Local News Monday 3rd October

Monday, 3 October 2022 06:00

The fire service is encouraging local households to have chimneys swept before the winter sets in. It's going to cost more to dispose of tyres, soil, and rubble at recycling centres in South Somerset. A public meeting is being held to discuss the options for re-opening Chinnock Hollow. Bin lorries in Somerset could soon be running on vegetable oil to help cut carbon emissions and more volunteer drivers are urgently needed for a community car scheme in Chard.

The fire service is encouraging local households to have chimneys swept before the winter sets in. Last year, the fire service dealt with 200 chimney fires that were reported in Somerset, with properties using log burners being at greater risk of fire due to chimneys not being swept.

It’s going to cost more to dispose of tyres, soil, and rubble at recycling centres in South Somerset. Somerset Waste Partnership says charges will increase by 11 percent to cover inflation and higher energy bills. The new rates come into force from April next year

A public meeting is being held to discuss the options for re-opening Chinnock Hollow, the road linking East Chinnock with Odcombe, that was closed following a landslip in February last year. Highways officials will outline four options to deal with the situation, including one of taking no action and keeping the road shut. Somerset County Council will host the meeting on Wednesday, 12th October, at Cott Farm Barn in East Chinnock.

Bin lorries in Somerset could soon be running on vegetable oil to help cut carbon emissions. Somerset Waste Partnership announced in June spending £5.5 million to replace twenty-two diesel vehicles with electric vehicles. Now, the partnership says the remainder of its fleet, roughly about 80 vehicles, could be converted to run-on hydro-vegetable oil to further reduce C02 emissions.

More volunteer drivers are urgently needed for a community car scheme in Chard. The Hub in South Chard provides people with transport to essential appointments when they have no other means of making the journey. Anyone interested should contact The Hub in South Chard through their website.

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