sound of the Nation), hail from Zimbabwe’s township.
They have been championed by groups such as Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Black Umfolosi, and their performances should be a real treat for Somerset villagers.
Some residents of Holford will gain even more from this cross-cultural event, as they will be hosting all 11 members of the company within homes in their communities.
The event is being hosted by Somerset arts development agency Take Art: Live through its village performance scheme.
Take Art spokesperson Becci Davis said: “Fresh, young, exuberant, and ready to touch the world, come and enjoy an evening with Umdumo Wesizwe that is guaranteed to chase away any thoughts of winter.”
Tickets for the performance can be booked by calling Holford Village Hall box office on 01278 741541.
More information on the Take Art: Live scheme is available by calling 01460 249450 or emailing becci@takeart.org, or visiting the website www.takeart.org.
For more information on Umdumo WeSizwe, visit www.umdumowesizwe.com.

Information appeal as arsonist torches empty cottages

POLICE have issued an appeal for witnesses following a suspicious fire which destroyed two homes on the edge of the Quantock Hills during the early hours of today.
The properties, two cottages in Stockham, near West Bagborough, were believed to have been empty for several months.
The alarm was raised at 2.30 am, but police are keen to hear from anybody who may have been driving along the lane between West Bagborough and Triscombe and the junction of Rock Lane and Kennel Lane - where the cottages were located - any time from 8pm onwards last night.
In particular, officers would like to hear from anybody who may have seen a vehicle parking in the area, especially if it was near to the cottages.
Fire and rescue crews from Williton, Wiveliscombe, Taunton, and Bridgwater, as well as two officers, were called to the blaze
They started to arrive from 2.28 am and found two adjoining derelict properties were well alight.
The crews used compressed air foam and three hose reel jets to extinguish the fire and dampen down the buildings.
Arson was suspected, although officially the cause was unknown and was said to be still under investigation.
Anybody who may have any information about the incident is asked to contact Taunton police by calling 0845 4567000, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, where reports can be made anonymously.

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.”

Hundreds of red deer to be shot as part of Quantock Hills management plans

PLANS to shoot hundreds of red deer on the Quantock Hills have caused upset among animal welfare groups.
They have condemned the cull event as ‘unnecessary and barbaric’.
But the Quantock Deer Management and Conservation Group said it would be necessary to reduce numbers of deer to levels which were ‘manageable’.
The group is asking landowners on the hills to help with the shooting, which will take place during Friday, November 30.
The current deer herd on Quantocks is estimated to have grown since hunting was banned three years ago to be close to the higher end of its annually fluctuating size of 700 to 900 animals.
Around 850 deer are thought to inhabit the hills, which are a designated area of outstanding natural beauty, of which about 700 are hinds and 150 stags.
The deer spill out onto surrounding farmland and cause damage as they feed on crops, resulting in friction between the farming and landowning community with animal rights groups.
The management group believes the herd needs to be reduced to about 500 in order for it to be properly managed.
It organises an annual cull of the red deer and said this year it wanted to have proper co-ordination of Quantock landowners.
The group’s secretary, Dr Jochen Langbein said farmers and landowners became concerned when they often experienced 50 or more deer on their property at the same time.
Dr Langbein said: "We aim to get deer back to levels people are happier with."
However, South West Deer Protection Group chairman and anti-hunt campaigner Kevin Hill said the cull would ‘end up a bloodbath’.
Mr Hill said: “I am concerned that we will have guns positioned on every farm.”
The deer management group was formed in 1991 to promote greater liaison between landholders, environmental organisations, huntsmen, stalkers, and other parties.
It is committed to ensuring the long-term survival of a healthy and well-distributed population of red deer in and around the Quantock Hills in balance with its environment and other land uses.

Rotary's Exmoor Moonraker teams raise £10,000 for children's hospice

NEARLY 350 walkers in 63 teams braved the elements in the annual Moonraker sponsored night walk on Exmoor to raise money for the Children’s Hospice South West and other Rotary charities.
The teams, which were drawn from across Taunton Vale, the Quantocks, West Somerset, and East Devon, walked one of three routes in poor conditions including continuous drizzle and thick fog in places, between Wimbleball Lake and Luxborough.
A team of more than 50 members of Taunton Vale Rotary Club, and the Inner Wheel, which organised the event, ensured the walkers were well-equipped, marshalled, checked on route, and fed in the middle of the night.
In addition, search and rescue facilities and four minibuses ensured all walkers were successfully returned to the base camp – with the last team finishing the course at 4.30 am.
The walkers again proved to be enthusiastic and up for the annual Moonraker Challenge, which it is anticipated will raise more than £10,000 for the Children’s Hospice South West.
The majority of the walkers were already looking forward to next year’s Moonraker event.
David Montgomery, president of Taunton Vale Rotary Club, which has members from Watchet and Wiveliscombe and several surrounding towns and villages such as Bampton and Wellington, praised the walkers for their efforts on the night and for the amount of sponsorship raised on behalf of the children’s hospice.
He also thanked all the marshals and support teams, as well as the local farmers and residents, for their help in making Moonraker a big success on the night.
This year’s winners were: The Challenge Walk (15 miles) – Crowcombe Stalkers; The Standard Walk (13 miles) – The Saints; The Short Walk (7.5 miles) – Rokin Robins.

• Our photographs show (top) the Challenge Walk winning team the Crowcombe Stalkers, (middle) The Saints team who won the Standard Walk, and (bottom) members of the Rokin Robins team who won the Short Walk. Photos submitted.