Somerset Council’s Executive this week approved a major transport investment plan that aims to improve roads, bus services and walking and cycling routes across the county.

The Local Transport Delivery Plan sets out how the Council intends to invest more than £283 million of government funding between 2026 and 2030 in transport infrastructure and services.

Somerset Council’s Leader has taken a key decision to return 2-way traffic to Salmon Parade and East Quay following a review and extensive consultation work.

A southbound 1-way system was introduced on Salmon Parade as part of the Bridgwater Town Deal Celebration Mile project, and a north-bound 1-way system was introduced on East Quay. Wider pavements, a new cycle lane and a west-bound 1-way system were also introduced on Eastover as part of the project.

A proposal to expand specialist support in mainstream schools, increase special school capacity and help more children and young people learn closer to home is to go ahead in Somerset.

At a meeting of Somerset Council’s Executive (7 October), the next stage of a major programme to increase local education provision for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) was approved.

Somerset Council is preparing to bring the former Beechtrees children’s respite care home in Wellington back into use as a new supported living home for adults with learning disabilities and autism.

This week, Discovery, a not-for-profit care and support provider based in Somerset, has agreed a long-term lease on the site and work is currently underway to adapt the building to provide a safe, suitable and welcoming home for people who need specialised support to live as independently as possible.

Investment is planned to boost Somerset’s economy using funding previously granted by Government to the former Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

Somerset Council has a confirmed £5.2m of LEP legacy funds to invest, with most of that sum being capital funding. More money – at least £1.4m – is expected to be available by October 2029.

Somerset Council together with household collections contractor, SUEZ UK are celebrating following shortlisting for 2 MRW National Recycling Awards.

The partnership has been shortlisted for Campaign of the Year – Recycling Incentive and Food Waste Initiative, following the success of the Food Recycling campaign.

The prestigious awards celebrate the UK’s most innovative and impactful recycling, waste and resource management projects.

Tickets for the 2026 Yeovil Literary Festival are now on sale, with an outstanding programme of bestselling authors, celebrated speakers and creative talent.

Somerset Council’s Yeovil Library, working in partnership with Yeovil Town Council’s Westlands Entertainment Venue and Octagon Theatre, Waterstones Yeovil and Yeovil Community Arts Association, is set to be part of another fabulous festival.

Residents, businesses, community groups and other interested organisations are being invited to help shape the future of local governance in Huish Episcopi and Langport as part of a Community Governance Review.

Somerset Council has launched a public consultation to gather views on whether the current parish arrangements remain the best fit for local communities or whether changes should be made.

Stoptober is under way, and the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS Better Health are encouraging smokers to make a quit attempt. Stopping smoking for 28 days makes you 5 times more likely to quit for good, and every attempt counts, even if you have tried before.

Free support includes the NHS Quit Smoking app, a personal quit plan, advice on stop smoking aids and help finding a local stop smoking service.

Visit the NHS Better Health quit smoking website to find the support that’s right for you.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and NHS England are encouraging eligible people to get winter vaccinations against flu, COVID-19 and RSV.

Vaccination helps reduce serious illness and hospital admissions when respiratory viruses spread more easily.

Free flu vaccinations are available to eligible groups, including older adults, pregnant women, young children, carers and people with certain long-term conditions. Some may also be offered COVID-19, RSV or pneumococcal vaccines.

Check eligibility and book on the NHS winter vaccinations page.

Somerset Council’s 16 recycling centres moved to their autumn and winter opening hours on Thursday, 1 October 2026.

Sites are open from 9am to 5pm on weekdays and from 9am to 4pm at weekends. The autumn and winter timetable applies until 31 March 2027.

Somerset Council and its partners have launched a new strategy setting out how they will prevent domestic abuse, support victims and families, and hold people who cause harm to account.

The Somerset Domestic Abuse Strategy 2026–2029 provides a shared plan for organisations across Somerset. It builds on the previous strategy and reflects the findings of the 2024 multi-authority Domestic Abuse Needs Assessment.

Somerset’s specialist outreach healthcare service for people experiencing homelessness has been recognised nationally, winning the Public Sector Impact Award at the Professional Development Group (PDG) Awards Evening at the House of Lords on 24 September 2026.

The service, Homelessness Health in Somerset, brings together the Homeless and Rough Sleeper Nursing Service and Inclusion Health GPs.

Fostering in Somerset is inviting residents to drop in on their friendly information event in Frome this October, to discover how they could make a real difference to a local child’s life.

The session is a valuable opportunity to learn more about fostering in a relaxed and welcoming setting, whether someone is ready to take the next step or simply wants to ask a few questions.

A Somerset kinship carer who stepped in to raise her 2 great-granddaughters after a family tragedy says the experience has brought joy, purpose, and plenty of adventures to her life.

At 74, Valerie never expected to find herself parenting again, but today her days are filled with school runs, football matches, PTA events, and even the occasional sports day race.

Somerset Council’s Libraries service is relaunching its Winter Coat Exchange scheme, designed to support the community by providing access to warm coats for anyone in need.

Now in its 4^th year, the scheme continues to receive thousands of coat donations each year. Every donated coat is given a new home, helping people across Somerset stay warm during the colder months.

Somerset Council and Kier have been shortlisted for a top national award thanks to a new, low-carbon approach to treating roads in wintry weather.

The partnership is in line for the Net Zero Project of the Year Award at the 2026 Department for Transport (DfT) Special Recognition Awards, recognising an innovative project that is transforming how winter maintenance is delivered across Somerset, while significantly reducing carbon emissions.

Somerset Council has won a prestigious national award thanks to dedicated teamwork with its term service surfacing contractor, Heidelberg Materials, in delivering the M5 Junction 26 Chelston Link project.

The Council’s Infrastructure Programmes Group (IPG) won Project of the Year at the prestigious Highways Award, securing further national recognition for its consistent delivery of major highway infrastructure projects.

The 80 Miles in 8 Days Challenge Walk has once again proved a resounding success, with 30 determined walkers covering a combined total of over 820 miles along Somerset’s stunning coastline.

Now in its 3^rd year, the challenge saw 2 participants make event history. Brothers Richard and Andrew Taylor completed the full challenge, with Andrew becoming the first walker to finish all 80 miles in 8 consecutive days, while Richard became the first participant to complete the challenge in 2 consecutive years.

Willowdown Primary School in Bridgwater is celebrating the launch of its specialist inclusion base.

The school has refurbished 2 classrooms to create the 16-place provision for children who have special educational needs.

Already 7 pupils from the main school have moved into the inclusion base, meaning they remain part of the school rather than having to travel to a special school.

4 of the county’s best military cadets have been appointed as Lord-Lieutenant cadets in Somerset.

The award goes to those cadets who have excelled in the role and shown remarkable leadership.

In their new role they will assist Mohammed Saddiq, the Lord-Lieutenant of Somerset, at official engagements throughout the year, serving as ambassadors for the cadet forces.