Winsham Community Speed Watch 2023

Winsham Parish Council are seeking volunteers to form a Speed Watch group in response to concerns raised by parishioners about the speed of traffic travelling through the village.

This initiative will be undertaken in conjunction with Avon and Somerset Police who will provide training and all equipment free of charge.

By volunteering for an hour, a week, you could:
· Help to make motorist who speed through Winsham aware of the impact of their actions on residents
· Increase public awareness of the danger speeding causes to other road users and pedestrians
· Provide help and advice to enable us to make Winsham roads safer

We hope to involve and engage all sectors of the Winsham community and are looking to recruit 12-15 volunteers to initially work in teams of three.

If you are interested in taking part,
please email winshampc@hotmail.com

You can report a crime online Report | Avon and Somerset Police or call 101 (for non-emergencies) or 999 (for emergencies) 

For anyone who is deaf, deafened, hard of hearing or speech impaired and who needs to contact

                                                           Avon & Somerset Police in a non-emergency you can text them on 07400 279101

You can still pass on information via the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. 
They never ask your name or trace your call.

Winsham Parish Council Survey Results 2020

Winsham Housing Needs Survey

Back at the beginning of December the Community Council for Somerset (CCS) conducted an independent Housing Needs Survey on behalf of the Parish Council (PC), funded by a generous grant awarded to us by South Somerset District Council (SSDC).

Prior to this activity the most recent survey regarding housing needs that the PC arranged took place as part of the Parish Plan questionnaires, back in 2013.

Owing to that elapsed time, the PC considered it the right moment to assess properly the housing needs of the whole parish; not just the main village but also the wider area including Leigh, Whatley, Street, Bridge, Ammerham and Purtington.  The assessment was to look at housing needs both current and future, particularly with the added impetus of the recent decline in our Social Housing.  

Such community led surveys form the guidance for housing, not just for the PCs benefit, but also the planning authorities (which is usually SSDC).  Therefore, it does form a vital part of establishing the future of Winsham. 

The results of the survey have now been returned to us. You’ll see there are 28 pages, but don’t be too daunted!

Two of the main headlines from the report are:

• The majority of respondents feel that more housing is needed in Winsham (63%), with the largest proportion feeling a few more houses are needed (57%). Around 1 in 3 consider the current level of housing is about right.
  
  
• The large majority support future development in the parish (75%) if it met the specific needs of people with a local connection. Less than 1 in 4 do not support future development (17%). With the exception of one respondent, all participants expressed a view.

The report can be read by clicking here, or by visiting the Winsham Parish Council website at http://www.winshamparishcouncil.org.uk/default.aspx and looking for it under “Documents” and under the sub heading “Council Plans”. A paper copy can also be viewed in the Parish Council office, please contact the Clerk to arrange a suitable time to visit and view it. 

Finally, may we extend a big thank you to everyone who took the time in either paper or electronic form to fill out the survey. 

Somerset Council have introduced a scheme called 'Adopt-a-Path'.

The scheme is open to everyone between 18 and 75 years old.

They would like volunteers to:

• Walk a path, or ride/cycle a bridleway/restricted byway as often as possible
• Report any problems encountered to them or a local Adopt-a-path Coordinator.
• Help with cutting vegetation back from signs, stiles and gates.
• Keep an approximate total of time spent clearing vegetation.
• Promote responsible use of the path.

SC will give help and advice with any rights of way questions, provide cover under their insurance policy whilst carrying out this role and loan gloves and tools to do the clearance.  Please follow the link provide below for further information

 Adopt-a-Path | Somerset Council Volunteering 

Somerset County Council has recently launched a new traffic and travel website – www.travelsomerset.co.uk.

This runs alongside the @TravelSomerset Twitter account, which provides live updates from the Council’s traffic control team.

The aim of Travel Somerset is to improve how they tell people about what’s happening on the roads in Somerset – from planned roadworks and public events to unplanned incidents, accidents or congestion.

The website provides updates 24/7 and also has a searchable map showing current and future roadworks. You can sign up for travel alerts or subscribe for emails about roadworks in an area of your choice.

The new website also has information about public transport, cycling and walking, and will be developed and improved over time.

"Report a problem" on the Highway 

A new online, interactive map has been launched by Somerset County Council to allow residents to report potholes and other issues on Somerset’s Highways.

‘Report it’ is now available at http://www.somerset.gov.uk/roads-parking-and-transport/problems-on-the-road/  and allows users to report any issues across all 4,206 miles of Somerset’s highways.

How does it work?

Residents can now go on the website to report issues they find on a highway such as a pothole, blocked drain or poor road surface. Simply log the issue on the map by location and then fill in the details of the problem using an online form. People can also leave an email address to receive updates on potholes they have reported.

When residents report a road defect it will be inspected within 3 working days, and programme repair work will be scheduled where required. 

You can find out more information about how we find and repair potholes here.

Explore Somerset – (Public Footpaths and Rights of Way)

A new online mapping system to help people find their way around Somerset’s extensive rights of way network has been launched by Somerset County Council.

How does it work?

Explore Somerset is now available at www.somerset.gov.uk/rightsofway and allows users to plan their route across all 9,000 public rights of way in Somerset.

The interactive system can also be used to simply report any issues you find on a right of way – such as a broken stile or blocked path.

Residents can log the issue on the map and also upload photos to help wardens easily locate the problem. They can also leave an email address to receive updates when the issue is resolved or closed.

Explore Somerset is being improved and developed all the time, and one of the next phases is to develop a volunteer module for the many individuals and groups who give up their time to help the County Council look after the network.

Explore Somerset

If you have any queries about Explore Somerset please email: rightsofway@somerset.gov.uk,

or if you’re interested in volunteering opportunities on the path network then please visit www.somerset.gov.uk/rightsofway or email rowvolunteers@somerset.gov.uk.

The Highways ‘Report It, and “Explore Somerset” online systems continue to be improved and will work in co-ordination with the all new Travel Somerset website, (www.travelsomerset.co.uk). 

Residents can also report issues to Highways and Public Footpaths and Rights of Way through their dedicated Contact Centre on 0300 123 2224.