somerset

John WimperisLocal Democracy Reporter North Somerset CouncilA tonne of plastic that would have sold for £168 in 2024/25 is now only fetching £80 for the councilA council has been left with a "deeply depressing" overspend on waste recycling.Unlike black bin rubbish, which local authorities have to pay to dispose of, materials from kerbside recycling collections and household waste recycling centres can be sold as a source of income.But North Somerset Council said this year, reduced prices and increased…

Adam PostansLocal Democracy Reporting Service Stephen SumnerAt the hearing, PC West was sacked without notice after breaching his bail conditions and lying about it to policeA police officer who breached his bail conditions by contacting a woman he was ordered to stay away from has been sacked without notice.PC Thomas West was found to have committed gross misconduct following a two-day hearing at Avon and Somerset Police headquarters in Portishead, Somerset.Following his arrest in March 2024, he was…

John WimperisLocal Democracy Reporting ServiceGetty ImagesPadel, which originated in Mexico, has become increasingly popular in recent yearsPadel courts have been removed from plans for a major extension and refurbishment of a sports ground.Bath and North East Somerset Council's original plans for the Odd Down Sports Ground in Bath were turned down by its own planning committee over concern about the noise of the four planned padel courts.One councillor had said the noise of the racquet sport would be…

Charlie Taylor,Presenter, BBC Radio Somerset and Chris Lockyer,SomersetSomerset Drainage BoardThe Glastonbury Lake Village is preserved in the marsh land An ancient wetland site which has been in place for almost 2,000 years is now under threat, due to the warm weather.Glastonbury Lake Village is an Iron Age settlement preserved by water and peat on the Somerset Levels.But the dry summer has lowered the local water table, leading to fears the timbers could begin to degrade.Dr Richard Brunning, a…

Avon and Somerset Police said the man had voluntarily attended an interview with officers on Monday.During the band's set on the West Holts Stage, the crowd were encouraged to chant "death, death to the IDF [Israel Defence Forces]".The force added: "The matter has been recorded as a public order incident while we continue to investigate and consider all relevant legislation."Police said they had received legal advice about the investigation in October from the Crown Prosecution Service.The force said…

Carys NallyWest of EnglandLeonardoThe AW149 is one of the helicopters manufactured by LeonardoWorkers at one of the world's biggest defence firms have decided to go ahead with their strike action.More than 3,000 aerospace workers at manufacturer Leonardo's Basildon, Edinburgh, Luton, Newcastle and Yeovil sites, will strike from 12 November after rejecting the company's latest pay offer.Members of the Unite union have demanded the company makes a "further revised offer that is acceptable to staff in the midst of…

John WimperisLocal Democracy Reporter LDRSThe lease of Carlton Street car park has been described as a "scandal"A council signed the "worst deal any council has ever signed" when leasing a loss-making carpark, its leader has said.The Carlton Street multi-storey Park, in Weston-super-Mare, is currently losing North Somerset Council about a quarter of a million pounds a year.The authority took out a lease in 2012 but the poor quality build has meant most of it has now had to…