wellsvoice
November 2018
37
n NEWS IN BRIEF Mental health course A COURSE being run in Wells will give people the chance to gain an internationally accredited mental health qualification. Mental health instructor Kay Morgan is offering the two-day Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) course on November 30 and December 7. By the end of the two days of learning, delegates will have a deeper understanding of mental health and the factors that can affect people’s wellbeing, the confidence to step in, reassure and support a person in distress, and the knowledge to help someone recover their health by guiding them to further support. All those who complete the course will get an MHFA manual and a certificate qualifying them as mental health first aiders. For further information, email kay. morgan@hotmail.co.uk
Talks by cricket stars WELLS resident Richard Hanks, speaker co-ordinator of the West of England branch of The Cricket Society, has put together a starstudded programme of talks for 2018/19. The speaker on Tuesday,
shown in the Time and Place exhibition all capture a moment in time or create a sense of place through their diverse use of media. The work on display will include painting, sculpture, photography, mixed media, assemblages and jewellery.
Folk band fundraiser The Benevolent Masonic Lodge, which meets in Wells, has presented a cheque for £600 to charity TS5C which supports young athletes in Somerset to reach a national squad standard. Master of the Lodge Nigel Dovell is pictured right presenting the cheque to TS5C chairman Alan Gloak and 19-year-old Brodie Williams, wearing his gold medal from the recent European Games 2018, watched by Lodge charity steward John Law November 13, will be former Nottinghamshire and England batsman Derek Randall, and future speakers will include Angus Fraser, Hugh Morris and Mike Brearley. Meetings are held at 2pm at Widcombe Social Club, Widcombe Hill, Bath. Nonmembers welcome. Call 01225 460456.
Quiz Night record THE annual Blue School Parent Teacher Association Quiz Night on October 12 was so well
attended by the public that it raised a record sum of nearly £2,500 towards school resources. PTA co-chairs Lorraine Millington and Polly Mackintosh thanked local businesses for their support with raffle prizes, and Barclays Bank for matching funds raised by the PTA.
Diverse exhibition WORK by nine artists is being exhibited at the A2 Gallery in Wells High Street from November 2-16. The artists being
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THERE will be a folk music performance by Seize The Day at Priddy Village Hall on Saturday, November 24, with a support band, licensed bar and food. The evening of fun is in aid of Wells Refugee Action Group and the Safe Passage charity founded by Lord Dubs. Doors open at 7.30pm. Tickets at the door £10. For more details, tel: 07585 308350, email: wrag456@gmail.com
Book on screen past A NEW book about Somerset puts the spotlight on Wells as a major location for films and famous television programmes. Maurice Fells, the author of The Little Book of Somerset, has traced the city’s history as a film centre back nearly 50 years. The book is published by the History Press on November 1 at £9.99.
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Something must be done about chaotic situation in North Road TWO site meetings were held in October on the chaos of North Road in Wells. The first was on October 4, when I spoke to Mendip District Council Deputy Leader, Cllr Tom Killen, and the prospective Conservative candidate for the district election for St Thomas’ Ward, Richard Greenwell. Their timing was perfect for them to see at first hand the children arriving to Stoberry Park Primary School. They were able to witness for themselves the traffic building up and causing mayhem outside the gates and along North Road. This twice daily chaotic situation is exacerbated by the Wells Cathedral School having no parking on site for employees and sixth form students who choose to drive to school. The fact that it is also a local shortcut to Bath Road is adding to the
dangers of this very busy road. The second visit was made by James Heappey, MP for Wells, on October 5. He met with me to discuss Somerset County Council’s decision not to lay double yellow lines on this dangerous stretch of North Road. This measure, due to be completed at the same time as lines were laid on Welsford Avenue, Burcott Road and St John Street several months ago, had been passed by Wells City Council and ‘signed off’ by the Highways Department at Somerset County Council, but was ‘postponed’ by Cllr Tessa Munt. James spent approximately an hour talking about the road and both schools. He walked the area and took with him photographs of the traffic and documentation that I have collected and collated over the last four years.
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An accident is waiting to happen involving another vehicle or – far more seriously – a child. Something has to done about this situation, once and for all. Wendy Payne Stoberry Residents Association Campaigner Tessa Munt responds: As Wendy and her neighbours know, I have met with them, with representatives from local employers, school parents and staff, and with members of the county council’s Highways’ team to discuss safety and parking provision in the area around Stoberry School. I take everyone’s concerns extremely seriously and we are all working to find a solution as soon as is practicable. There are a number of initiatives under consideration and I await responses from those
involved. As anyone who attends PACT (Police & Community Together) meetings will know, residents in over 30 other roads in Wells have requested changes to parking, access, crossings and speed limits too. Making changes in one area may have a detrimental impact on others, so I am grateful to the Highways team for the time, expertise and help they have given to working through the issues in this particular part of Wells. I look forward to working with residents further, and would encourage anyone who wishes to discuss any matter to contact me by calling 01934 440639; emailing tessa.in.touch@gmail. com; texting 07714 599669, or coming to my surgery between 8.30am and 10am on the first Saturday of November or December at Coffee No 1 in Wells High Street.
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