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.

10Parishes Festival finishes with a flourish

A NINE-day celebration of the arts ended in truly festive spirit as thousands of people flocked to Wiveliscombe town centre for a street market and weekend of local food, drink, and entertainments.
The annual 10 Parishes Festival, which ran in Wiveliscombe and the nine surrounding parishes from September 8 to 16, has become a major biennial arts and community event, involving more than 100 artists and more than 150 events.
The weekend’s activities included everything from open art galleries to sculpture gardens, and drama to singing.
On Saturday, West Street, Wiveliscombe, was closed to traffic as an estimated 2,000 people watched the town’s carnival and visited stalls selling a variety of local food, drink, and crafts - plus music and entertainment.
Festival director Pauline Homeshaw said: “It is our third festival and has been better than ever.
“It has grown into a wonderful celebration of art and community. It has been fantastic.
“Now we are looking forward to the next festival.”
The Festival Market - a first for the event - saw local shopkeepers and food and drink producers set up stalls under green and white striped canopies, with everything from chocolate to smoked trout, and local beer and craft cards to jewellery.
People of all ages thronged the street and the nearby The Square to enjoy drinks and food from the stalls and outdoor cafes.
They also sat in Jubilee Gardens and listened to bands, watched Kingsmead Community School drama group, or tried their luck at belly dancing.
A Wheelbarrow Carnival in aid of 10Radio saw 20 barrows parading through the street and to the Recreation Ground, with adults and children dressed in all kinds of inventive garb, preceded by the youngsters of Wellington Majorettes.
Jed and Sam Dove, of Wiveliscombe, won the best float for their ‘Dr Who’ theme.
Stalls did a roaring trade, with many rushing to bring in more stock or selling out, while artists in all nine parishes reported excellent results from their nine days of exhibitions.
One stallholder, Richard Robbins of Nutcombe Chocolates, Minehead, said: “It has been a very relaxed atmosphere, plenty of people, a very nice variety of stalls with local shops involved too - I have really enjoyed the day.”
Tim and Carrie Parker, of Wiveliscombe, said: “There was a great crowd, tremendous stalls, and it was good to see so many people enjoying themselves and meeting up with friends. We were very impressed.”
Throughout the weekend other events and exhibitions carried on around the parishes of Ashbrittle, Bathealton, Brompton Ralph, Chipstable and Waterrow, Clatworthy, Fitzhead, Huish Champflower, Milverton, and Stawley.
For one of the youngest exhibitors, Sam Jeffs, aged 18, who had just completed a National Diploma in Fine Art, at Somerset College, it was an opportunity to have his work seen and his Minotaur made from scrap metal was a landmark piece at the Spring Grove Market Gardens, in Milverton.
Bathealton saw a constant stream of visitors to see the Ark Has Landed - 25 pairs of animals created by villagers, as well as the colourful silk banners around the church and paintings by well known professional artists, including Tilly Willis and Antonia Myatt.
With drama, writing, and workshop events throughout the weekend, the festival celebration ended on a high on Sunday night with The Demon Barbers, a nationally known vocal harmony cabaret show, an event which was sponsored by Wiveliscombe and District Rotary Club.
More information about the festival can be found by logging on to http://www.10parishesfestival.org.uk/ or calling 01984 624564.

Wiveliscombe radio station nears the big switch on

ORGANISERS of 10Radio have passed an important milestone with approval by Ofcom engineers to start test transmissions on the newly-allocated frequency 105.3FM for the Wiveliscombe area.
Although only broadcasting a test signal of music and voice messages about the new community radio station, the station has received a positive response from listeners.
The station also serves the surrounding nine parishes although reception is strong in and around the Wiveliscombe area.
It is now on schedule to start full-time broadcasting from 7 am on Monday, January 21.
The main studio in Croft Cottage, West Street, Wiveliscombe, has been converted by director Dave Meehan and a group of volunteers from the 10 parishes community, and other directors have been putting the finishing touches to the first schedule of programmes covering the opening three months of broadcasting.
The new community-led service will run full time 7 am to midnight on Friday to Sunday.
During the rest of the week there will be breakfast-style programmes from 7 am to 9 am with the remainder of the time featuring a representative selection of 10radio music and repeated output of the best bits from the weekend.
Director Eddie Gaines said: “We are very pleased with our radio signal and also how our presenter training, both youth and adult, has proceeded.
“We have a committed group of broadcasting trainers and presenters of all ages - all bursting with creative ideas for their programmes, great knowledge and passion for the local area, and, of course, tremendous knowledge of all kinds of music to suit everybody’s taste.
“10Radio will no doubt act as a central communication hub for Wiveliscombe and surrounding parishes which everybody will be proud of and able to benefit from.
“We will also be entertaining and, above all, fun to listen to.”
Help with building and equipping the station has come from Somerset Rural Renaissance Funding, Somerset Partnership Funding, and Kingsmead Community School.
However, as the station commences broadcasting, it anticipateslocal businesses and organisations will come forward to support the running of the station through sponsorship and limited advertising.
There is also a ‘Friends of 10Radio’ scheme to which the listening public can subscribe.
For more information about 10Radio and how to take part as a volunteer helper, presenter, friend, or business supporter, visit http://www.10radio.org/ or contact Julian Mellor on 01984 623104 or Eddie Gaines on 01984 624657.
The 10 parishes covered by 10Radio are Wiveliscombe, Milverton, Ashbrittle,
Stawley, Bathealton, Fitzhead, Chipstable, Huish Champflower, Clatworthy, and Brompton Ralph.

• Our photographs show (TOP) Members of the 10radio youth group in preparation for their 10Radio broadcasts, and (BELOW) Dave Meehan outside the Croft Cottage studio. Photos submitted.