Agenda and draft minutes

Only members of the core membership are eligible to be nominated as the Chair. Either the Chair or Vice-Chair of the Local Community Network shall be a Somerset Council Councillor.

Only voting members can make nominations. The nomination must be seconded to be valid.

To participate in the election of the Chair and Vice-Chair, as a core member of the LCN, you will need to be physically present at the meeting. (For more information please see Terms of Reference).

Somerset Councillor, Ross Henley, was nominated by Somerset Councillor, Marcus Barr and seconded by Somerset Councillor, Dave Mansell.

No other nominations were received, Ross Henley was duly elected as Chair for the Wellington and Wiveliscombe Local Community Network.

Only members of the core membership are eligible to be nominated as the Chair. Either the Chair or Vice-Chair of the Local Community Network shall be a Somerset Council Councillor.

Only voting members can make nominations. The nomination must be seconded to be valid.

To participate in the election of the Chair and Vice-Chair, as a core member of the LCN, you will need to be physically present at the meeting. (For more information please see Terms of Reference).

Somerset Councillor, Dave Mansell was nominated by Wiveliscombe Councillor, Roger Wilson and seconded by Somerset Councillor, Marcus Barr.

No other nominations were received, Dave Mansell was duly elected as Vice[1]Chair for the Wellington Local Community Network.

The Chair introduced the Wellington and Wiveliscombe LCN annual report, highlighting the meeting discussion, priorities, activities and working groups that had taken place in the first year of the Wellington and Wiveliscombe LCN, including:

Highways Working Group – summary provided by Chris Summer. Community

Transport Working Group – summary and next steps provided by Dave Mansell, including: the focus on buses and community transport in the area, Bus route 22 and 25, the slinky service and need for improved publicity, explore use of school transportation not used in the outside of school runs times.

Discussion

• The current situation of Route 25 and impact on bus users in Milverton

• Limited road closures information, with the requirement for more information

The Chair expressed gratitude to everyone involved in the work of the Wellington and Wiveliscombe LCN.

The Wellington and Wiveliscombe LCN Link Officer, Jeff Brown presented, by use of PowerPoint, the highlights across all LCNs, including: Young Peoples Working Group Highways and Traffic Civil contingency and flooding and Active Travel.

The Chair thanked Jeff Brown for the presentation and report on the work taking place across the LCNs in Somerset.

The Chair invited comments from all present, with a look to revisit and reset

priorities at the next meeting of the Wellington and Wiveliscombe LCN:

Discussion

Community Transport – improved connections and publication of services

Planning (Highways) – floods / emergency planning

Planning (Housing) - affordable Housing / social housing / potential new

Government focus

Climate & Environment – inclusion and links with organisations such as the

SRA, links with the community, including tree planting / working together on

actions plans

Public Health provision / prevention and Wellbeing

Youth Services – local provision and additional support for families and young

people especially regarding mental health, poverty and neglect

Performance of rural broadband

The new two constituencies and Members of Parliament for the Wellington and Wiveliscombe LCN, and potential invitations to future LCN meeting:

Gideon Amos MP – Taunton and Wellington

Rachel Gilmour MP – Tiverton and Minehead

The Chair of the Grand Western Greenway Association, Charles Biscoe, gave

a presentation, by use of a PowerPoint, on the longstanding campaign to

establish an active travel route between Wellington and Taunton.

A summary of the points raised in the presentation can be found below:

• Outline of proposed Greenway from Wellington to Taunton to

establish a predominantly traffic free Greenway between Wellington

and Taunton along the route of the disused grand western canal

• The proposed Wellington railway station to be the starting point, end

point at Taunton railway station giving access to both town centres

• Future sustainable transport initiatives

• Its heritage and wildlife assets make it ideal for recreational use

• Provide miles where walkers and silent cyclist can access exercise

without traffic noise and fumes

• Link Taunton Railway station and the new Wellington Railway station

for benefit of visitors

• Links with other local community initiatives provide opportunities for

business development along the route

• Provides commercial benefits for new and existing businesses

• The Greenway is completely flat making it a more inclusive travel

Path

The members of the LCN discussed the following topics and questions arising:

• The funding of the project, including non-development related

funding, active travel and section 106 links

• Electric charging provision/ infrastructure

• Engagement with landowners and links to villages

• The durability of the proposed path to take a large volume of

journeys and horses

For any further questions or information, contact:

• Charles Biscoe:

grandwesterngreenway@gmail.com

• Grand Western Greenway website:

Home | GrandWesternGreenway

The Chair thanked Mr Biscoe for his presentation.

The Wellington and Wiveliscombe LCN agreed the below meeting dates, with venues to be confirmed:

23 September 2024

21 January 2025

24 April 2025

22 July 2025

The Chair thanked all for their attendance, contribution and the positive engagement for future opportunities.