https://www.moviola.org/venues/castle-cary/

Have your say about proposals for changing acute inpatient mental health services for adults of working age

Health and care services in Somerset are running a public consultation to gather feedback from local people about the future locations of acute mental health beds for people of working age. The consultation runs until 12 April 2020.

An acute mental health ward is where patients are admitted to provide them with the level of treatment and support they need. This might be because they need further assessment, they need to be kept safe or they need more intensive support than can be provided at home.

Health and care services are considering changing the location of the acute mental health ward at Wells for people aged between 18 and 65 years and moving it to Yeovil. The number of beds will remain the same.

The reason for the proposed change is due to concerns about patients and staff safety. Two of the four wards for people aged between 18 and 65 years are located in Taunton, with one ward in both Yeovil and Wells. These two are ‘standalone’ wards which means they are not close to other wards, and one of them is also a long way from the nearest Emergency Department.

All other existing services at Priory Health Park in Wells will remain, whatever the outcome of the consultation, and community mental health services available to people in the Wells/Mendip area will be expanded and enhanced: this includes a Crisis Café.

Health and care services would like to know what you think about their ideas. You can fill in the questionnaire here: http://bit.ly/FFMF-Mental-Health-Consultation

You can read the full consultation document on their website at www.fitformyfuture.org.uk or contact them by email [email protected] or telephone 01935 384119

Click for more details

Somerset County Council briefings

South Somerset District Council news and consultation

Please click here for a statement from Castle Cary Town Council.

2019 Christmas Treecycling – Castle Cary

GWR updates to timetable

Sorry folks…it looks as though the traffic lights may return for a while next week! https://one.network/?115692990

“Festival of Heavenly Stars”

Saturday & Sunday 14/15 December

10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

All Saints’ Church, Castle Cary

A variety of Stars & Star-themed exhibits made by shops, businesses, organisations & individuals will decorate the whole church for 2 days, culminating in the Combined Carol Service

at 4 p.m. on Sunday 15th.

Refreshments available all day & there will be a stall selling

Christmas decorations & Christmas fare.

Admission free.

Donations invited in aid of All Saints’ Development Fund.

Supported volunteering details

Somerset County Council                                                                                                                                                           County Hall, Taunton

Somerset, TA1 4DY

Have Your Say

School admissions arrangements for children who are due to start or transfer school for the 2021-22 school year, and those moving schools during the 2021-22 school year will be consulted on for a minimum period of 6 weeks ending 31 January 2020.

This consultation applies to a number of schools and academies throughout Somerset.

This consultation period allows parents, other schools, religious authorities and the local community to raise any comments or concerns about proposed admission arrangements.

To view the consultation (live from 9 December) please visit https://www.somerset.gov.uk/education-and-families/school-admissions-policy/.

Information from Somerset Waste Partnership.

Click here: SORTED! e-newsletter

Meet the Builder at The Market House – Shambles. On Thursday 21st November 4 – 6 p.m.

A construction firm called Engie is inviting residents to talk to them on Thursday this week. Engie is employed by the developers Stonewater to build the 125 houses on Wayside Farm on Station Road (this is the last site on the left when travelling towards the Station). This site is now apparently called “Mulberry Meadows”! Representatives from Engie will be able to answer questions such as “When will the site be finished?”

Stonewater, the developers, are currently seeking to renegotiate the number of affordable homes on the site and the amount of S106 money paid to our community. (This is a levy, agreed at the outset, to help the community improve infrastructure). (Planning applications 19/02353/DPO & 19/01411/DPO) There may be a representative from Stonewater present. It is to Stonewater that questions about therequested reduction in funding for local projects should be addressed.

We (the Town and Parish Councils) opposed this development and it was passed at appeal by a Government Inspector. We are where we are, and it is going to happen. Please remember that it is rare for developers/builders to engage with the community and in this instance, if attending, extreme politeness is likely to result in the best outcome!!!

Donate your Winter Fuel Payment so Somerset’s elderly

don’t have to choose between eating and heating

November 2019

As we head into winter, many of us face an expensive – but essential – bill for heating our homes, while many of our neighbours face a stark decision between eating and heating: a shocking one in eight households in Somerset live in fuel poverty. Thanks to the bright idea of one generous pensioner, hundreds of older people in Somerset are being supported to stay warm, safe and well every winter through Somerset Community Foundation’s Surviving Winter campaign.

The campaign encourages people who don’t need their Winter Fuel Payment to donate some or all of it to help local older people who are unable to afford to heat their homes.

Last year, over 500 elderly people living in Somerset were helped through the cold winter months, thanks to generous local donors who donated over £100,000 to Surviving Winter.

Somerset Community Foundation (SCF) are also taking part in The Big Give, and online donations to the campaign that are made during the week-long Big Give Christmas Challenge – midday Tuesday 3 December to midday Tuesday 10 December – will be doubled! So, not only will your donation be worth twice as much, but even more older and isolated people across the county will feel warmer and better connected this winter.

If you would like to donate to Surviving Winter, visit www.somersetcf.org.uk/winter or call 01749 344949.

…7th November 19:30 in The Shambles….Agenda here: Open Meeting agenda

Important notice from the Post Office…from 7th November, undeliverable parcels and letters will be taken to Wincanton not Castle Cary Post Office. There will be an option to arrange redelivery so you shouldn’t always have to go to Wincanton.

See this letter for details: Letter re parcel collection from Wincanton

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ready-for-brexit-food-farming-tickets-75825705727

Brexit Readiness: Defra Food & Farming Briefing

Date:               Wednesday 23 October
Time:              12pm – 2pm

Venue:           Wessex Pavilions, Royal Bath & West Showground, Prestleigh, Nr Shepton Mallet, Somerset, BA4 6QN

Defra is working with the NFU, the Heart of the South West LEP and Mendip District Council to host a free ‘Ready for Brexit’ event aimed at businesses within the farming, food and drink sectors.

This event is open to all businesses in the Somerset and South West area and will provide information and signposting to the technical support and advice available to help businesses with preparing for Brexit.

Refreshments on arrival.

Registration for the event is through the following link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ready-for-brexit-food-farming-tickets-75825705727

…

Please click for the latest Somerset Waste Partnership Briefing, with news about:

• When Recycle More starts rolling out
• Recycling site winter hours and unchanged permit scheme
• Plans to cut the cost of garden waste collections
• Site entry fees end and changes to other charges
• Tackling delayed collections
• And the move away from landfill

Please see attached the Somerset Rivers Authority Annual Report 2018-19, introduced for you here by the SRA Chair Councillor David Hall:

I am writing as Chair of Somerset Rivers Authority (SRA) to let you know that the SRA has just published its Annual Report 2018-19, showcasing some of the achievements of the SRA during that time.

People and places across Somerset have benefitted from extra SRA-funded flood protection and resilience. In 2018-19, the SRA spent just over £3.8million on actions designed to protect both people and property.

Because there is no one simple solution to Somerset’s flooding challenges, and everyone in the county is affected in one way or another, the SRA invests in a wide range of actions to reduce flood risks and increase resilience when floods do occur. All works are additional to those carried out by other Flood Risk Management Authorities in Somerset.

I have attached two copies of the Annual Report. A longer version gives lots of detail about SRA activities, and is helpful for exploring what’s been done at a more local level. The shorter version is still very informative, but more visual and selective.

I hope very much that you will enjoy reading the SRA Annual Report 2018-19, whichever version you choose.

If you have any comments or questions, or would like to know more, please contact the SRA on [email protected] or call 01823-355111

Thank you – Cllr David Hall, Chair, Somerset Rivers Authority

Somerset Rivers Authority 2018-19 Annual Report summary 1MB

Somerset Rivers Authority 2018-19 Annual Report full length version 3MB

On Monday 12th August a Blue Plaque was unveiled at Cumnock Terrace in Castle Cary, the birthplace of Douglas Macmillan. To find out more, watch the video composed by Macmillan…

This is the present timetable: 667 timetable 2018

…and here is the revised timetable: Service 667 Sept 2019 SCC

“Hello, 

We are NCS (National Citizen Service) and we are trying to end period poverty in Somerset.

 Unfortunately, 137,000 females in the UK have missed school as they were unable to afford sanitary products. Despite being a necessity to 50% of the population at some point, sanitary products are classed as luxury items.

 To help us, you can bring donations of sanitary products all this week and next Tuesday (27th August) to the Market House in Castle Cary.

 You can also spread the word on:

Facebook – Fund the Flow

Instagram – fund.the.flow

Twitter – fundtheflow

Email – [email protected]

Thank you for your support.”

Somerset Art Weeks Festival

21 September – 6 October 2019

This year’s Festival will host a diverse programme of inspiring art exhibitions, workshops, talks, films and installations in over 130 locations across Somerset, alongside exciting new

commissions, group shows and education projects involving over 300 artists.

2019 marks the Silver Anniversary of Somerset Art Weeks with the first event

in 1994 featuring 160 venues and artists, art groups, organisations and one-off

exhibitions all taking part. It is now the largest visual arts event in the county. Art

Weeks has evolved since 1994 with the essence of art at the heart of Somerset,

investing in the arts community and enriching lives.

www.somersetartworks.org.uk

Official result here: https://www.southsomerset.gov.uk/media/2512/declaration-of-result.pdf

726 votes cast: 682 Yes: 43 No: 1 spoiled ballot paper

This is good news for our town as it means more influence on what developers can and cannot do, and also more money.

Many thanks to all who voted.

For those concerned about the current application for 200 more houses on the greenfield site that overlooks that station, please write as soon as possible to the South Somerset District Council. Letters/emails really do make a difference… the more the better…

For details of the application visit the Planning section of the SSDC website. The reference number is: 19/01840/OUT

The OUT means Outline – so you don’t need to pay attention either to the layout or to the design of the houses… only to the principle of building 200 houses on that field

Postal Voters should have received their ballot papers; the Referendum is on Tuesday 30th July, so why do we need a Neighbourhood Plan?

A Neighbourhood Plan gives a community some say over developments within its area… such as where building should take place and what the buildings should look like. It can also influence many other planning matters. It is a legal document which has to be referred to by the local planning authority as well as developers.

Without an NP a community has virtually no control over these things.

After numerous consultations with our community, the NP for Castle Cary and Ansford is completed, it has passed all the necessary examinations and other hurdles and now it is your chance to vote on whether it should be adopted. Remember without it we have no powers, with it we get some control over what happens to our Town.

Once a Neighbourhood Plan is adopted, we as a community can claim more money from developers than we otherwise could.

For more details and to download the full document, please go to: https://www.castlecaryansfordnp.uk/the-neighbourhood-plan1

VEGETATION OVERHANGING the FOOTWAY AND / OR CARRIAGEWAY 

Somerset County Council (SCC) undertakes highway management throughout the County and one of the duties is to maintain highways as a safe environment for all road users.

Grass verge management is carried out by SCC between May – August annually and details are published on the SCC TravelSomerset website.

The SCC South Somerset Area office received in excess of 350 concerns raised by the public relating to overhanging vegetation in 2018 and approximately 16% of those related to land owners and notice had to be served.

You can appreciate that this has an impact on clerk and officer resource where simple maintenance by land owners could be carried out to reduce or remove this issue.

SCC appreciate that growth occurs in bird nesting season, but hedge cutting works can be carried out providing an inspection of the hedge is carried out prior to any cutting works being undertaken. Generally the bird nesting season should be considered to be between late February and August but is dependent on weather conditions.

I hope that you will be able to co-operate to help reduce occurrences and help to protect the safety of the public.

Our Neighbourhood plan has been passed by both the Examiner and the District Executive.

This means we now go to a referendum.

The Question being asked is this:

‘Do you want South Somerset District Council to use the Neighbourhood Plan for Castle Cary and Ansford to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?’

The Referendum, which is organised by South Somerset District Council is to be on Tuesday 30 July.

Voting will take place between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m.

Castle Cary residents should vote in the Market House Shambles; Ansford residents should vote in Caryford Hall.

You will be issued with voting cards by South Somerset District Council and the process is very similar to a General Election, and the same postal and proxy voting rules apply.

If you’ll be away on 30th July, you can apply for a postal vote. You can download the form from this link, but have to send it by post to SSDC ( South Somerset District Council, Electoral Registration Officer, Council Offices, Brympton Way, Yeovil BA20 2HT)

You can borrow a hard copy of the final version of Neighbourhood Plan from the Market House Information Point.

The final version of the Neighbourhood Plan will appear online within the next few days at: www.castlecaryansfordnp.uk 

Lots of information from Somerset Waste Partnership: SWP Briefing June 2019

At the Full Council meeting on Monday 13th May, four new Councillors were co-opted:

Steve and Philippa Biddlecombe, Nick Crowley and Rob Worth.

We welcome them and look forward to working with them in the future.

Joint Town & Parish Annual Meeting Agenda 2019

Castle Cary and Ansford Public Information Event by developers before submission of planning application.
3.00pm – 7.00pm
Wednesday 15 May 2019 in Caryford Community Hall

Please see the poster here for full details

On Thursday 2nd May the Election of Councillors for South Somerset District Council will take place. Castle Cary and Ansford are in the Cary Ward that has two District Councillors, so each elector can vote for two nominated persons.

The Notice of Nominated Persons as published on the SSDC website for Cary Ward is:

A clearer notice is available here.

Eat Festival: Castle Cary: 4th May 2019

 10.00 – 17.00: Town Centre location

Event Overview

• Over 70 primary food and drink producers in the town centre

• Court Productions background music/festival soundtrack – outside Market House

• BBQ masterclasses with chef BBQ Forte – all day outside Barclays Bank

• Punch & Judy in near the White Hart – on the hour from 11 a.m.

• Cook School in the Market House – 10.30 – 12.30 and 13.30 – 15.30

• Face painter by Home – all day

• Gardeners Question Time in the Market House – 4 p.m.

• Cary Rangers Netball – by the White Hart

• Griffin Cycles – by the Horsepond

Plenty to see and do. See these posters for more information. Map of the day What’s On

See you all on Saturday

Please don’t forget: a few parts of the Town Centre will be closed to traffic – details are here.  

Eat:Castle Cary Festival

4th May 2019

A leaflet is being circulated by a resident raising concerns about the Eat:Castle Cary Festival on 4th May.   Much of what is being said is untrue. Please read the Town Council website to see arrangements for parking, buses etc. https://www.castle-cary.co.uk/eat-castle-cary-update/

Local services, police, ambulance, fire brigade have all been notified and legal documentation has been completed by the organising company Eat:Festivals.

Anyone who is worried should contact: www.eatfestivals.org or email:[email protected]

We forward to seeing you at the free Eat:Festival

It’s only just over a month until the Eat Festival in Castle Cary. For full details of the Festival & contact details of the organisers, go to the website: https://www.eatfestivals.org/castlecary

There will be road closures as shown in this document from Highways:

Notice of road closures 4th May

The Order will come into operation on the 4th May 2019 between the hours of 0700 hours and 2300 hours.
Exemptions are provided in the Order for emergency vehicles, residents requiring access and egress and any vehicles associated with the event.

For a clearer view of the map, click here: Plan_Eat_Castle_Cary_-_Temporary_Prohibition_of_Vehicles_and_Temporary_Suspension_of_One_Way

A Public Meeting
Thursday 14th March, 7.30pm,
The Shambles, Market House, Castle Cary, BA7 7AH

A Greener Cary?
We face a crisis. Plastic pollution, climate change, poor air quality and a shortage of landfill sites are just part of the problem. Some people just don’t think about it. Others think they can’t do anything. But lots of people are concerned and want to do something. Many of them in this town.
On 14th March in the Shambles at the Market House in Castle Cary there will be a meeting for organisations, businesses and individuals in the town who want to do something to make Castle Cary greener. We can’t solve the global problem, but we can do things which will improve the bit of the world we live in, and we can do things locally which have an impact for good elsewhere.
Just a few possibilities: we can reduce the amount of carbon we emit by improving our transport system so we rely less on vans, cars and trucks; shops can stock goods which have been transported shorter distances; we can eat food which has less impact on the environment; we can develop our local entertainment so there is less need to travel away. You no doubt have lots of other ideas.
As do other people in Castle Cary, Ansford and the villages round about, many of whom are already trying to do something. At the meeting on 14th March we will identify what we are already doing to make the Castle Cary area greener, gather ideas for another Green Fair on 14th September, and think of what we can do long term. Finally we’ll decide how we can take this forward.
If you’re concerned to make Cary greener, do come to the meeting. And encourage other people through your organisation or business to come too. There is a lot we can do, and we can do more together than as individuals.
Greener Cary
For more information contact: David Osborne at [email protected] or 01963 351275
Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/greenercary/
How can we make Cary greener?
A Public Meeting
Thursday 14th March, 7.30pm,
The Shambles, Market House, Castle Cary, BA7 7AH

Please see the Parish Councils Notice of Election here.

Update 13th April: 9 people have been nominated for 13 places on the Town Council. Therefore they have been elected without a contest. See https://www.southsomerset.gov.uk/media/2150/parish-council-notices-of-uncontested-elections.pdf

Please see the District Council Notice of Election here.

Castle Cary Town Council
Job Vacancy
Town Clerk/Responsible Finance Officer
Salary within the grade LC2
(from 1st April 2019 SCP 24-32 £27905-£34788)
Subject to experience and qualifications.
Full-time 37hrs per week

Castle Cary Town Council is an innovative and energetic Council at the centre of a growing and active local community. The Council has Foundation status in the Local Council Award scheme and aspires to achieve Quality level following the May elections.

We are now seeking highly organised and committed applicants to undertake this key role which is responsible for all day-to-day organisation and management of the Council’s finances, staff, facilities and services. This is a demanding job and you will need vision, a high level of motivation, excellent leadership, accounting, management, administrative, inter-personal and IT skills in order to work successfully with staff, Councillors, our community, external organisations and stakeholders.

Ideally you should possess the CiLCA qualification and have a sound understanding of local authority organisation and management.

The post is full-time (37 hours per week) and some evening meeting attendance is required. We offer excellent nationally based terms and conditions of employment for this full-time post which involves evening and weekend attendance.

Please visit our website www.castle-cary.co.uk to download a recruitment pack and an application form.

For an informal discussion feel free to contact our current Town Clerk, Sue Hake on 01963 359631

Closing date for applications:  12 noon Monday 18th March 2019.

Interviews will be held on 27th and 28th March 2019. Candidates should ensure they are available to attend on these days should they be selected for interview at each stage.

Castle Cary Town Council is an Equal Opportunity Employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.

Letter to Applicants; Job Description Castle Cary Town Clerk; Town Clerk person specification; Application form for Town Clerk

…

Lloyd’s Mobile Bank parks in Wincanton at the following times:

Monday 9.30 – 11.00
Tuesday 9.30 – 12.45
Wednesday 13.00 – 15.00

Go into the Memorial Hall car park;  drive as far as you can into the walled car park.

Do you belong to a Community Group that is prepared to start up a Table Tennis activity? If so, click on this link for details about funding: https://tabletennisengland.co.uk/news/featured-news/applications-open-for-fully-funded-ping-in-the-community-packages/

The 1st Castle Cary Scout Group is pleased to announce that the improvement works carried out at their Scout Halls are now complete and would like to thank Viridor Credits Environmental Company for funding this work via The Landfill Communities Fund.

We would also like to thank those organisations and individuals within our community who supported us with our grant application.

2019 marks 100 years of Scouting within Castle Cary and our new facilities will ensure that young people involved with Scouting will meet in a safe and modern environment as we progress through the coming years.

To celebrate the modernisation of our Halls, a Service will be held at All Saints Church on Sunday 24th February 2019 at 14:30 hours. This will be followed by the official opening and refreshments in our newly refurbished Halls.

All members of the community are invited to join us; if you would like to attend please contact Roy on 01963 351025 or e-mail [email protected]

Please click here for details of our local police beat team.

The Castle Cary and Ansford Neighbourhood Plan has been submitted to South Somerset District Council, which has a duty to now carry out consultation prior to the Plan’s examination by an independent Examiner, to be appointed by the District Council. You have the opportunity to comment before the Examination takes place.

The consultation period runs from 29th November 2018 to 19th January 2019. Please see the Castle Cary and Ansford Submission Notice, which provides guidance as to how you may inspect the associated documentation and how comments should be made should you wish to do so. To make a response please use  this form.

Please be aware that a summary of all representations received will be publicly available and will appear on the South Somerset District Council website.

Following this consultation, the comments received will be passed to the Examiner, who will consider the representations and recommend whether the Neighbourhood Plan should be put to a community referendum.

Please ensure that any comments on the Neighbourhood Plan are received by South Somerset District Council no later than 19th January 2019.

Form more details of the Neighbourhood Plan, see the website: https://www.castlecaryansfordnp.uk

Attack by Siegfried Sassoon

At dawn the ridge emerges massed and dun
In the wild purple of the glow’ring sun,
Smouldering through spouts of drifting smoke that shroud
The menacing scarred slope; and, one by one,
Tanks creep and topple forward to the wire.
The barrage roars and lifts. Then, clumsily bowed
With bombs and guns and shovels and battle-gear,
Men jostle and climb to, meet the bristling fire.
Lines of grey, muttering faces, masked with fear,
They leave their trenches, going over the top,
While time ticks blank and busy on their wrists,
And hope, with furtive eyes and grappling fists,
Flounders in mud. O Jesus, make it stop!

At 11:00 on 11th November 1918 the guns did, finally, fall silent. To mark this, and to show our respect for those that fought, and died, for the freedoms we have today, Cary 2000 will be setting off 100 bird scarers on Lodge Hill at 10:55 on Sunday 11th November. This will give us all a representation of just what it was like for our men in the trenches when ‘The War to end all Wars’ ended.
There will be several warnings over the next 10 days, published, online and via Cary Crier, so please let everyone know and ensure that animals are kept inside for these few minutes and that anyone who may be traumatised by the sounds has someone with them or is away from Cary.

​

Castle Cary & Ansford Centenary Remembrance of World War 1

This year the Armistice Remembrance will be marked with some different activities in our town. We will be positioning 150 large poppies throughout the town. This will be followed by flags placed at the back of the Horsepond, on the Market House and down the High Street, in shop windows and on flag poles. Many of our shops will decorate their windows and the War Memorial at the Horsepond will be draped with a cascade of poppies.

The poppy collections led by Bridget Laver will start in the town in the week beginning 29th October.

On Saturday 3rd November the Shambles will host an exhibition prepared by the Museum and Living History Group. This exhibition will be open whenever the Shambles is not booked for an event to view. The days are; Saturday 3rd November, Tuesday morning, Wednesday all day, Thursday morning, Friday all day and Saturday morning when it will transfer to the Museum for viewing on Sunday 11th November.
The Museum has extended its opening days until Sunday 11th November. It’s will be open from 10.30-12.30 and 2.00-4.00pm. It is full of memorabilia and a fabulous poppy quilt ‘In Flanders Fields’ made with love by Catherine Millar and lent to them for the occasion.

The Vintage Market will take place on 11th November and they will be having some appropriate music playing after the Act of Remembrance.

Both Churches will have displays and they be open for reflection in the week leading up to Sunday. The Creative Writing Group at the Shambles has written stories and poems about World War1 and one will be read in All Saints’ Church after 11.00 each day.

In addition there will be a few surprises to watch out for before the solemnity of the British Legion service at All Saints’ Church at 10.00am. The congregation will process round the town led by the Clergy and the British Legion to the War Memorial for the act of Remembrance. The men of Castle Cary and Ansford will be remembered by name after the silence. After the service there will be an opportunity to walk up to Ansford Church and the Ansford War Memorial to honour the dead.

We would like to make you aware that 100 bird scarers will be set off in very quick succession from the top of Lodge Hill to mark the moment the guns fell silent. They will go off before 11.00 am and will be followed by two minutes silence. Please keep your animals in and warn friends or relatives who might be alarmed. The Police have been informed.

These events have been planned by a small group of people from our community and supported by Cary 2000 and the Town Council

Details of the proposals by the County Council for Somerset libraries can be found here: http://somersetlibraries.co.uk/redesign/

Castle Cary library is recommended for a Community Library Partnership

180920 Press RELEASE – VA Big Lottery Success KR

In memory Barry Moorhouse who was an active member, and latterly Chair, of the Town Council his sons (Guy & Ben) will be cycle a 100 miles on the 23rd September to raise much needed funds for St Margaret’s Hospice.

They say:

On February 20th of this year, our wonderful Dad passed away after a battle with inoperable pancreatic cancer. An awful time, during which we needed whatever help we could get for Dad to give him and my step mum the best quality of life possible in his final weeks.

For us, this help came in the form of St. Margaret’s Hospice. Amazing people doing amazing work – giving everything to help people like Dad get every last bit of value out of what remains of their shortened lives.

My brother and I are supporting St Margaret’s, cycling 100 miles next month in my dad’s memory at the Vélo South sportive.

We would be so grateful if you could contribute whatever you can to our fundraiser – St. Margaret’s Hospice have limited financial support and need charitable donations to continue doing the vital work that they do.

Your help would mean everything to them and us.

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/in-memory-of-barry

…who was co-opted to Castle Cary Town Council at our Full Meeting last night (17th September 2018) We all look forward to working with her.

Redesign of Council Offices at Petters Way in Yeovil will give customers better experience.

The front of house area at the District Council’s offices in Petters Way will see a redesign which will offer customers a better experience with a fresh, modern and contemporary environment.

Plans to redesign the area, which include submitting a planning application for a new entrance, will see a self-serve zone implemented and other facilities that will be technology enabled to promote self-service to customers.

Those customers who need face to face help will still be able to receive that level service to enable a fast resolution to customer enquiries.

The area will be focussed on the Council’s new way of working, with Customer focussed officers greeting customers to promote self-service by supporting them to develop skills and do more themselves. It will also provide a convenient location to get advice and access a whole range of services.

The new front of house will create a space for greeting customers/triage, self-serve, reception desk, informal meeting areas and private interview rooms.

Councillor Henry Hobhouse, Portfolio Holder for Property, Climate Change and Income Generation said: “It is critical we get the space right and we want to ensure the space increases customer and staff satisfaction. Officers have visited many other public sector organisations to try to find the best outcome for the front of house area”.

Customers can access services online at any time of the day by using the Council’s range of online services including paying Council Tax or other bills, reporting missed waste or recycling collections, registering to vote, applying for Housing Benefit, joining the housing list or making a planning application plus much more. Visit www.southsomerset.gov.uk/online-services to see the range of services currently available.

In early 2019, a brand new website with personal online customer accounts will be introduced, making going online and dealing with council-related queries easier and more conveinient.

The application, which has been submitted to Planning Officers, to create a new glass-fronted entrance way at Petters House can be found on the SSDC Planning Portal at https://www.southsomerset.gov.uk/planningdetails/

CASTLE CARY TOWN COUNCIL

NOTICE FROM PLANNING COMMITTEE

Planning Application Numbers 18/01602/FUL & 18/01603/LBC

Demolition of existing buildings, conversion of and alterations to listed buildings to form 11 No. dwellings, the erection of 70 No. dwellings (total 81 No. dwellings) and associated works, including access and off-site highway works, parking, landscaping, open space, footpath links and drainage infrastructure.

Former BMI Site, Cumnock Road, Castle Cary, BA7 7HR

Deferment request granted

Please be aware that the date for public comments on the above application has been extended from 13th & 16th July

to 22nd July 2018.

Signed ………………………………..Claire Craner-Buckley Deputy Town Clerk

Dated: 11.7.18

New arrangements for contacting the Planning service at South Somerset District Council have been put in place to allow the team to deal with a current backlog of planning applications.

The arrangements, which will commence from Monday 25 June until further notice, will give Planning Officers more time without interruption to allow for catch up and avoid demand failure whilst maintaining a good level of customer service.

Incoming direct calls to the Planning service will only be answered between 9.00am – 10.00am and 4.00pm – 5.00pm daily. During all other hours, calls will go to voicemail and be actioned when the Planning Officer becomes available.

The Duty Planner service will only operate from 9.00am until 1.00pm daily. Duty Planner calls are received by calling 01935 462462. After 1.00pm messages will be taken and passed to Planning Officers to action.

Should you need to contact a known Planning Officer who is dealing with a case that is currently live, we advise you email the Officer direct.

Until further notice, there will be no Planning Officer cover for walk-ins at the Brympton Way, Petters Way Wincanton and Chard offices. If you are coming to any of the offices looking to speak to a Planning Officer, a message will be taken and emailed to a specific Case Officer or to the Duty Planner.

Councillor Angie Singleton, Portfolio Holder for Strategic Planning said, “We want to ensure we offer a good level of service to customers and residents whilst dealing with the current backlog of applications and to do that, we need to ensure Officers have sufficient time to deal with applications.

“We understand it can be frustrating when you can’t immediately get through to who you need to speak with, but this new arrangement will allow Officers to register and assess applications quicker. If you need to discuss an issue about an application that is already live, it’s advised to email the Planning Officer direct who will then deal with your email when time allows. We thank you for your understanding of the current situation and your patience with this matter”.

There is a comprehensive guide to the Planning service at South Somerset District Council online. If you are looking for advice or guidance, please visit www.southsomerset.gov.uk/planning. Current or previous planning applications can be viewed at www.southsomerset.gov.uk by entering the planning reference or a keyword into the Planning search box on the homepage.

Dear Friends of Care4Cary

We have good news!

Community action has made a difference once more
The Planning Inspector has dismissed Andrew Hopkins’ appeal to locate a parking and valeting site for 991 cars at Dimmer. Richard Jones is the third Inspector who has agreed with local residents’ concerns about the poor safety and amenity of the B3153 for local residents and road users. The language of the dismissal was very clear. Click on this link to read it http://cip.southsomerset.gov.uk/Planning/lg/GFPlanningViewDocumentInDialog.page?DocNo=8498554. Huge thanks to the many people who wrote letters, sent photos and made lengthy submissions. It is clear from the Inspector’s report that your arguments were pivotal.

Together with other interested parties, Care4Cary is planning to present to Somerset Highways a dossier on this stretch of the B3153, which will include a report from an independent traffic consultant and incontrovertible traffic data. We will not give up until Highways recognises that there is a serious issue with the road between Lydford Cross and Ansford Bridge, and that something needs to be done about it.

Tomorrow morning (Friday 13 April) HRH the Princess Royal will be landing by helicopter on the Donald Pither memorial field and she will be taken by car to the Save the Children shop on Fore Street where she will be shown round by Ainslie and introduced to staff.

Please don’t forget

There is a public consultation about our draft Neighbourhood Plan on Saturday 17 March in the Market house (9.30 – 2.30)

This is your chance to let us know your views on, and suggest improvements to, the Castle Cary and Ansford draft Neighbourhood plan.

You can view the plan online at www.castlecaryansfordnp.uk or borrow a paper copy from the Market House Information Point.

So do join us on Saturday or email [email protected] or drop your comments off at the Market House.

All responses must be in by 1 May 2018.

Sue Moorhouse and family

Invite you to join them

at

Caryford Hall, Maggs Lane, Ansford,

Castle Cary BA7 7JJ

on

Friday 6th April at 2.00pm

For tea and cakes

To reflect on and celebrate Barry’s life

Many thanks to all the many heroes who helped clear roads and paths, shopped for others and shared meals, kept the shops open, helped to get people to work in their 4x4s and generally kept us safe in the last few days. The sight of young people and their parents building snowmen, snowboarding and tobogganing on our very own ‘ski slopes’ warmed everyone’s hearts.
Keep shopping locally #lovecastlecary

……………..in this extreme weather please take the time to ensure that people who are elderly or confined to their homes, are managing to keep fed and warm.

If you are able to clear the path outside your house, please do – let’s try to make it a safe journey for all.

If you know of someone who needs some support, please let us know and we will try to address their need.

In the meantime, a Lent lunch of warming soup and bread will be served in All Saints’ Church on Friday 2nd March from 12.30 pm.  Everyone is welcome

On Saturday 3rd March there will be a coffee morning in the Shambles, (not the Undercroft! ) where you can come to talk to us about anyone you are concerned about and we will try to help.

At the coffee morning you can also view the progress on the Fairfield development.

Thank you to everyone who is being a good neighbour in our compassionate community.

The draft NP is now available in printed form from the Market House information point. 

All Town Councilllors, staff and volunteers are devastated to hear that our recent Chair of Council Barry Moorhouse died early this morning.
He’d been active on Facebook recently extolling the care he was receiving from St. Margaret’s Somerset Hospice in Yeovil, and several of us had visited him in the past couple of weeks. His wife Sue has asked us to share the news on Facebook and here.
We send our deepenst condolences to Sue and all Barry’s family who are together this week to mark what would have been his birthday on Thursday.

Highways England are currently consulting on the proposal to upgrade the A303 between

Sparkford and Ilchester to a dual carriageway.  Here is the consultation brochure and below is the link to the on-line consultation.

https://highwaysengland.citizenspace.com/he/a303-sparkford-to-ilchester-statutory-consultation/

This statutory consultation is your Town or Parishes opportunity to express your views on the design of the proposed scheme in advance of the application for a Development Consent Order (DCO) to authorise construction of the project.

Businesses, local authorities, public bodies, road users and the communities and neighbouring areas can play an important part in the development of the scheme design. Your feedback is therefore essential to this consultation as it will enable Highways England to improve the scheme before they start the planning process.

The consultation closes on 9th March 2018.

Local Ward boundaries are set to change.

Further details here: https://www.lgbce.org.uk/news/electoral-review/have-your-say-on-new-political-map-of-south-somerset

The proposal for Cary Ward is as follows: “There is a development taking place in Castle Cary that will prompt Cary to have electoral inequality by 2023 (16%) if its present ward boundaries are retained.
We received one submission regarding Cary, as part of the Officers’ proposal for the district.
This proposal suggested moving the parish of Babcary into Camelot ward and the parish of Yarlington into Camelot ward. We are recommending a draft Cary ward comprising the parishes of
Alford, Ansford, Castle Cary, Lovington, North Barrow, North Cadbury and South Barrow.

Cary ward will have good electoral equality by 2023.”

However, there is a lot more detail in the link above and below.

https://www.lgbce.org.uk/current-reviews/south-west/somerset/south-somerset

There will be a drop in event to discuss the proposed Library changes, on 14th March from 2.30 to 5.30pm in The Market House.

EatCary Community Garden and its future: EatCary runs the community vegetable garden between Ansford Academy, Maggs Lane and the A371 – there is a footpath up to it on the corner.

The future of the EatCary Community Garden is uncertain!

It needs additional leadership and fresh input. There are too few of us with too little time, to run it. There is lots of space – lots of growing space outside, a large polytunnel, equipment, etc   It isn’t allotments; it is a shared growing space, and we share the produce.  We want to encourage everyone to grow vegetables and enjoy eating them.

If you or your organisation is interested in finding out more, please come to

a Public Meeting in the Shambles at the Market House

on

Tuesday March 6th at 7.30pm

If you cannot come to the meeting do contact Laura Tilling for more information.

Ring 01963 351461 or email till[email protected]

Somerset County Council need your opinion on their proposed changes to the library services in Somerset. There will be a drop in session at The Market House on Wednesday 14th March from 2.30 to 5.30pm when staff will be on hand to answer questions.

See the links to the consultation for the Castle Cary area here

…in order to be fair to all businesses in Castle Cary, Ansford and the immediate area, Castle Cary Town Council has an advertising policy: Policy for advertising on the Castle Cary Town Website and Facebook page

Nat West is changing its hours from 14th September to 10.50 – 11.50am

The Town Council has just been informed that Barclays Bank in Castle Cary will be closing at the end of October. This is the letter informing customers: Barclays Bank closure

Care4Cary is pleased to report that on Wednesday 12 July South Somerset District Council’s Area East planning committee refused Andrew Hopkins’ application for change of use from B2 (general industrial) to B8 (storage and distribution) at his Dimmer site. He had applied in order to store and valet up to 991 former fleet vehicles on this rural site.

Ward Councillor Henry Hobhouse moved that the application should be refused, with Ward Councillor and Committee Chair Nick Weeks seconding. The motion was carried by six votes (including that of our County Councillor Mike Lewis) to two against, with two abstentions.

Many thanks to town and parish councillors who made submissions in advance and spoke at the meeting. Strong objections were also made by residents of Ansford, Dimmer, Castle Cary and Lydford, alongside Care4Cary. It was clear that the SSDC planning officer and Councillors had taken note of the two letters from Care4Cary’s expert planning lawyer who had pointed out the inadequacy of information provided by the applicant, the adverse road safety and amenity impact along the B3153 particularly in Clanville, and that the Planning Officer was incorrect on a piece of planning law ignoring the comments of two planning inspectors.
While this Committee has refused the application on the grounds that the applicant had failed to demonstrate the impact on local traffic/road safety and amenity, we may well have to face an appeal.
Councillors seemed as frustrated as we are at the saga at Dimmer and made some constructive suggestions as to how to bring groundhog day finally to a close. More of that anon.
Best wishes and many thanks for all the support!
Care4Cary
16 July 2017

Here is the report given to the Annual Town Meeting on 16th May 2017

Chair’s Report Annual Town Meeting 2017

Annual Town Meeting 2017 Draft Minutes will be approved at the 2018 Annual Town Meeting.

The ANNUAL TOWN MEETING will take place on Tuesday 16th May in Caryford Hall

You can download an official Agenda here.

Fairtrade tea & coffee will be available

At 6.30 pm there will be a chance to view and comment on the Neighbourhood plan, catch up on the latest news on The Fairfield Project, see displays from local organisations about their activities and to meet Town and District Councillors to discuss local issues

The FORMAL MEETING STARTS AT 7.30 pm:

AGENDA
1 Welcome and introduction of Councillors
2 Apologies for absence
3 Approval of the 2016 Annual Town Meeting minutes
4 Chairman’s report
5 Presentations by Town Councillors & others:
Planning
Neighbourhood Plan
Marketing & Communications
Youth
Properties & Infrastructure
Finance

6 Presentations from Ward Councillors
7 Questions, answers and other matters for discussion
8 Thank you and good night.

‘Help about Cary’ will support people affected by cancer

If you are or have been affected by cancer you can share your views on the type of practical support that would be helpful and in doing so shape ‘Help about Cary’ a new volunteering scheme which will launch later in the year.  Please take part in the survey either online or by collecting a paper questionnaire from your GP surgery.   ‘Help about Cary’ is being set up by local residents with the assistance of Macmillan Cancer Support.  It will aim to offer practical help to cancer patients and their families in Castle Cary and the surrounding areas.

Link to survey: HelpAboutCary survey

A new rural crime initiative has been launched by Avon & Somerset Police this week.

There’s a new text number – 81819 to help the Police to prevent and detect rural crime.

Rural communities and businesses are asked to help the Police by providing information and intelligence about suspected crime in their area. Texts will go directly to the Rural Crime Team, who will be able to assess and action the intelligence quickly and efficiently.

The number won’t be monitored 24/7 but the team will be looking at it when they are on duty, it therefore shouldn’t be used for reporting crimes, or anything which requires an immediate police attendance.

In those circumstances please dial 999.

Inspector Joanna Mines, from the Rural Crime Team in Somerset, said: “We are trialing the number for three months.

“Many people who belong to our FarmWatch scheme had said they wanted a facility to be able to pass on information and respond to messages quickly, and this new number will allow that.

“We want to hear from anyone who has information about any suspicious or potentially criminal activity in their area, for example – details of people/vehicles seen behaving suspiciously, potentially stolen goods or livestock being offered for sale either to the public or at markets, sightings of stolen vehicles we might put out an alert for.

“No matter how small or insignificant people may think information is, it may be a vital piece of a jigsaw that helps us fill in the gaps and either prevent a crime or bring offenders to justice.

“We have had real success using a text number to facilitate reporting of drink drivers in the past and we hope this will prove as effective.”

Messages are currently sent out via text message and email to members of the Neighbourhood, Farm and Horse Watch schemes to alert them to crimes and incidents in their area. This new number will allow people to text back information quickly and easily.

Anyone can use it if they have information about rural or agricultural crime in their area, and isn’t just for Watch members.

The launch of the number happens to coincide with a recent livestock theft in Somerset (16/01) and we are hoping that the public will help provide vital information to help the investigation. 40 calves, 10-15 months old, of Friesian/Limousin/Angus breeds were stolen from Henton, near Wells. The calves had been wormed using Bimectin the day before and it’s therefore vital they don’t get into the food chain.

Police and Crime Commissioner Sue Mountstevens said: “Rural crime affects the livelihoods of farmers, smallholders and rural businesses and presents some real challenges for the wider rural areas.  I know the Rural Crime Team, working closely with our local communities are committed to tackling and preventing crime.

“I know from speaking to residents and farmers that there is a real desire to engage with the police […]

Many of you will be aware that there has been a public enquiry relating to an application to build 125 + 75 new homes on either side of Station Road.  (This is in addition to the 165 + 45 + 75 for which planning permission has already been given in this area.)  Your Town Council, Ansford Parish Council and South Somerset District Council objected to the application on the grounds that the additional 200 homes would be excessive for our roads and infrastructure, and lack of jobs would lead to out-commuting and so on.  However, in line with current planning policy, the Government Inspector has taken the developers’ side. In other words – we have lost. Sorry – we tried really, really hard.

If you are interested the inspector’s decision and the reasons for it, please click on the following links:

Appeal covering letter

Silverwood appeal decision

Wayside Farm appeal decision

If you are at all concerned about the current planning process and lack of respect for the views of local people, there are two Government petitions you can consider signing…. If they get 10,000 signatures the Government will look at the issue, 100,000 and it will be debated in Parliament.

“Give communities back the right to decide where houses are built.”- petition.parliament.uk/petitions/177333

“Protect us from speculative housing development. The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) needs modification……” petition.parliament.uk/petitions/176809

The Market runs from 8.30 to 2.00 pm every Tuesday at the Market House.

Our dedicated traders look forward to offering you:

·  Fish, Meat, Veg (including ORGANIC),

·  Bread, Gluten-free products, Pickles, Jams,

·  PLUS occasional casual stallholders.

Do come and have a chat and a look around, enjoy a coffee and visit our High Street too!

In an effort to reduce costs to the Town Council, and therefore the Council Tax payer,
and after discussion at a previous Properties and Infrastructure meeting, it was decided at the full
Town Council meeting on 17th October that the men’s and women’s toilets in Millbrook car park would
be closed for a trial period of two months from 1st November.
The disabled toilet will be adapted for use as a unisex facility and have baby changing facilities.

This is the current draft of our Neighbourhood Plan.   There will be a formal public consultation period within a month or so at which point your views on the plan will be sought.

Click here for the draft: Castle Cary and Ansford Neighbourhood Plan – updated draft

This has been posted on the Notice Board outside the Market House: Notice of Public Right to inspect accounts

Unaudited Statement of accounts ended 31 March 2016

The  CARY CRIER  is proving extremely popular

This is an email information service set up by the Town Council to inform residents of important issues as soon as they arise.

The purpose of this service is to ensure that residents can personally receive information from the Town Council such as:

• Reminders of upcoming events in the town.
• Issues relating to the town for which consultation is needed
• To ask for volunteer help either on a regular basis or for one-off events.

It will not be used for any other purpose and members will only be contacted if there is news, or views/help is needed.

The list of recipients will not be made available to any other individual or organisation.  BCC (blind carbon copies) will be used at all times for group mailings.

Residents of Castle Cary, Ansford and the surrounding area are invited to contact [email protected]  and ask to be put on the list.

…….. is an email information service set up by the Town Council to inform residents of important issues as soon as they arise.

The purpose of this service is to ensure that residents can personally receive information from the Town Council such as:

• Reminders of upcoming events in the town.
• Issues relating to the town for which consultation is needed
• To ask for volunteer help either on a regular basis or for one-off events.

It will not be used for any other purpose and members will only be contacted if there is news, or views/help is needed.

The list of recipients will not be made available to any other individual or organisation.  BCC (blind carbon copies) will be used at all times for group mailings.

Residents of Castle Cary, Ansford and the surrounding area are invited to contact [email protected]  and ask to be put on the list.