Wedmore Parish Council Business
Hello, lovely Wedmore!
I’ll be honest; I am frustrated! And I know you are too. The constant roadworks, closures, and potholes that seem to appear out of nowhere are driving us all mad. I hear the complaints day after day – I feel your pain. But here’s the hard truth: Wedmore Parish Council has absolutely no control over the roads. We don’t manage the repairs, closures, or maintenance. It’s not within our power.
The Parish Council is responsible for a number of local services – our allotments, community woodlands, the cemetery, and the public toilets, to name just a few. We take care of the village car park and the playgrounds. But when it comes to roads?
That’s down to Somerset Council, not us. And, quite frankly, it’s incredibly frustrating when I hear constant complaints about road conditions or closures that I simply can’t fix. I wish I could, but I can’t. If you’re dealing with a pothole, a blocked road, or damaged road markings, that’s not something we can sort out from this office. So, instead of venting your frustrations at the Parish Council, I need you to take the next step. Report it to the Somerset Council.
They are the ones responsible for managing roads and highways in the area. Here’s how you can make a difference:
• Potholes and Road Surface Issues: You can report them easily via the Somerset Council website at www.somerset.gov.uk. They have a ‘Report a Problem’ tool where you can log the issue, and it gets straight to the people who can actually fix it.
• Missing Road Signs: This is a safety issue. If you spot any missing or damaged road signs, get in touch with Somerset Council immediately.
• Parking Problems: While we can’t enforce parking rules, it’s still worth reporting illegal parking. Blocked corners or cars parked on yellow lines create serious risks for everyone, including emergency services.
I can’t stress this enough: We all have a role to play in making this happen. It’s easy to think that someone else will report these things, or that nothing will ever change. But unless we all make noise about these issues, they’ll just get ignored. And the more we leave it to ‘others’, the longer we’ll be dealing with these problems.
On that note, another thing that’s been wearing me down is the parking situation. We have a free village car park – why are people still parking illegally on yellow lines or blocking corners? It’s beyond frustrating. It’s not just selfish; it’s dangerous. When you park illegally, you make it harder for others to get through, including emergency vehicles and delivery drivers. So, let’s all be responsible and use the car park. It’s free, it’s convenient, and it keeps the roads safer.
But my biggest frustration right now is something I’ve been battling for years: we are desperately short of councillors. I am at the end of my tether. We are on the brink of crisis, and yet, despite hearing so many people talk passionately about wanting to make a difference in the village, when it comes time to step up and serve, the response has been crickets. I’m dumbfounded. We are actively looking for councillors, but for some reason, the willingness to help doesn’t translate into action. If you’ve ever thought, ‘I’d love to make a difference, now is your chance. Stop talking and start acting. Stand up and be counted before it’s too late.
I’ve heard countless times how much people care about the future of Wedmore, but it’s time to put those words into action. The Parish Council needs people who are willing to get involved, who will take responsibility, and who will help steer our community forward. If we don’t fill these roles soon, we simply won’t be able to continue running the services that the village relies on. This is a crisis – and it can be solved, but only if you step up.
Look, I understand that it’s frustrating dealing with the roads and parking problems, but I need you to understand that I can’t change it on my own. The responsibility lies with Somerset Council. What I can do – and what we all can do – is make sure we’re taking action where we can. And what I need from you now is to step up and help
lead this village as part of the Parish Council.
Together, we can hold the right authorities accountable, make our roads safer, and ensure Wedmore remains the Parish that we love. But we need you – so please, don’t wait any longer. Step up, take responsibility, and help make things happen.
Lindsey Baker, Clerk, Wedmore Parish Council
Please do not use the “Leave a Reply” but use only the email contact information provided below.
Parish Clerk, Wedmore Parish Council,
Grant’s Lane, Wedmore Somerset BS28 4EA
Telephone 713087,
email clerk@wedmore-pc.gov.uk
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