News in Radstock

The award-winning Somerset Coalfield Life at Radstock Museum has announced that it is set to re-open its doors this coming Sunday. Several other local museums in Somerset have also announced that they are re-opening this week.

Dr Nick Hall is the Chairman of Somerset Coalfield Life at Radstock Museum.

Students across Bath and North East Somerset whose studies were interrupted by the coronavirus pandemic are being praised for their resilience as they receive their A Level results.

Due to COVID-19 this year's exams were cancelled. The government announced yesterday that students could accept their calculated grade, appeal to receive a valid mock result, or sit autumn exams. Ofqual has been asked to determine how and when valid mock results can be used to calculate grades.

The North East Somerset MP writes:

Last weekend, in an article written for the Mail on Sunday, the Prime Minister put forward his case for sending children back to school full-time from September.

Schools in Bath and North East Somerset are planning to open to all pupils this September.

Parents and pupils are being contacted by their schools about the measures they have put in place to reopen safely. If you have any questions about your school reopening you should in the first instance contact, your school directly.

In his latest column for Nub News the Radstock Mayor writes:

We are well into the sixth month of what is becoming the 'Corona Year,' so time for some reflection.

Traders in Widcombe have given the thumbs up to a 'I love local' campaign encouraging people back into their local shops while reminding them about simple safety steps to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

Flags, signs and banners went up in shops all over Widcombe at the launch of the campaign on Friday. Milsom Street, Chelsea Road and Keynsham are keen to launch their own 'I love' campaign and work is also under way for it to launch in Bear Flat.

It was only a few weeks ago on the 8th of July that the government announced that there would be a stamp duty 'holiday' on homes purchased for up to £500.000.

The proclaimed aim was to ensure that momentum was maintained in the housing market and that as much as possible was being done to help an economy already badly affected by the pandemic. The move was welcomed by most (but not all) of those working in the housing sector. The 'holiday' comes to an end on 31st March next year.

More than £7 million of government emergency coronavirus grants are still to be claimed by businesses in Bath and North East Somerset (BANES).

Emergency coronavirus funding for firms will go back to the Treasury at the end of the month if it is not claimed, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has said.

A huge dairy farm close to Radstock has been put on the market.

Clandown Farm, a commercial dairy farm on Pows Hill is up for £4.75 million.

Regular engagement with Bath's student community and building on positive relationships with long term residents will be some of the tasks for two new Community Wardens funded by Bath & North East Somerset Council.

The wardens will act as ambassadors for the council and the universities across the whole of the city but especially where there are greater numbers of students in the local community. Helping to build communication links and being on hand to support all residents if issues arise will be important elements of the role.