Youth Parliament debates school measures to help save the environment

PUPILS from schools across West Somerset have formed their own Youth Parliament to encourage the district council to be more involved in the activities of local youngsters.
The ‘Parliament’ met in the council chamber at the authority’s new offices in Williton and issues surrounding the environment proved to the main topics up for discussion.
The youngsters were welcomed by council chairman Councillor Eddie May before other councillors gave them a tour of the new offices to show them the building’s carbon-reducing and environmentally-friendly features.
The students made presentations to their fellow pupils and to councillors to explain what they were doing in their schools to help the environment, as well as their future plans.
Projects already running included the West Somerset Community College, Minehead, funding schoolchildren in Uganda to fence off an area of their school to grow tea.
The tea is then sent to DJ Miles and Co, in Minehead, which packages it for the college students to sell as Free Trade tea at the college.
Funds raised are returned to Uganda to enable the African students to build new facilities at their school.
Minehead Middle School had been clearing soft wood trees to improve a local habitat for wildlife, while Knights Templar School, in Watchet, had its own vegetable patch.
Danesfield School, Williton, had paper recycling bins, composting facilities, low energy light bulb,s and a school woodland, while Dunster First School recycled its paper and had made a number of bird feeders, helping it to receive an EcoSchool Bronze Award in 2008.
For the future, community college students were to investigate how they could recycle plastic bottles, while St Peter’s First School, Williton, was going to carry out a lunch box survey to find out how healthy the contents were, and then produce a leaflet to provide recycling and food ideas for lunch boxes.
Minehead Middle School was looking at improving its composting site, planting trees in the school grounds, and keeping chickens to help students to learn how to look after animals.
Knights Templar wanted to use rainwater to flush toilets, put up signs to ask students to turn off taps, and to increase the amount it recycled.
Dulverton Middle School was going to refurbish its pond and make it deeper to take fish, while Danesfield School wanted to achieve its EcoSchool Bronze Award, and Old Cleeve School was interested in holding a Fair Trade tasting event and encouraging pupils to use Fair Trade products.
Minehead First School was also organising a healthy eating day on April 1, with smoothies, dips, and soups, and promoting waste-free lunch boxes, while Dunster First School was delivering a campaign to encourage students to walk to school and their parents to car share on the school run.
Ecoschool status was high on the schools’ agenda.
Porlock First School already had its silver award, and other schools were working toward their silver and bronze awards.
They unanimously agreed that every school in West Somerset should aim to achieve a minimum of bronze award before the next ‘Parliament’ session.
Councillor May said: “The pupils were a real inspiration.
“The environmental future of the planet is in their hands and they are taking the matter seriously.
“They are very well-informed, and I think it is fair to say that we learned a lot from them on the day.
“Their knowledge and enthusiasm is very impressive, and they are a real credit to their schools.”

• Our photograph shows Councillor Eddie May with some of the youngsters who attended the Youth Parliament. Photo submitted.

Air rescue for Exmoor patient as rain and melting snow cause flooding

FLOODING was the new hazard for West Somerset today, as a result of melting snow combining with heavy overnight rain.
One victim of the change in weather conditions was a 76-year-old Exmoor man who had to be airlifted to hospital.
The man, who lives in Exford, complained of chest pains during the night but a road ambulance was unable to reach the village.
Instead, a Sea King air-sea rescue helicopter was sent from RAF Chivenor shortly after 1 am to pick up the patient and take him to the North Devon District Hospital, in Barnstaple.
Elsewhere, the B3227 was blocked by floodwater more than 20 inches deep in Norton Fitzwarren, between Manor Park and the A358.
The A358 was also partially blocked in boith directions by flooding at Combe Florey, between Watts Lane and New Road, near the railway bridges, while a fallen tree also partially blocked the A358 near Crowcombe.
Communities on a stretch of coast from Porlock all the way to Avonmouth were put on alert as strong winds and high tides threatened to overrun sea defences.
Rivers across the district were at risk of breaching their banks and the Environment Agency warned immediate action was needed in several areas to protect homes and businesses from likely floods.
In Watchet, the morning high tide was predicted to be more than 14 feet, occurring at the same time as pressure from strong northerly winds were likely to push the water higher.
However, coastguards in Swansea reassured residents that such conditions were ‘not exceptional’.
An Environment Agency flood alert was issued for Doniford Stream, affecting properties around Swill Bridge in particular, but also in Doniford itself.
Properties in Sampford Brett and upstream were also at risk from the Doniford Stream, including the Sampford Mill farm area.
An alert was also issued for the Monksilver Stream upstream of Williton.
A ‘flood watch’ - where flooding of low lying land and roads was expected – was issued for the Horner Water, Aller, Washford, Monksilver, and Doniford streams and their tributaries.
Overnight alerts were stood down and the ‘all clear’ given early this morning for the upper River Exe, between Exford and Exebridge, including The Green, and Chapel Street, in Exford, Winsford, Bridgetown, Chilly Bridge, the B3224 at Exford, and the B3223 at Exebridge.
Similarly, there was relief when the ‘all clear’ was sounded this morning for the River Barle at Dulverton, especially around Bridge Street, Pound Walk, Kemps Way, High Street, Northmoor Road, and the Exmoor House Caravan Park.
Also out of danger were areas along the Barle from Simonsbath to Brushford, and including Withypool, New Bridge, Exebridge, and the B3222 at Dulverton, plus the River Bray, at Challacombe, and the River Tone from Waterrow to Bishops Hull.
Separately, Lydeard St Lawrence Primary School was closed yesterday when the weather caused problems for people trying to park or turn vehicles on the site, while heating problems meant Wiveliscombe Primary School also had to shut.

Fire crews discover gas cylinder in blazing garden shed

THE potential danger of an exploding gas cylinder was faced by fire and rescue crews who attended a blaze in a garden shed in Watchet this evening.
The seemingly minor incident is Brendon Road turned into a more major alert when a Calor gas cylinder was discovered inside the shed.
Fire crews attended the incident from Williton, Minehead, and Taunton just before 5 pm.
After putting out the blaze, they remained on scene for some time, using two ground monitors.

Breakfast saved as Quaywest axes local programmes

WEST Somerset’s commercial radio station Quaywest FM has been allowed to axe all but its breakfast programme from locally-produced broadcasts.
The Watchet-based station was saved last year from administration by a buy-out by Bath businessman Paul Roberts.
Now, it has received permission from broadcast regulator Ofcom to share 20 hours’ a day of programming with its sister Quaywest station in Bridgwater.
Although the Watchet and Bridgwater stations were required to provide at least 10 hours a day of local programming, changes to the format agreed by Ofcom mean six of the hours can be shared.
Mr Roberts told Ofcom: “We believe that the move will not only be imperceptible to the local market place, but will also allow us to provide a better quality of service through the economies of scale that this change would allow.
“It will also allow the services to compete more effectively in the local market place.”
A statement from Ofcom said: “There is a clear logic in allowing these two small stations to create regional broadcasting outside breakfast.
“They have been linked through their history and the regionalisation of the drivetime show is most unlikely to create a substantial change to the character of service of either station, or become problematic for listeners.”

Tropiquaria breeds endangered monkey twins

A BREEDING programme at West Somerset zoo and adventure park Tropiquaria has produced two more babies of a critically endangered species of monkey.
The twin cotton-top tamarins were born at the Washford Cross visitor attraction a few days ago to parents Merry and Mungo.
Tropiquaria primate keeper Diane Bond said: “Mother, babies, and father are doing well.
“Father looks after the babies for most of the time, only handing the babies back to mother for feeding.”
Zoo director Chris Moiser said the situation in the wild was now looking bleak for tamarins as they were upgraded only last year from ‘endangered’ to ‘critically endangered’.
Mr Moiser said ‘critically endangered’ was the last classification before ‘extinct’.
He said: “The reason for this ‘upgrade’ is that they come from three relatively small reserves, each of which have lost significant portions of their monkey-friendly forests to development by rapidly growing local human populations.
“It is estimated that in the last 18 years the population has reduced by 80 per cent and that there are probably now only 6,000 individuals left in the wild, of which 2,000 are mature adults.
“Fortunately, these animals do remarkably well in captivity and there is now a very viable zoo population which could be used to enable re-introduction into the world should this ever become a viable possibility.”
More information about the tamarins and Tropiquaria’s breeding programme is available by calling Chris Moiser on 01984 640688.
Tropiquaria is currently open from 11 am to 4 pm at weekends and on Wednesdays.
School and group bookings are accepted on days when it is closed to the public.

• Our photograph shows tamarin father Mungo with the twin babies clinging to his back. Photo submitted.

Family 'wait and see' after car shop man is seriously injured

AN elderly man who was seriously injured yesterday when he was hit by a car in Williton has been named as John Slade (pictured), the proprietor of car spares and accessories shop Motorline.
Mr Slade, aged 63, who lives with his wife Sandra in Watchet, appears to have been run over by a woman customer’s car outside his Robert Street shop.
He suffered ‘significant head injuries’and leg injuries and was flown by air ambulance to the intensive care unit of Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton.
Today, his condition was said to be “comfortable” and he was now being cared for on a general ward of the hospital.
Son-in-law Darren Elliot said Mr Slade’s condition had stablilised but he was still extremely poorly.
Mr Elliot said: “We just have to wait and see.”
Police have appealed for any witnesses to the incident to come forward to help their inquiries.
They believe Mr Slade was standing behind the customer’s car when it suddenly reversed into him and dragged him some distance along the road.
Mr Slade is the main sponsor of Watchet Cricket Club and also runs Great Western Cars, a luxury chauffeur service with a 1930s-style Asquith limousine.
Anybody with any information about the accident should call the police on 0845 4567000.

School placed in 'special measures' for failing Ofsted inspection

SHOCKED parents and community leaders in Watchet were today coming to terms with news that the town’s Knights Templar First School (pictured) had been placed in ‘special measures’ after failing an Ofsted inspection.
Ofsted inspectors visited the school during November to sit in on classes and sample the learning experience.
But their resulting report in which they declared the school’s academic and teaching standards to be ‘inadequate’ has only just been made public.
Somerset County Council, which spends more than £4 million a year on public relations and other publicity activities, tried to gloss over the news with a press release which talked mainly of how an action plan had been put in place to address the Ofsted concerns.
News of Knights Templar’s poor performance was all the more unexpected because it received a ‘satisfactory’ rating when Ofsted last visited in 2004 together with praise for several significant strengths - although the inspectors pointed to a high proportion of pupils who found learning difficult and that standards were below the national average.
The ‘special measures’ status means Knights Templar will receive regular visits from Her Majesty’s Inspectors of Schools (HMI) and Ofsted’s school improvement division until it is considered to again be providing an acceptable standard of education.
During the monitoring visits, HMI evaluates the standards being achieved, the progress made by pupils, and the quality of education being provided.
It also assesses the progress made in addressing Ofsted’s key issues.
As well as its criticism of academic and teaching standards, Ofsted also said there were several positive aspects of Knights Templar’s performance.
It said pupil attendance had recently improved and was now considered ‘good’.
The behaviour of pupils had also improved from ‘satisfactory’ when the school was last inspected in 2004 to being ‘good’.
Ofsted also praised the good attention the school provided for pupils’ welfare, and importantly, the inspectors recognised that students felt safe and enjoyed school, and they praised the school’s strong Christian ethos.
The headmaster of the 215-pupil school, Keith Atkins, said: “We accept the findings of our recent Ofsted inspection and we are going to work very hard to address our areas for development.
“We are pleased that the caring ethos of our school was recognised, and the children’s spiritual development and behaviour were identified as good.
“As the new head teacher at Knights Templar, I am pleased that our recent improvement and progress has been recognised.
“We will continue to work together as a team to ensure that we keep developing the school.
“I would like to add my thanks to all the parents who have shown their support of the school during difficult times, and I would like to promise them that we will continue to strive to give their children the best possible start in life.”
Key points of the action plan agreed by the school governors and the county education authority included:

• Building on the recognised improvements the new headmaster had made in the short time he had been in post
• School leaders and staff taking significant steps to address the issues raised by the inspection
• Continuing a strong commitment to addressing the issues effectively and swiftly
• Encouraging a positive ethos within the school
• Governors and staff working closely with the education authority to address key issues

The county’s head of schools and achievement, Judith Richardson, said: “I am convinced that the school and the council have put in place appropriate measures to bring about a swift improvement in the school.”
Council education portfolio holder Councillor Gloria Cawood, who is currently overseeing closure plans for a number of small schools in Somerset, said: “We will be working closely with Knights Templar First School to ensure it moves swiftly out of special measures and improves on the areas identified by Ofsted as needing improvement.”

Reunion party for Land Girls 60 years after leaving graffiti on Exmoor farm

EXMOOR farming couple Roger and Penny Webber (pictured) are to throw a reunion party for a group of women who worked there 60 years ago.
The women were Land Girls who helped to keep the country’s agricultural industry running during and after the Second World War.
All but one of the five Land Girls has been traced by Mr and Mrs Webber after they uncovered graffiti on a white-washed wall in one of their barns at Hindon Organic Farm, Selworthy.
The graffiti was created in 1948 by Land Girls Greta-Merle Williams, Margaret Routley, Audrey Owen, Hilda Coles, and Jacqueline Ferris, who dated their work and gave names and ages.
Mr and Mrs Webber have now been in contact with four of the women - who all still live locally to West Somerset - but have not yet been able to track down Jacqueline Ferris.
For Mr Webber, aged 61, there is a special significance to the occasion, as his father Colin married Enid Burt, who was also in the Women’s Land Army and was one of the first Land Girls to work on the farm, which has been in the Webber family for generations.
The five Land Girls whom he wants to invite to the reunion were in a second batch to work on the farm after the war.
They were part of a Land Army Corps barracked in Old Cleeve, and they worked on several local farms.
Mr Webber said: “Because of my mum, I know what a wonderful job these incredible women did for the country.
“They did every job a man was expected to do and most of them had never lifted so much as a bucket before in their lives.
“We thought it would be nice to get them all back together so they can meet each other again and have a chat about old times.”
Mr Webber said the reunion party would be held in the spring when the weather was warmer.
One of the former Land Girls, Greta-Merle Williams (nee Edge), is now aged 79 and living in Watchet.
She was only 19-years-old when she worked at Hindon Farm, and recalled the day when the women left their writings on the barn wall: “We had been collecting hay and were sat on top of it on a cart.
“It was incredibly hard work but it was a lovely farm, one of the nicest I worked on, and we decided to make our mark on it.
“We never thought it would last, I was amazed to find out it was all still there.”
Anybody with any information about the Land Girls who worked at Hindon Farm can call Roger and Penny Webber on 01643 705244.

Oven blaze leads to safety advice from firefighters

TWO fire engines from Williton were mobilised this afternoon to reports of an oven fire in a property on Greenway, Watchet.
However, on arrival just before 3.30 pm the crews found the blaze was already out.
Fire alarms were not fitted at the property and the fire and rescue crews gave some safety advice and ventilated the property.

Estate agents turn Father Christmas for hospital children's unit

STAFF from the Minehead and Watchet branches of estate agent Wilkie, May and Tuckwood have delivered piles of goodies to the children’s unit of Musgrove Park Hospital, just in time for Christmas.
Watchet branch manager Steven Loveday decided to do something to show support for the hospital after his baby daughter Molly spent four days in the children’s unit during the summer.
Mr Loveday said: “The care Molly received was fantastic and I just wanted to do something to say thank you for that.
“I talked to my colleagues and we decided to appeal to our local community for toys and games that we could take along to the unit at Christmas time.
“Both I and Kevin James, who manages the Minehead branch, have been really pleased with the reaction we have had from our local clientele, who donated lots of traditional wooden toys and games as well as the more modern choices of DVDs and Playstation games.
“We would like to thank them all for their support at this busy time of year for everybody.”
Musgrove hospital play specialist Jane Horn said: “Steven and Kevin arrived absolutely laden with toys which made a lovely surprise for the children.
“We are always really grateful to receive good quality toys and games as it is essential to have a good selection of items to help make our young patients feel relaxed when they are in unfamiliar hospital surroundings.
“We know that having access to toys and games that occupy children really helps with the healing process.
“Wilkie, May and Tuckwood have worked really hard to provide new toys and we are delighted that they made the time and effort to do this.”

• Our photograph shows (left to right) Steven Loveday, Jane Horn, and Kevin James with some of the toys given to Musgrove children’s unit. Photo submitted.

EXCLUSIVE: £1 million High Court patent case hangs over West Somerset employer

AN award-winning former Watchet company is jointly facing a landmark High Court action against it with the potential for damages and costs of greater than £1 million if the case was lost.
Choice Stationery Ltd, which was based at the Smithyard, just outside Watchet, and has since relocated to Taunton, is part of the Choice Media Group which used to own Quaywest Radio.
The company expects to be in court for a trial which has been set for next June, when it will defend an action brought against it by ink cartridge manufacturer Seiko Epson Corporation.
Whichever way the case goes, the result will have major implications for the way ‘compatible ink cartridges’ are produced and sold by UK firms such as Choice Stationery.
Seiko Epson Corporation has filed allegations of a total of 10 patent infringements by Choice and two other firms, Medea International Ltd and Ebuyer (UK) Ltd.
The corporation filed its first case against the trio in February, 2006, but has since settled out of court with Medea in respect of the six specific allegations within the legal action.
It is still pursuing Choice and Ebuyer for what it says are ‘patent infringements caused by their dealings in certain ink cartridges which are compatible with Epson printers’ and this is expected to reach the stage of a trial in June, 2009.
Seiko began a second case against Choice, Medea, and Ebuyer regarding a further four similar allegations in October of last year.
Choice produces its own brand of compatible ink cartridges, called Think, which it says offers 80 per cent savings on manufacturers’ originals.
In 2005, it introduced the ThinkPlus cartridge in an apparent bid to head off possible legal action by Seiko Epson.
Choice said at the time the new cartridge was the ‘first major patented innovation in inkjet cartridge construction since their conception’.
The firm boasted: “This is the future of compatible cartridges, and although more expensive to produce than past products it still offers a huge cost saving against originals
“With the original manufacturers fighting to regain their stranglehold on replacement printer cartridge supply by threatening legal action against manufacturers and suppliers of compatible cartridges, there are many competitors ‘selling off’ lower quality products to reduce stock holdings.
“Epson’s actions will force competitors out of the market, even some of the legitimate ones who cannot face the cost of defending themselves.”
The move, however, did not stop Seiko Epson launching its two legal actions against Choice, which are said to hinge on the use/copying of a patented cartridge design and/or the use/copying of a patented ink formula.
Seiko has already earned itself a reputation worldwide for ‘suing the pants off people who manufacture compatible cartridges on the grounds of patent infringement’.
Koichi Endo, Seiko Epson’s chief operating officer, consumer products operations division, defended the legal actions.
He said: “As one of the world’s leading imaging companies, Epson commits a significant human and financial investment to product research and development.
“Although Epson welcomes fair competition in the ink cartridge marketplace, infringement of Epson patented technology and innovation undermines this investment and provides an unfair advantage to those companies acting illegally.
“As such, we intend to protect our patents against any infringement and we continue to pursue our legal action.”
Choice Media Group, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, was founded, and is now chaired, by Paul Andrews, who is also well-known a Special Constable in West Somerset.
It has combined with long-established Taunton firm Wessex Malthouse to offer design, office supplies, and printing.
Its group headquarters in Taunton was officially opened last autumn by MP Jeremy Browne, and it more recently moved into new premises in Minehead’s Mart Road Business Park.
Choice has twice won ‘Best Consumables Supplier’ in the Computer Active Awards, and Wessex Malthouse won the British Office and Stationery Supplies Dealer Excellence Award in 2006.
Last year, Choice was runner-up in the BOSS Technology Award for its investment in an innovative website.

• Our photograph shows Choice Media staff outside their group headquarters building. Photo submitted.

New Year deadline for next round of local arts grants

ARTLife, the arts agency for West Somerset, has grants of up to £1,000 to give away to community groups which undertake creative projects and events.
The activities must happen in West Somerset, or benefit the residents of the district, and must be accessible to the public and help contribute to the ongoing development of the arts in the area.
Recent grant awards have supported local students who wanted to make a film of their trip to Poland, concerts by international musicians at Halsway Manor, Watchet Kids Festival, and Stogursey Youth Club members working with a professional film maker and musician.
The funding application process has made as simple as possible, with help on hand to complete the form.
The next deadline for applications is January 12, and anybody with an idea for a project should contact ARTlife on 01984 635300 or email info@artlife-somerset.co.uk.
ARTlife is a consortium of nine member organisations, all of which have an interest in or remit to deliver arts and cultural activity in West Somerset.
It delivers an arts service in partnership with West Somerset Council.

'Slapped wrist' for £1,600 Watchet benefits cheat

A BENEFITS cheat who dishonestly claimed more than £1,600 has been given a ‘slap on the wrist’ by West Somerset magistrates after the district council prosecuted him.
Eric Gitsham, aged 49, of Maglands Road, Watchet, pleaded guilty to failing to notify the council of a change in circumstances while he was receiving housing and council tax benefits.
By not declaring that his wife had been working during the 15 months from April of last year to July of this year, Gitsham was paid £1,377.02 in housing benefit and £251.02 in council tax benefit to which he was not entitled.
The magistrates gave Gitsham credit for making an early guilty plea and they took into account his current financial circumstances - both he and his wife were now unemployed.
Gitsham was conditionally discharged for 12 months, which meant he would not be further punished for the offence if he stayed out of trouble during that time.
A compensation order was also made for Gitsham to repay to the council the overpayment of benefit at £10 a week.
District council finance portfolio holder Councillor Doug Ross said after the court hearing: “People who break the law by claiming benefits they are not entitled to should be aware that our fraud team will take action against them.
“If convicted in court, they will also find themselves with a criminal record.
“It is vital that people claiming benefits report changes in their circumstances to our benefits team immediately, as we are here to help those facing hardship.
“If people suspect somebody of claiming benefits fraudulently, they can report them anonymously on our confidential benefit fraud hotline on 01984 635236.
“All the caller needs to do is leave the name of the person suspected and details of the alleged fraud.
“We can simply check out the details and if fraud is proven, we can act to stop hard-working taxpayers footing the bill for this criminal activity.”

Mystery woman in sea is missing Herefordshire pensioner

A WOMAN found dead in the sea off Watchet has been identified as a pensioner from Herefordshire who disappeared from her home in the early hours of November 7.
Marion Warwick (pictured), aged 75, was spotted floating 550 yards off Watchet Harbour a week ago by Scooby Doo Too fishing boat skipper Steve Yeandle.
Police appealed for any information which might help to identify her, and cross-checked missing persons reports before dental records revealed her identity.
The West Somerset Coroner, Michael Rose, yesterday opened an inquest into Mrs Warwick’s death, and adjourned the proceedings to a date to be fixed.
A post mortem examination has been carried out on Mrs Warwick to determine a cause of death, but the results were said to be inconclusive.
Mrs Warwick, who lived in Wilton, Ross-on-Wye, was last seen by her husband Christopher at about 3 am on November 7 when she got out of bed.
When Mr Warwick woke again later in the morning, there was no trace of his wife, who was known occasionally to suffer loss of memory and who was on medication for a heart condition.
He immediately called the police.
The couple’s home was not far from the River Wye, which eventually empties into the River Severn close to the original Severn Bridge.
A spokesman for the coroner said the inquest was likely to be transferred to the coroner in Ross-on-Wye, where it was thought Mrs Warwick entered the water.
Police said they were not looking for anybody else in connection with Mrs Warwick’s death.
Mr Yeandle said: “I am pleased she has been identified and her family are aware. I am pleased we did the little we could and my thoughts are with the family this Christmas. I am sorry for their loss.”

Mountain biking partnership wheelie taking off in Watchet

FIVE top-of-the-range Marin mountain bikes have been given to Watchet Children’s Centre after it teamed up with West Somerset Council to secure £5,000 of funding.
The bikes will allow mums and dads of children using the centre (pictured) even more opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors.
A total of 21 mountain bikes have now been acquired for the children’s centres in Watchet and Williton.
District council community portfolio holder Councillor Neil Parbrook said: “This is a fantastic scheme.
“Parents can join the dads or mums groups while their children enjoy learning and play activities at the centres, and there are also family cycling events.
“The scheme is great at improving fitness and it gives people confidence in learning new skills as well as a good chance to socialise.
“It is so popular at Watchet and Williton that we are now going to trial it at Alcombe and Dulverton Children’s Centres.”
The council’s community officer, Liz Stewart, worked in partnership with the Watchet centre’s family support co-ordinator Sam Fahey to win funding for the bikes from Awards For All, Big Lottery Fund, and the South West Community Foundation Comic Relief Fund.
Councillor Parbrook said: “I would like to thank local cycle experts, Pompey’s, in Minehead, for helping to secure a good discount on the new bikes, essential equipment, and parts.”
The scheme includes beginners, intermediate, and advanced groups, and caters for all levels of fitness and skills.
As well as the groups currently running from the Williton and Watchet Children’s Centres, the scheme is being trialled at Alcombe Children’s Centre on December 10, with an open morning from 10 am to 12 noon when people can try out the bikes and have an informal chat.
Further taster sessions start in Alcombe on January 12. Free bikes, transport, and crèche facilities will be available.
Details of the taster sessions at Dulverton will be made available shortly.
Philip Sylvester, a member of the dads’ mountain biking group, said: “I needed something to get me away from the stresses of bringing up three kids on my own.
“I was reluctant at first but it has given me the lift I really needed and I have never looked back.”
Hayley Lake, a mums’ mountain bike member, said: “It is good fun and it is my free time to enjoy.
“I also feel like I now have more energy for my children and it is something I will be able to share with my boys in future.”
More information about the scheme or any other services running from the children’s centres is available by calling Sam Fahey on 01984 633655.

Mystery of woman found dead in the sea off Watchet coast

POLICE are appealing for help to identify a woman found dead in the sea off Watchet by the crew of a fishing boat yesterday.
The partially-clothed woman is believed to be aged between 40 to 60 years and may have been in the water for several days.
She was spotted about 550 yards from the coast area at about noon and was recovered from the water by the Coastguard and Minehead Lifeboatmen.
Police are liaising with neighbouring forces along the Bristol Channel to see if the woman’s description matches any reported missing persons.
The dead woman was described as white, about 5 ft 7 ins tall, of medium to plump build, with short collar-length brown hair.
She was wearing calf length black zip-up leather boots and a brown coloured T-Line branded fleece jacket.
Police said a post mortem examination to determine her cause of death was due to be held later this week.
A spokesman said police were keeping an open mind on the woman’s death, pending the outcome of the post mortem.
Police want to hear from anybody who recognises the description of the woman or who has had a female family member or friend go missing during the past week.
Anybody able to help is asked to contact Taunton CID by calling 0845 4567000.

• Our photograph shows the lighthouse on Watchet Harbour sea wall. Photo by Ian Chilton.

New faces and boundaries for West Somerset police beat teams

CHANGES have been made to the faces of police neighbourhood teams across West Somerset as a result of retirements and officers moving on.
Minehead police Inspector Carol Pearce said: “I welcome our new appointments, who each bring additional skills to the local policing teams.
“Over the next few weeks the new beat managers will be getting to know their areas and making contact with local residents and key individuals.
“We are all committed to keeping West Somerset a low crime area, and to follow on the excellent work undertaken by all the staff over the last year.
“The neighbourhood teams are now tackling low-level crime and anti-social behaviour with the support of other agencies.
“It is important that all residents have their say, and they can do so via our website or by attending any of the area panel meetings which provide an opportunity at the start for the public to raise any concerns regarding how their neighbourhood is run.
“I am sure our new members of staff will be welcomed by their local communities.”
As part of the changes, boundaries of some of West Somerset’s beat areas have also been slightly altered to provide improved police cover for local residents.
The changes include:
Williton beat - PC James Holdsworth replaces Paddy O’Sullivan, who is due to retire in the near future.
PC O’Sullivan will remain at Williton to assist in the handover of his beat, which now solely covers Williton.
PC Holdsworth previously worked in Weston-super-Mare on the child abuse investigation team before transferring to West Somerset.
In addition, PCSO Mark Middleton-Smith moves across from Watchet to cover Williton with PC Holdsworth.
The new PCSO for Watchet is Linda Brooks, who has transferred from Taunton.
Old Cleeve and Crowcombe and Stogumber beats - PC Fiona Clopet takes over from PC Dave Masters, who has moved across to cover West Quantocks, in turn replacing PC Steve Woodward, who has transferred to Taunton.
PC Clopet worked in Williton several years ago and had recently been working in the road policing unit until her appointment as the beat manager.
The beat is another which has also been changed slightly, by taking in Crowcombe and Stogumber, while Carhampton moves back under the management of the Exmoor team.
Dunster, Aville Vale, and Carhampton and Withycombe beats - PC Mark Curren joins the team from Bristol, replacing PC Clare Adams, who stays with the Exmoor team but now covers the Dulverton and Brushford and Brompton Ralph and Haddon beats, where she takes over from recently-retired PC Colin Haddrell.
Minehead beats - PC Jamie McCall has been appointed to a new beat manager’s position within the Minehead town beat team.
He will take responsibility for the town centre and the commercial heart of Minehead, including Butlins.
It means the Minehead town beat team increases to three PCs, supported by four PCSOs.

EXCLUSIVE: Quaywest radio has new owners after parent put into administration

QUAYWEST 102.4 FM Radio was under new ownership this week after parent company Laser Broadcasting sold the Watchet-based station and four others in its stable.
It follows Laser going into administration last week to avoid a winding-up order which had been filed in the High Court by one of its creditors.
Business rescue specialist Begbies Traynor was called in to sell off the Laser’s assets, which included subsidiary Laser South West, the owner of the five loss-making stations.
Begbies Traynor quickly arranged for property developer John Roberts to buy the five Laser South West stations though his Exeter-based company South West Radio Ltd.
The news will be a blow for Quaywest station manager Dave Englefield, who had put together a rescue deal to temporarily run it along with Bridgwater sister station Quaywest 107.4, with a view to buying both once Laser’s affairs were straightened out.
Mr Englefield created Bridgwater Broadcasting Services to keep the two stations going and had teamed up with Bridgwater firm Southwest Media Consulting.
The other Laser stations sold to South West Radio were Bath FM, Brunel FM, and Warminster-based 3TR, all of which were only acquired by Laser in June of this year.
South West Radio spokesman Paul Roberts, son of John Roberts, said: “We are very excited.
“From a business point of view we really believe that the station can continue to be a vital part of the local community.
“We have some excellent skills already situated in the station and are working closely with the staff to help them out of the tough period that they have experienced recently under the previous arrangement.
“We aim to continue and improve on what works so well, maintaining quality local radio.”
In Bath, the Laser station was also being run temporarily by a local business, Triple Media, which said it was ‘looking after’ the station with a view to purchasing it.
Triple Media chief executive Gary Cottier-Jansen said he been running the station ‘on Laser’s behalf’ for the several weeks and that he still wanted to acquire it.
Other stations owned by Laser are Sunshine 106.2, Sunshine Gold, Sunshine AM, and Fresh Radio. There was no word on their future.

Administrators of Quaywest parent Laser look to sell off radio stations

ADMINISTRATORS have been appointed to Laser Broadcasting, which owns West Somerset station Quaywest 102.4 FM, based in Watchet, and Bridgwater’s Quaywest 107.4 FM.
The Darlington-based parent company applied to High Court, in Leeds, to be placed into administration in order to pre-empt an attempt by a creditor to have it liquidated.
A winding-up petition had been sought by Capital North East No1 Ltd Partnership, a Gateshead-based venture capitalist.
Laser Broadcasting owns seven other stations in the UK, including Bath FM, Brunel FM, in Swindon, and 3TR, in Warminster.
Solicitor Robert Abblestone, of CW Harwood and Co, in Leeds, who presented the winding-up order, said: “Laser has now been placed into administration with immediate effect.
“I cannot comment on what that will mean for the nine radio stations they own.”
However, experts from business rescue firm Begbies Traynor were appointed on Friday as administrators for the failed radio group.
Andy Haslam, of Begbies Traynor, said: “The radio stations will now go under an extended marketing period, where companies can bid for them.
“I understand that Brunel FM will be part of three radio stations in the South West, and two others, which will be sold together as a group.
“We have successfully rescued the radio stations. It is up to the new owners to take it from here.”
The other Laser stations are three Sunshine-branded studios in Ludlow, Hereford and Worcester, and Hereford and Monmouth, and Fresh Radio, based in Skipton, in the North Yorkshire Dales.

Rescue bid for troubled Quaywest radio stations

A BRIDGWATER company has stepped in with a rescue bid for troubled West Somerset commercial radio station Quaywest 102.4 FM and its sister station in Bridgwater, Quaywest 107.4 FM.
Dave Englefield (pictured), one of the founders of the Bridgwater station when it was previously known as BCR FM, has set up Bridgwater Broadcasting Services Ltd (BBS), of which he is a director, to take on temporary responsibility for running the two Quaywest brands.
It follows an application to the High Court by Quaywest parent company, financially-crippled Laser Broadcasting, to be placed into administration.
The Laser application, due to be heard in Leeds on October 24, pre-empted an application by a creditor to have the company wound-up.
Mr Englefield, the Quaywest station director, said: “We are thrilled and delighted to be able to bring the stations back into local hands.
“The radio stations are extremely important to the people of West Somerset and Sedgemoor, and an integral part of the community.
“We have an important role to play for our listeners and the local businesses, who have shown us a huge amount of support and loyalty, which, in turn, gives us a fantastic platform to build on.”
BBS has aligned itself with local media and marketing company Southwest Media Consulting in its bid to help save Quaywest and to ensure that the stations remained locally owned.
Mr Englefield said: “This is going to be a testing, but exciting time for us all.
“Both stations were born in Somerset and we intend to make sure they both continue to thrive and grow.
“We owe it to the public and their continued support to keep their own radio stations on air, and in local hands.
“We are looking forward to the challenge, and will be working hard with the staff to ensure we keep the stations running successfully.”
BBS is expected to keep the West Somerset and the Bridgwater Quaywest stations running while administrators deal with the winding-up of Laser’s affairs.
The Watchet station recently celebrated its 10th birthday, while the Bridgwater one has been on air since 2001.
They were originally independently owned before being sold to Watchet-based Choice Media, and then to Laser Broadcasting in 2006.
More information about the BBS rescue bid is available from Darren Horne or Lawrence Hebron at Southwest Media Consulting by calling 01278 434 231.