Parish News

The Home library service is part of the Somerset libraries and we would like to encourage you to raise awareness of this service and for your libraries to refer anyone who could benefit from this service, be that existing client who is struggling  or for those individuals who are housebound but love reading and can’t get to the library.

The Home Library service has a 100 volunteers across the county who  are DBS checked and trained by Somerset  County Council and they will choose, deliver and stay for a chat with anyone who would like to receive this service.

Further information about the service is available in this leaflet: Home Library Service Leaflet

A copy of the Somerset Waste Partnership September Briefing is available here: SWP Briefing 2021 09 September FINAL

Renewable Energy Scheme
Community partners Brendon Energy (project lead) and GO-OP Train have been awarded a grant from the Rural Communities Energy Fund. The purpose of the funding is to carry out a feasibility study to understand options for renewable energy solutions to power sus-tainable transport options in Bishops Lydeard.

The initial need came from GO-OP Train, whose ambition is to connect Somerset train stations with Swindon and significantly improve connectivity for many parts of Somerset. Working with WSR, there are also discussions about connecting Bishops Lydeard station to the national rail network.

GO-OP is also working towards operating the UK’s first regional battery powered trains. To power the battery, it needs significant energy to charge. While the local substation has scope for supplying electric vehicle charging points, without additional renewable energy sources, it wouldn’t always be coming from green sources.

Working with Somerset based community energy specialists, Brendon Energy, the vision is a renewable power installation connected to an energy storage solution (acting like a large battery). The battery would be sited by Bishops Lydeard station so that GO-OP trains could recharge before setting off on their next journeys. However, other uses of the charging point might include electric buses, a charger for privately owned electric cars or an electric car-hire service.

The storage and use of the power generated on site provides an innovative exemplar for how renewable power can sustainably and efficiently contribute to the country’s future en-ergy needs.

Your Feedback is Sought / Community Engagement
The next step is to test the feasibility of the proposal; this will be carried out by sustainable energy experts Dulas. Dulas will be looking at issues such as planning constraints and technical and financial feasibility. Alongside this work, the partners would like to hear from residents, it is important to understand how the local community feels about the proposal. See below for how you can have your say.

About the Partners

The project has communities, equality, and sustainability at its heart. Brendon Energy, lead partner, is a Renewable Energy Community Benefit Co-operative, owned by its local members. It already operates 12 solar power stations in Somerset on community buildings (schools, village halls etc) which benefit from the free power produced. All profits feed into community funds, supporting local assets, clubs and services. More information is available at https://brendonenergy.org/

GO-OP is a multi-stakeholder Co-operative Society whose mission is to reduce the social and environmental impacts of travel by providing mutually owned, high-quality, and inclusive transport services. More details of the proposed new service can be found at http://www.go-op.coop/train/

Have your say

A short survey has been created so that you can express your views and/or register an interest in the scheme as it develops.

Head to https://brendonenergy.org/, to have your say and complete our short survey.

Or write to us at Brendon Energy, 10 East Reach, Taunton, TA1 3EW, or call 0300 456 2265, by 12th September.

 

 

 

The Somerset Waste Partnership Briefing is available here: SWP Briefing July 2021 Garden Waste

The latest Somerset Waste Partnership Briefing is available here: SWP Briefing 2021 July FINAL

Budding time travellers of all ages are invited to a free, fun-packed, family event to celebrate the nationwide Festival of Archaeology. On Saturday 17 July, the village green at Bishops Lydeard will be transformed into a prehistoric village featuring interactive demonstrations of ancient crafts, family activities and object handling.

Under the expert guidance of archaeologists and craftspeople from Newhaven Coppice, visitors will be able to try their hand at making prehistoric pottery, woodworking and

weaving; there will be demonstrations of ancient bronze casting methods; and you can even prepare and taste foods that our prehistoric ancestors would have eaten.

Throughout the day there will be the chance to learn about and handle genuine archaeological artefacts with Dr Maria Kneafsey and colleagues from the Portable Antiquities Scheme; and young archaeology buffs can learn some of the skills of excavation in a sandpit dig. There will also be a drop-in finds surgery, allowing visitors to bring along any unusual artefacts they may have found whilst out for a walk or digging their gardens, and have them identified and recorded.

Best of all, the event is entirely free. It is being organised by the Quantock Landscape Partnership Scheme, a five year project hosted by the Quantock Hills AONB and funded largely by The National Lottery Heritage Fund which aims to inspire local communities to undertake a wide range of projects providing resilience and protection of the Quantock landscape.

Dan Broadbent, the scheme’s Historic Heritage Officer, said, “As we approach the end of Covid restrictions, we hope this will be a great way for people to come together in a safe, outdoor space, have some fun and learn something about the long and fascinating history and archaeology of the Quantock Hills.”

The event also marks the launch of archaeological excavations on nearby Cothelstone Hill. Dan explained, “We have a number of archaeological and heritage projects as part of the Landscape Partnership Scheme, all aimed at encouraging and helping people to better understand and engage with the Quantock landscape. The dig at Cothelstone Hill is our first excavation, which will be investigating the purpose and origins of a prehistoric earthwork which crosses the ridge of the hill.”

The Prehistoric Fun Day will be open from 10am – 4pm on Saturday 17th July, at Bishops Lydeard Village Green. Entry and all activities are free of charge.