Wednesday 10th July

Wednesday, 10 July 2024 06:00

By Steve Haigh

New figures show that from the start of the year, black people were six times more likely than white people to be the target of a stop and search by Avon and Somerset Police. A housing developer is taking legal action against Somerset Council. A Somerset teenager hopes to break records when he sets off on a journey around the UK coastline in an electric boat...and more.

New figures show that from the start of the year, black people were six times more likely than white people to be the target of a stop and search by Avon and Somerset Police. It’s a small decrease from last year when black people were seven times more likely to be subjected to stop and search, and after the force was described as ‘institutionally racist’.

A housing developer is taking legal action against Somerset Council in a bid to prevent further delays to building 130 new homes on the Somerset-Dorset border. The Planning Inspectorate granted outline permission to Gladman Developments in 2018 to build up to 130 homes on Woodhayes Way in Henstridge. But Somerset Council has twice turned down the developer's proposals to improve the A357 that links with the development. The developer has now lodged a further appeal with the Planning Inspectorate in a bid to get the central government to sign off on its road improvements and allow building work to begin before the outline planning permission expires.

The ruling executive at Somerset Council meets next Monday to decide whether to pay waste contractor Suez an extra 47 million pounds. Suez says the pandemic, the roll-out of new services and inflation mean the cost of delivering services has far exceeded projections. A report to the council has looked at alternatives but concludes that paying Suez the extra money appears to be the least bad option.

A Somerset teenager hopes to break records when he sets off on a journey around the UK coastline in an electric boat. Harry Bleasley, who is 18, will start his charity fundraising challenge in the summer. Harry says using an electric boat, rather than one that is conventionally powered, will be challenging.

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