INFORMATION WANTED FOR NEW TOWN GUIDE

A NEW and updated edition of the Wellington Town Guide is to be produced by the town council this year.
It will be a high quality, glossy A5 book, incorporating a full colour editorial content that will inform existing residents, new arrivals and visitors alike, of the services and facilities that exist in the area for both residential and commercial interests.
As well as details of various local public services, shops and businesses, there will be a special section with a comprehensive list of clubs, groups and societies with contact names and numbers plus information about councils and councillors, schools and pre-schools,
A map of Wellington will appear within the guide accompanied by a street index.
Any local club who would like to be included in the guide is asked to send their details, with a brief history of their organisation, to the town clerk Tony Brown at 28 Fore Street, Wellington TA21 8AQ, fax 01823 663311 or email info@wellingtontowncouncil.co.uk.
The closing date for entries is 18th August 2007.

FUNDING FOR MEALS ON WHEELS

ELDERLY residents in Wellington are to benefit from hot meals thanks to generous funding from the town council.
Westcountry Health Education and Research Enterprise has been granted £1,136.21 from Wellington Town Council to purchase catering equipment for providing hot meals to residents of Lodge Close.
WHERE, who are based at the Northfield Centre in North Street, provide services to adults with a wide range of needs including mental/physical disabilities, long term chronic health conditions and those who have become isolated as well as providing regular meals at lunchtimes.
Chief executive Barbara Ford said the money had been used to purchase equipment such as a trolley and various insulated containers to transport cooked food to Lodge Close hall.
It also paid for scales, a mixer, and a slicer to provide larger quantities of meals. “We are very grateful for the council’s financial support,” she said.
Presenting the cheque to Mrs Ford, town council chairman Councillor Dave Mitton, said: “We are delighted to award this grant to WHERE which will enable the Northfield Centre to provide more meals than previously and give a particular service to the residents of Lodge Close.
“We are extremely impressed to hear of their good work.”

Pic cap – Wellington Town Council chairman Councillor Dave Mitton presents a grant of £1,136.21 to WHERE chief executive Mrs Ford.

£1,400 CHEQUE FOR ST JOHN AMBULANCE

The chairman of Wellington Town Council Dave Mitton has presented a cheque for £1,400 to Wellington St John Ambulance as a grant from the council towards the £1,800 cost of a new automatic defibrillator.

He said that St John was a behind the scenes organisation which was always there when the public needed them and provided invaluable support at a wide range of events throughout the area.

The defibrillator was an important life saving piece of equipment and the council was pleased to substantially fund its purchase.

The officers and cadets were a real credit to the town and the council was delighted to continue to support them.

Receiving the cheque divisional officer Gill Atkinson (right) thanked the town council for its continuing backing: just over a year ago the council gave £3,000 towards a new ambulance vehicle.

Also in the picture are Claire Knighton, the national deputy cadet of the year (second from left) and Charlotte Sydenham, Wellington’s leading cadet.

DELIVERING THE MESSAGE ABOUT CONSERVATION

Wellington Town Council has been delivering the message about conservation in the town by distributing more than 300 leaflets to residents.
The action was prompted following a recent decision by Taunton Deane Borough Council to re-draw the boundaries of Wellington’s conservation area.
Council chairman Councillor Dave Mitton personally delivered the conservation area leaflets to more than 300 homes.
He said: “Taunton Deane was not able to distribute the information to residents.
“However, our priority at the town council is to make sure people in Wellington know what it means to live in a conservation area.
“Many people do not even appreciate they live in a conservation area.”
A conservation area is defined as ‘an area of special architectural or historic interest, the character and appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance.’
In order to assist in the preservation and enhancement of conservation areas various additional planning controls exist within them and planning permission is required for a number of alterations including dormer windows, satellite dishes, and some extensions.
Further information about this is available in Wellington library or by contacting the heritage and landscape department at Taunton Deane Borough Council on 01823 356426 or email: heritage.landscape@tauntondeane.co.uk

Pic caption – Wellington Town Council chairman Councillor Dave Mitton hands out a leaflet to North Street resident Carol Longman.

£1,000 boost to scout group

The excellent work that the 1st Wellington Scout Group does in organising a wide range of activities for young people in the town and district has again been recognised by Wellington Town Council.
The council chairman Dave Mitton presented a cheque for £1,000 to the group towards the £8,500 cost of providing additional camping equipment.

He said the council was pleased to continue to support the local scouts who are celebrating their centenary this year and who have 160 members. Last year the council gave £400 to enable four local scouts to attend the 21st world scout jamboree and in 2005 made a grant of £1,000 to help the group to buy new kayaks and a safety boat.
Group leader Steve Altria replied that the group were extremely grateful for all the financial backing it had received over the years from the town council whose record in helping local organisations was second to none.

Pic caption – Wellington Town Council chairman Dave Mitton presents a cheque for £1,000 to local scouts Jennifer Altria, David Weaver and Sam Pope who will be attending the world jamboree in August.

PRESENTATION OF TOP PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATION AT WELLINGTON TOWN COUNCIL

Wellington Town Council is on the way to gaining quality status with the presentation of a top award to one of its officers.
Julia Thorne, assistant to the town clerk, has achieved the Certificate in Local Council Administration, the customised qualification for parish and town council clerks.
Julia, 32, who lives in Twyford Place, Wellington, is the only holder of the qualification in the area.
The Certificate in Local Council Administration has been designed as the test for ‘qualified clerk’ criteria in the Government’s Quality Parish Status initiative and specifically tests candidates against a list of core competencies on the work of a parish clerk.
Presenting the award Somerset Association of Local Councils County Secretary Peter Lacey said: “I am delighted to present Julia with her certificate which demonstrates her proficiency in the administration of a local council.
“There are some 20 holders of the certificate in Somerset which is a component required by the council in a bid for quality status.
“The Association is supportive of staff at our parish and town councils in getting this Certificate and training events are held regularly.”
Council chairman Councillor Dave Mitton said: “I am absolutely delighted in Julia’s success of obtaining the certificate in local council administration.
“We appreciate all the hard work she has done which will benefit both the council and herself.”
The Quality Parish and Town Council scheme was launched in June 2003, following the publication of the Government's Rural White Paper, 2000. The scheme is designed to provide benchmark minimum standards for parish and town councils, and enable them to better represent the communities they serve.

Pic cap – Somerset Association of Local Councils County Secretary Peter Lacey (right) presents assistant to the town clerk Julia Thorne with her certificate also pictured is Wellington town council chairman Councillor Dave Mitton (left).

WELLINGTON TOWN COUNCIL ELECTION RESULTS 2007

WELLINGTON EAST WARD
DECLARATION OF RESULT OF POLL
Date of Election : 3rd May 2007
I, Craig Morse, being the Deputy Returning Officer at the Town Council Election for the Wellington Town Council
Wellington East Ward held on 3rd May 2007, do hereby give notice that the number of votes recorded for each Candidate is as follows :-
ADAMS Susan Barbara Conservative Party 507
CRITCHARD Peter James Liberal Democrat 607 ELECTED
GOODWIN Guy Nash Liberal Democrat 541 ELECTED
HENLEY Ross Longhurst Liberal Democrat 684 ELECTED
HINDLEY Kenneth Christopher Conservative Party 523 ELECTED
WINHALL Kenneth Donald Conservative Party 476
WRIGHT David Christopher Conservative Party 477
And I hereby declare that the Candidates so indicated above are duly elected Councillors for the said Town Council
The number of ballot papers rejected was as follows :-
(A) want of an official mark
(B) voting for more than four candidates
(C) writing or mark by which voter could be identified
(D) being unmarked or wholly void for uncertainty 1
(E) rejected in part
TOTAL REJECTED 1
Vacant Seats : 4 Electorate : 2509 Ballot Papers Issued : 1134 Turnout : 45.20%
Dated 4th May 2007 Craig Morse
Deputy Returning Officer
Published and printed by J.J. Thornberry

WELLINGTON NORTH WARD
DECLARATION OF RESULT OF POLL Date of Election : 3rd May 2007
I, Craig Morse, being the Deputy Returning Officer at the Town Council Election for the Wellington Town Council
Wellington North Ward held on 3rd May 2007, do hereby give notice that the number of votes recorded for each Candidate is as follows :-
BISHOP Sydney Frank Conservative Party 371
BOWRAH Elizabeth Ann Conservative Party 402
COPLEY Gloria June Liberal Democrat 592 ELECTED
GOVIER Andrew James The Labour Party Candidate 704 ELECTED
GOVIER Jacqueline Frances The Labour Party Candidate 604 ELECTED
MILTON Terry Dennis Conservative Party 366
MITTON David The Labour Party Candidate 421 ELECTED
WINHALL Christine Anne Conservative Party 303
And I hereby declare that the Candidates so indicated above are duly elected Councillors for the said Town Council
The number of ballot papers rejected was as follows :
(A) want of an official mark
(B) voting for more than four candidates
(C) writing or mark by which voter could be identified
(D) being unmarked or wholly void for uncertainty 4
(E) rejected in part
TOTAL REJECTED 4
Vacant Seats : 4 Electorate : 2995 Ballot Papers Issued : 1167 Turnout : 38.96%
Dated 4th May 2007 Craig Morse
Deputy Returning Officer
Published and printed by J.J. Thornberry

WELLINGTON ROCKWELL GREEN WARD
DECLARATION OF RESULT OF POLL Date of Election : 3rd May 2007
I, Craig Morse, being the Deputy Returning Officer at the Town Council Election for the Wellington Town Council
Wellington Rockwell Green Ward held on 3rd May 2007, do hereby give notice that the number of votes recorded for each Candidate is as follows :-
CLARK John Conservative Party 306 ELECTED
HINDLEY Zelda Sonja Elizabeth Conservative Party 256
MCNICHOLAS William The Labour Party Candidate 216
WALTERS Susan Elizabeth Conservative Party 290 ELECTED
WILSON Nicola Jane Liberal Democrat 482 ELECTED
And I hereby declare that the Candidates so indicated above are duly elected Councillors for the said Town Council
The number of ballot papers rejected was as follows :
(A) want of an official mark
(B) voting for more than three candidates
(C) writing or mark by which voter could be identified
(D) being unmarked or wholly void for uncertainty 7
(E) rejected in part
TOTAL REJECTED 7
Vacant Seats : 3 Electorate : 1816 Ballot Papers Issued : 808 Turnout : 44.49%
Dated 4th May 2007 Craig Morse
Deputy Returning Officer
Published and printed by J.J. Thornberry

WELLINGTON WEST WARD
DECLARATION OF RESULT OF POLL Date of Election : 3rd May 2007
I, Craig Morse, being the Deputy Returning Officer at the Town Council Election for the Wellington Town Council
Wellington West Ward held on 3rd May 2007, do hereby give notice that the number of votes recorded for each Candidate is as follows :-
BOWRAH Robert Conservative Party 614 ELECTED
CAMERON-ROSE Hugh Charles Conservative Party 491
LLOYD Janet Carol Liberal Democrat 620 ELECTED
REED Janet Ethel Conservative Party 600 ELECTED
SELDON Philip George Conservative Party 529
STOCK-WILLIAMS Vivienne Frances Liberal Democrat 648 ELECTED
And I hereby declare that the Candidates so indicated above are duly elected Councillors for the said Town Council
The number of ballot papers rejected was as follows :
(A) want of an official mark
(B) voting for more than four candidates
(C) writing or mark by which voter could be identified
(D) being unmarked or wholly void for uncertainty 15
(E) rejected in part
TOTAL REJECTED 15
Vacant Seats : 4 Electorate : 2720 Ballot Papers Issued : 1260 Turnout : 46.32%
Dated 4th May 2007 Craig Morse
Deputy Returning Officer
Published and printed by J.J. Thornberry

Posters for council noticeboard

Community groups and organisations in Wellington are invited to put up their posters for forthcoming events on the council's noticeboard.

Anybody wishing to promote their event on the noticeboard located outside Somerfield on Fore Street should either send or drop it into the council offices at 28 Fore Street, Wellington or alternatively at the Wellington Community Office at 30 Fore Street.


For more information contact Wellington Town Council on 01823 662855.

Town council bids farewell to retiring councillors

Members of Wellington Town Council who are stepping down from public office have been honoured for their years of service in a presentation at Monday’s council meeting (April 2).
Town council chairman Councillor Dave Mitton thanked councillors Mrs Valerie Byrne, Gary James and Steve Palmer for their achievements and presented the retiring councillors with Wellington Town Council plaques in recognition of their work.
Councillor Byrne, who is a former chairman of the town council, has served a total of 12 years over two periods on the council.
Councillor James has served on the council for past four years and Councillor Palmer, who was co-opted to the council during the past term of office, has served for two years.
The chairman also presented a silver salver to Councillor Ernie Warren who was retiring after 36 years as a Wellington councillor.
Councillor Warren was first elected in 1971 onto the former Wellington Urban District Council and has served on Wellington Town Council after its formation following the local government re-organisation in 1974.
He is also a past chairman of the town council and was also the first Wellington councillor to be elected as Mayor of under the new Taunton Deane regime.
Councillor Dave Mitton said: “Ernie has contributed more than 36 years of sterling service with many notable achievements and has represented the council on a number of external bodies both within and outside Wellington.
“We would like to present you with this salver to mark all your years of hard work.”
Fellow councillors Ross Henley and Andy Govier also paid tribute to Councillor Warren’s years of service in particular for looking after Rockwell Green interests.

Pic cap – Town council chairman Cllr Dave Mitton presents Councillors Mrs Valerie Byrne, Gary James and Steve Palmer with Wellington Town Council plaques for their work.

Pic cap - Town council chairman Cllr Dave Mitton presents Councillor Ernie Warren with a silver salver for his work.

Wellington Town Council tax unchanged for 8 years!

The council approved a precept for the next financial year of £75,506 and fixed its council tax at £16.50 for Band D properties, which means that the town council’s tax has remained unchanged for eight years. The last increase was in 1999 when it was raised from £15.89.
The council’s projected expenditure includes £10,000 for the Wellington Food Town Project which is designed to promote local producers and to encourage more residents to shop locally, with the overall aim of Wellington becoming the food town of Somerset. There is also £11,000 set aside for grants to local clubs and groups, £9,000 for Christmas illuminations, £9,000 for disabled access to the town council chamber with the provision of a stair lift and levelling floors, £4,000 for footpath maintenance and improvements, and £3,000 for a subsidised hospital car service to Musgrove Park Hospital as well as grants of £1,650 for Friends of Wellington Park and £1,250 for Wellington in Bloom Committee.

Concerns about state of town's pavements and roads

Concerns about the poor state of some of Wellington’s pavements, roads and gutters have been raised at the town council.
Councillor Gloria Copley asked the council to write to Somerset Highways about the state of disrepair of some of the town’s pavements, road and gutters, particularly at the bottom of George Street and Bovet Street, where there were special homes for the elderly.
The footways were in a poor state because of tree roots cracking the surface and making it uneven.
It was also pointed out there were potholes in the road at Corams Lane near the entrance to the sports centre, in Springfield Road, and at the Station Road end of Holyoake Street.
Members agreed to ask Somerset Highways to inspect all these areas and carry out any necessary repairs.

Council to consider buying a new CCTV camera

Wellington Town Council has agreed to consider buying another relocatable CCTV camera to try to deter vandals and anti social behaviour.
The council has agreed to include £11,000 in its budget for 2007-08 for such a camera.
Currently the council has one CCTV camera which is located in Lancer Court and which is due to be moved shortly to South Street car park where as well as damage to cars from time to time the rear of Wellington Baptist Church, which adjoins the car park, has been the target of vandalism.

Bank criticised for not supporting the town's Christmas illuminations

Wellington Town Council has criticised Natwest Bank for not supporting for the town’s Christmas illuminations.
It was reported at the February council meeting that Natwest had declined to have an illuminated Christmas tree erected outside its Fore Street office at a cost of £35.
Town councillors expressed great disappointment at Natwest’s lack of support for a community project designed to make the town more attractive at Christmas and to encourage more visitors and shoppers.
The town’s other three banks, Lloyds TSB, Barclays and HSBC all put up illuminated trees which were supplied by the town council. In previous years Natwest had a tree erected.

Council encourages residents to make use of grit bins

Residents in Wellington are being encouraged to make use of the yellow grit bins in the town during wintery conditions following the purchase of another new bin in the town.
Wellington Town Council has provided a new yellow grit bin for use by Tonedale Residents in icy conditions.
The council decided to place a grit bin at the railway bridge at Tonedale for use by local people to help overcome possible problems with ice on the sloping pavement.
Yellow grit bins have also been provided by the town council in other areas in Wellington in strategic locations where there are likely to be more hazards in icy conditions.
Councillor Steve Palmer, who requested the new grit bin at Tonedale said: “We would like to emphasize to the community the bins are provided on a self-help basis and would encourage people to make use of them.
“The council is unable to grit these areas in the town and it is up to local residents to help themselves and their neighbours.
“In the past residents have told me they did not think they were allowed to use the bins but we want to emphasise they are there for local people to use and would encourage them to do so.”
Other grit bins provided by the town council are located at the junction of Howard Road with Brendon Road, at the top of Hoyles Road at the junction with relief road, at the junction of Swains and Ardwyn, and in Rockwell Green at Popes Lane junction with the main road and also at top of Oaken Ground next to the public toilets.
Winter maintenance of the roads is the responsibility of Somerset County Council.
However, resources are unavailable to treat all the roads and the only route in Wellington which is salted by the County Council is the main route from Taunton to Milverton – from High Street into North Street, Waterloo Road, Station road and onto Milverton Road.
The county council has also provided grit bins at Westford Railway Bridge, in Rockwell Green, and at the bottom of Cornhill on North Street.

Our photo shows Councillor Steve Palmer making use of the grit bin at Tonedale Bridge

Pupils learn about Wellington Food Town

Bison on the Blackdowns and Welsh cakes were the topics of a special talk to youngsters at Rockwell Green Primary School.
Wellington town council chairman Councillor Dave Mitton spoke to pupils on the subject of food and drink and revealed to them he got told off on the first day at school for eating Welsh cakes half-way through a lesson.
The talk by Councillor Mitton was to demonstrate the huge selection of local produce available and the children were surprised to learn there were bison on the Blackdown Hills.
Councillor Mitton promoted healthy eating habits and encouraged the youngsters to drag their parents along to the launch of Wellington Food Town on Saturday December 2 to see the variety of food and drink on offer.
The free food event takes place between 10am to 4pm in the big marquee off Wellington High Street where people can taste some of the local specialities on offer and watch free cookery demonstrations including sessions on how to make healthy lunchboxes for schoolchildren.
Visitors will be able to wander around the many stalls of local food producers and suppliers and take in the Christmassy atmosphere.
Cllr Mitton said: “Wellington boasts an enormous amount of food producers in the area and we are very lucky to also have a large variety of food retailers and outlets.
“Healthy eating in schools is very important and I am glad to see that Rockwell Green Primary School are already promoting this.
“I hope that the pupils will encourage their mums and dads to come along to Wellington Food Town on Saturday to find out more and sample the local produce and learn about how it also helps the environment.”
Wellington Food Town is being organised by Wellington Economic Partnership and Somerset Food Links in conjunction with Taunton Deane Borough Council and Wellington Town Council, and is supported by Wellington Chamber of Commerce and Trade and the Wellington Farmers’ Market.More information is available from Nicky Saunter at Somerset Food Links on 01458 241401 or email nickys@foodlinks.org.uk or by logging on to www.wellingtonfoodlinks.blogspot.com.