Pupils help celebrate community's £250,000 store revamp

A £250,000 revamp of the Co-operative food store in Alcombe has been marked by a ribbon-cutting ceremony carried out by pupils of Minehead Middle School.
The Alcombe store is one of the first of the Co-op Group’s 3,300 national outlets to feature the consumer-owned business’ new identity – The Co-operative, which aims to highlight improved service standards as well as the firm’s commitment to supporting local communities and ethical trading policies.
The schoolchildren were thanked for taking part in the celebrations by way of a £200 cheque for their school funds presented to them by the store manager, Paul Kingdon.
Mr Kingdon said: “As a community retailer, it is appropriate that we involve the community in our special events and we are delighted our local school is playing a central role in the relaunch of our shop.”
The Alcombe Co-op has been updated with modern décor, new flooring, shelving, and refrigeration, plus a more shopper-friendly layout.
An emphasis has been put on chilled and fresh foods with an increase in the range of products.
There is also an improved selection of chilled beers and wines, while the popular PayPoint service has been retained.
As a leading supermarket supporter of Fairtrade, the Co-op is also featuring Fairtrade products, plus the store is carrying the retailer’s own brand health and beauty range with products which are not tested on animals.
Shoppers also benefit from the Co-op’s policy on ‘honest labelling’ to give them more facts about the ingredients in food and drink products, and they can also take their shopping home in 100 per cent degradable bags.
Mr Kingdon said: “We provide a much-valued service in the area and I am confident our shoppers will be delighted with our improved store and wider selection of goods which will better meet all the community’s daily grocery needs.”

• Our photograph shows Mr Kingdon with Minehead Middle School pupils Harry Mouzouri (left), aged 13, and Brendan Husebo, aged 12. Photo by Mark the Photographer, ref M03220204. Order image reprints online at www.tcpbymtp.co.uk.

£1.75 million business units development underway

WORK has started on redeveloping the former Wrigleys factory site, on the Roughmoor Industrial Estate, in Williton, into 14 new workspace units.
Members of West Somerset Council were on hand to watch the start of the £1.75 million regeneration project, which will create opportunities for start-up businesses and those which want to expand.
The council’s economic development portfolio holder, Councillor Nick Messarra, said: “West Somerset Council has invested over a million pounds in this project, which we believe will transform opportunities for small and medium sized enterprises in the area.
“It is one of a number of workspace developments in West Somerset that will benefit local businesses, residents, and the economy.”
The new workspace has been designed to allow a high degree of flexibility in layout in order to accommodate a wide range of tenants over a prolonged period.
The premises will be serviced, meaning somebody will be on hand to deal with visitors.
There will also be meeting rooms, and all tenants will have access to the Connecting Somerset IT support grant scheme.
Units ranging in size from 495 to 2,260 square feet are being provided in the redevelopment, and estate agent Alder King is putting together a lettings package for prospective tenants.
The development is being carried out for the council by Taunton-based builders Rok, whose area director, Chris Hyde, said: “This is a significant contract for Rok and we are delighted to be bringing our refurbishment and new build expertise to the project.
“It will create much-needed high quality workspace in West Somerset and set high environmental standards by regenerating a brownfield site.”
Williton ward Councillor Eddie May said: “The site had been deteriorating over the last few years and we are delighted that, by refurbishing some parts of the site and demolishing and rebuilding others, we will be able to provide businesses and the local economy with the boost it needs.
“Our contactors, Rok, will be meeting BREEAM energy efficiency standards, which means the project will use sustainable building materials and minimise any impact on the environment.”
The balance of the Wrigleys project funding comes from the European Regeneration Development Fund South West Objective 2.

• Our photograph taken on the Wrigleys site shows (left to right) Atisreal project manager Nathan Heavens, Hugh Davies, Councillor Eddie May, council market towns regeneration officer Pete Vallance, Rok contract team leader Colin Ayres, and Councillor Nick Messarra. Photo by Steve Guscott.

Supermarket staff going bananas for Fairtrade

CO-OP supermarket staff in Minehead, Alcombe, Watchet, and Williton will be going bananas on Monday, February 26, at the start of Fairtrade Fortnight.
They will be celebrating the consumer-owned retailer’s announcement that for the first time it is selling Fairtrade bananas in all of its 3,000 food stores.
More than 25,000 Co-op store staff across the country are taking part in the largest-ever simultaneous banana-eating bonanza in the UK as part of the celebrations, starting at 10 am on the day.
As well as taking part in the record-breaking event, local Co-op staff will be ‘monkeying around’ with giant inflatable bananas and monkey masks and costumes, to highlight the good news to shoppers.
The Co-op, which introduced the UK’s first Fairtrade banana back in 2000, currently sells around 22 million Fairtrade bananas, and this is expected to jump to more than 43 million within a year as Fairtrade bananas go on sale in its stores nationwide.
Co-operative Group chief executive of food retail, Guy McCracken, said: “The Co-op has led the way in making Fairtrade mainstream and with more people than ever looking to buy Fairtrade and help producers and their families in the developing countries, this great news means that all our shoppers, from Shetland to Penzance, in rural, island, and urban communities, and in our smallest convenience stores, can support Fairtrade by buying the UK’s favourite fruit.”
The Co-op move also signals a breakthrough in the campaign to support small, independent producers and bears testament to the relationship the Co-op has built with such producers in Ghana, Equador, Costa Rica, and the Windward Isles.
Williton Co-op manager Phil Leat said: “We don’t mind making monkeys of ourselves if it helps to promote this ‘a-peeling’ initiative and encourage many more shoppers to support Fairtrade.”

Pledge to tackle global warming in Somerset

THE 'Nottingham Declaration', a voluntary pledge which commits to actively tackling climate change and reducing carbon emissions, is being signed on behalf of Somerset County Council today, Wednesday, February 21.
The leader of the council, Councillor Cathy Bakewell, is syumbolically signing the document at a meeting of the full council, an act which she says puts Somerset at the forefront of efforts to tackle the causes and consequences of climate change in the county.
At the same time, the council is revealing predictions of the significant impacts of global warming and sea level rises in Somerset.
Applying data from climate and flooding experts, it is predicted that:

• The chances of a severe tidal flooding event, large enough to overwhelm current defences and threaten the M5 and railway links through Somerset, could increase from 200/1 in any given year to 17/1 by 2060
  
• The threat posed to 32,500 properties across 2,394 square miles of the county currently vulnerable to flooding from a combination of coastal and river events could rise markedly
  
• Average July temperatures will have risen by four degrees Celsius in Somerset by 2080 if emissions remain high, with more damaging extremes of temperature and prolonged drought
  
• By 2080, there could be a net sea level rise of 3.1 inches per year in the South West if emissions remain high

The authority is also announcing a stakeholder and public consultation for a ‘Climate Change Adaptation Strategy’ (SCCAS) which is now in preparation, and which sets targets for the council to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions from its service areas and encourage and help partners to do the same.
Together, they will form a countywide approach to protecting infrastructure and services from climate change and reducing emissions, co-ordinated by the council.
The authority already has a range of award-winning projects and initiatives to reduce emissions and promote renewable energy, including the Somerset biofuels project, a ‘Watts On’ energy efficiency campaign within County Hall, and biomass heating schemes.
There are more to come this year, including the landmark ‘Rising to the Challenge’ climate change communications project and the rolling out of the pioneering Somerset Wind Energy Initiative.
As well as supporting the Environment Agency in its prioritising of flood defence works, the council will develop a countywide response through a water management partnership.
This will involve all stakeholders, regional and national agencies in developing a co-ordinated approach to combat future rising flood risk challenge.
Councillor Bakewell said: “Global warming will seriously affect Somerset. Our announcements today put into place initiatives to tackle the causes and consequences of climate change in Somerset. We must lead the way and help others to follow.”

• Our illustration above shows areas of Somerset, highlighted in mauve, at risk of tidal flooding, which include Minehead, Dunster Marsh, and areas near Blue Anchor and Watchet. Image submitted.

Hunts claim deer and fox numbers falling because of ban

A CONTROVERSIAL survey has suggested that the numbers of deer and foxes on Exmoor are falling as a result of the Government’s hunting ban.
Hunts had previously claimed in particular that it was their management of deer which maintained the herd and that the numbers would drop dramatically without hunting.
Now, a survey carried out among the 184 hunts which are registered with the Masters of Foxhounds Association appears to support the claim.
Some hunts said the number of foxes in their area had fallen by more than a third since hunting was banned.
At the same time, they said more foxes were suffering sarcoptic mange, a fatal disease caused by parasitic mites which results in hair loss and lacerations.
Research by the Exmoor and District Deer Management Society has also pointed to a 20 per cent fall in deer numbers during last year, whereas in the decade before the hunting ban there had been steady annual increases.
Countryside Alliance chief executive Simon Hart said: “In the two years since the Hunting Act came into force it has been exposed as illogical and unworkable, and this research shows it has also had a negative impact on the status and welfare of both the fox and deer populations.
“It is shocking to think 700 hours of Parliamentary time were spent, supposedly in the interests of animal welfare, devising a law which has failed at every level.
“The case for the repeal of the Hunting Act is unanswerable and its eventual demise increasingly inevitable.”
However, the League Against Cruel Sports refused to accept the findings of the survey on the grounds that it was carried out by the hunting lobby.
League spokesman Barry Hugill said any such figures had to be taken with a pinch of salt.

• Our photograph shows a meet of the Minehead Harriers held in Porlock. Photo by Mark the Photographer, ref M01010181. Order image reprints online at www.tcpbymtp.co.uk.

Hinkley C is favourite for next UK nuclear plant

WEST Somerset has become the hot favourite to site the first of Britain’s next generation of nuclear power stations.
British Energy has confirmed it is already looking for potential partners for new nuclear plants – and Hinkley Point, near Stogursey, is high on its list of prospective sites.
Planning permission was given for a Hinkley Point C station in the 1990s following a lengthy public inquiry into the plans, but the consent lapsed in 1997.
However, British Energy confirmed to The Crier that it still owns the land at Hinkley which was earmarked for the C station.
Company spokesman Martin Pearce said, however: “Any company seeking to build a new nuclear station would need to obtain completely new planning consent which would include a new public inquiry.”
British Energy also owns the Hinkley B station, where 650 people are employed, but it has been closed since last year for repairs to cracked boiler tubes.
Although Hinkley B is planned to be back online by the end of March, it will only run at 70 per cent capacity during a year-long trial to avoid further damage to the boiler tubes.
The station is currently scheduled for decommissioning in 2011.
The neighbouring Hinkley Point A station is already undergoing decommissioning, having closed seven years ago.
British Energy chief executive Bill Coley, in launching the search for partners to help build new nuclear power plants, said: “Construction of new nuclear power stations is critical to meeting the UK’s security of supply and climate change objectives.
“Electricity is essential to continued economic growth, jobs, and quality of life for the people of the UK today and into the future.
“As the major UK nuclear generator, British Energy has capabilities and assets important to providing the electricity we need.
“British Energy can make a valuable contribution to the country through a new nuclear generation programme and, in the process, create more UK jobs and drive shareholder value.”
Hinkley Point B photo submitted.

Doubts over £25 million new hospital start date

MORE news on the future of West Somerset’s planned new £25 million hospital could be revealed at a board meeting of the Somerset Primary Care Trust on February 21.
Although the trust has said it hoped the hospital could be open by the summer of 2009, the board will hear that it could be up to five years before work even starts.
And even though Government funding has been secured for the capital element of the hospital, the trust has yet to confirm it can fund the revenue side - the day-to-day running costs - of the scheme.
Minehead is one of three new community hospital projects planned by the trust in the next five years, the others being in Bridgwater and South Petherton.
The programme will run alongside an investment in a new cancer centre and surgical facilities at Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton.
The new Minehead hospital will have only 20 inpatient beds as against the 34 in the present wards – 28 of which are medical beds and the other six surgical.
There will also be a clinical assessment unit for urgent care, expanded diagnostic and outpatient services, a drop-in treatment centre, and a patient support centre.
The hospital will be part of a larger, £32 million multi-agency development off Seaward Way, Minehead, called ‘New Horizons’.
Somerset PCT chief executive Ian Tipney said ahead of the board meeting: “These proposals represent a very exciting and ambitious future for community hospital services in Somerset.
“They are exactly in line with the new models of care set out in the White Paper ‘Our Health, Our Care, Our Say’ last year, enabling more people to access services in their local community.
“The new hospitals will work in a very different way, with fewer beds than we have generally had in the past, but with more patients using the services.
“This will be achieved by increased staffing levels, more intensive rehabilitation, expanded diagnostic facilities, outpatient services, and one-stop shop clinics.
“The proposals will obviously be subject to detailed scrutiny, but we are giving a very clear service direction over the next five years.”
The trust board is being recommended that all three community hospital developments should go ahead within the next five years.

£750 million project spin-off benefit for West Somerset Railway

THE West Somerset Railway is benefiting with the spin-off from a £750 million programme to improve the track on Network Rail’s Western Route.
Network Rail has created a specially-designed operations base in Taunton to house a high output track relaying system (HOTRS) and high output ballast cleaner (HOBC).
The world class, award-winning equipment equipment, worth more than £50 million, equipment works three times faster than conventional renewals systems and will bring major improvements to the Westcountry’s railway lines during the next few years.
It reduces the need for lengthy line closures during engineering work ands also improves passenger comfort by making the track smoother and preventing the need for speed restrictions in coming years.
As work progresses, Network Rail is providing used ballast to the West Somerset Railway as construction material for the building of additional WSR facilities near Taunton, avoiding the need for many lorry movements in the local area.
WSR general manager Paul Conibeare said: “We are delighted to be working with Network Rail in this unique partnership, re-using the ballast to construct the triangle for turning locomotives and coaches, enabling steam-hauled charter trains to visit Somerset as a new and exciting destination.”
Network Rail high output programme engineering manager Colin Ness said: “The HOTRS does the work of several machines simultaneously.
“One system removes old rail and old sleepers, levels the ballast bed, lays new sleepers, and installs new rail all as one continuous process.
“The other system deals with the ballast.
“This means that we can replace up to 500 metres of track, sleepers, and ballast each night.
“We successfully used the HOS in the recent three-week closure of the railway between Taunton and Highbridge and Burnham.”

• Our photographs show the Network Rail equipment in use in the Fairwater Yard, Taunton. Photos contributed.

Trail watchers can help look after the Coleridge Way

A SCHEME which encourages local residents to help look after public rights of way is being extended to include the Coleridge Way through West Somerset.
The Coleridge Way stretches 36 miles across the Quantock and Brendon Hills over Exmoor, linking Nether Stowey with Porlock.
It celebrates the landscape which inspired the works of one of England’s best-known poets, Samuel Taylor Coleridge.
Coleridge wrote works such as Kubla Khan, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, and Frost at Midnight while living in Nether Stowey.
His presence attracted other poets, such as William Wordsworth, to the area and inspired the film Pandemonium, directed by Julien Temple, who lives in Holford.
Residents of West Somerset can now ‘adopt’ their favourite section of the Coleridge Way and help Exmoor National Park Rangers and Somerset County Council’s rights of way team to look after it.
It is part of the county council’s Trail Watchers scheme which was launched last summer on the River Parrett Way.
County council community and volunteer development officer Grant Turner said: “We ask Trail Watchers to walk the section they have adopted three or four times a year and let us know if they come across any problems such as a broken stile or gate, missing signposts, or overgrown paths.
“We can then work with landowners to quickly resolve any problems and make sure the trail remains open and easy to use for everybody to enjoy.”
County portfolio holder for planning, transport and waste, Councillor Hazel Prior-Sankey, said: “The Coleridge Way has attracted a huge number of visitors to the county from far and wide since opening in 2005, and has helped support a number of small local businesses.
“It is a jewel in Somerset’s rights of way crown and, thanks to the Trail Watchers scheme anybody can now get actively involved in helping to look after it.”
The Coleridge Way is supported and funded by a partnership including West Somerset Council, Exmoor National Park Authority, Quantock Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and ARTlife.
A survey of businesses along the route has shown more than 60 per cent were experiencing significant economic benefit from walkers.
On the back of the success of the walking route, one new B&B has set up, baggage transfer services have been established, and several companies and hotels offering walking packages now include the Coleridge Way.
Anybody who wants to join the Coleridge Way Trail Watchers scheme should contact Grant Turner on 01823 356156 or visit www.somerset.gov.uk/rightsofway.
The Coleridge Way also has its own website at www.coleridgeway.co.uk.

• Our photograph shows ‘Trail Watcher’ Ian Thompson (left) receiving his Coleridge Way Trail Watchers pack from county rights of way community and volunteer development officer Grant Turner, watched by Coleridge Way trail officer Alan Martingell. Photo by Heather Lowther, ENPA.

Wedding fayre returns to Minehead - and it's free

IT is back by popular demand after a gap of several years.
The Crier has teamed up with bridal shop Treasured Moments, of Friday Street, Minehead, and Minehead Football Club to arrange a wedding fayre in the town.
The free-to-attend day-long event takes place at the football club premises, off Alexandra Road on Sunday, February 25, from 10.30 am to 4 pm.
It features businesses which provide everything a West Somerset bride and groom might need for their special day, from chauffeur-driven limousines to flowers to dresses to Indian cuisine for the reception, and details of venues for weddings.
The Crier’s marketing and promotions consultant, Dudley Seale, said: “There used to be a regular wedding fayre in Minehead but it stopped a few years ago.
“So, when Treasured Moments approached The Crier about sponsoring its return, we were only too pleased to help as part of our on-going work to support the community we serve.
“I made a call to the football chairman, Bryan Leaker, who is helping to revive their fortunes, and he quickly gave his support for hosting the wedding fayre.
“We have about 30 exhibitors taking part.
“Entry is free and there are refreshments provided and also a fashion show for visitors to enjoy.”
As well as churches, there are nine approved premises in West Somerset where weddings can be conducted, and a nearby recent addition to the list is Oakhampton Park, a Georgian family property not far from Brompton Ralph.