A man has been charged in connection with a murder investigation in Weston-super-Mare. Richard Woolley, 58, of Garratts Green Lane, Birmingham, has been charged with one count of murder and has been remanded in custody to appear at North Somerset Magistrates’ Court tomorrow (Tuesday 7 April). The charge comes after the ambulance service called officers to an address in Eagle Close, Weston-super-Mare, after a man was found deceased on Saturday (4 April). The next of kin of the

by Paul Howe Right now, in Weston-super-Mare, something is happening that should stop every reader in their tracks. “A small group of residents are being forced into a fight they never chose—a fight that exposes just how vulnerable ordinary people can be when faced with overwhelming institutional power. At Coombe Lodge, leaseholders have been hit with what is being described as a staggering 4,000% increase in service charges. Let that figure sink in. This is not just an incre

Police are appealing for the public's help to locate missing 16-year-old Jamie. If you know where Jamie is call 999 quoting reference: 5226083445 He has not been seen since Tuesday 24 March in the Highbridge area of Somerset. Jamie is white, of slim build and approximately 6ft tall. He was last seen wearing an all-grey tracksuit, black beanie hat, black and red trainers and carrying a shoulder bag. He has links to Weston-super-Mare, Bridgwater and Taunton. If you know where J

Residents of Coombe Lodge have formally filed an application with the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) against Curo Places Ltd, following a “ deadlock ” in negotiations over a staggering 4,000% increase in service charges according to Weston Housing Action. The filing, submitted on Wednesday 1st April by Weston Housing AcTion (WHAT) on behalf of the “Coombe Lodge Five,” challenges Curo’s attempt to demand nearly £10,000 per household for fire safety works—despite a writ

A Weston-super-Mare man who sold counterfeit music and football t‑shirts through several different online platforms has been handed a suspended six-month prison sentence after a detailed investigation by North Somerset Council. Peter Clanford pleaded guilty at North Somerset Magistrates Court to the manufacture and sale of fake clothing featuring a range of well-known trademarks, including those of The Beatles, Metallica and the FA’s famous Three Lions. The offences came to l

Weston Hospice has announced redundancies in the face of urgent financial pressures and have launched a Spring Appeal to raise funds. “Like a majority of hospices across the UK, Weston Hospicecare is continuing to face very real and increasingly urgent financial pressures. Rising costs and increased demand for our care mean we’re having to make some very difficult decisions to protect the future of our services. We’ve always tried to be open about these challenges, because be

It might be April Fool’s Day but unfortunately this isn’t a joke for many residents. North Somerset Council’s tax hike of 8.99% will start today and is the joint highest increase in the country. The rise, for which special permission from central government was required, will hit residents hard amongst an increasingly hard hitting cost of living crisis. In data released by the government, the majority of local authorities are increasing council tax by 4.99%. However a number

Walliscote Primary School came together on Friday 27 March to celebrate the end of Ramadan with a vibrant and inclusive Eid Party. Pupils, staff, and families joined in marking the occasion, which highlighted the school’s commitment to recognising and valuing the diverse cultures within its community. The celebration featured a feast with delicious food provided by Pappadoms and Aisha’s kitchen, alongside traditional treats, creative activities, and opportunities for children

Residents in Weston-super-Mare could soon see the town’s famous tides running to a brand-new schedule, under what officials are calling a “ world-first coastal timing initiative .” In a joint proposal announced this week, Environment Agency and North Somerset Council have outlined plans to better align the timing of high tide with peak visitor hours, ensuring that tourists arriving in Weston-super-Mare are greeted by a “visually appealing seafront experience.” The scheme, cur

Today marked another effective day of multi-agency work addressing issues in Weston-super-Mare town centre. Local Neigbourhood Policing Team officers, supported by North Somerset Community Response, BID Street Wardens, North Somerset CCTV operators, and the Police Mounted Section, carried out high‑visibility patrols throughout the area. Their activity led to the arrest of a prolific shoplifter, the issuing of two Community Protection Warnings, one Community Protection Notice,

Three new or expanded school-based nurseries across the West, including one at Locking Primary School in Weston-super-Mare, are set to open in September providing a lifeline for thousands of parents juggling children and work.  The new childcare settings are being funded by national government, are part of a second wave of schools across the country who have successfully applied for a share of the government’s £45 million fund to build or expand nurseries on school sites, to

Thousands of Disabled people across the West of England and North Somerset are set to benefit from life-changing support, from April, following a recent expansion of specialist employment support by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP).  The new funding, which is worth up to £15.4million for the West, is part of the Connect to Work programme to help break down barriers which can prevent people from finding good, secure jobs.  This new, tailored support from DWP will help

A second male has been arrested as part of the ongoing investigation into alleged poisoning from an illegal vape at Weston Supermarket A statement from Avon & Somerset Police said; “Yesterday, officers from the Town Centre Neighbourhood Policing Team arrested a 42‑year‑old man as part of the ongoing investigation into the poisoning incident that occurred on 21 March 2026. “He was detained on suspicion of perverting the course of justice and being concerned in the supply of Cl

by Dan Heley (Editor) “I am a Christian, I wasn’t born into holding a faith but discovered it later in life when I moved to Weston-super-Mare and became involved in a church in Worle that my best friend attended. It turned out to be a cult but that’s another story all together.” “I am hugely disappointed that the Assisted Dying Bill has all but failed to pass this time around, with the most ardent opponents of the change in the law being people of faith, including many Christ

Somerset Chamber of Commerce is expanding its support in Weston‑super‑Mare with a new Weston business breakfast — a dedicated networking event designed to strengthen local relationships and boost economic growth.   A spokesperson for Somerset Chamber of Commerce said; “Recent Chamber events in the town have shown just how eager Weston’s business community is to connect, collaborate and stay informed. From conversations with the Bank of England to insights on major infrastruct

Kids Go Free is coming back again for the Easter school holidays, giving free bus travel for a fortnight to around 150,000 kids aged under 16 across the West. The hugely popular, nationally unique initiative saw big increases in children and young people taking the bus over the summer and Christmas school holidays in 2025, with many places seeing the number of journeys double, compared to the same times the previous year. Every free journey is putting money back into families

Reset WSM are a community interest company (CIC) who work tirelessly to support young people, especially those with additional needs, to access an inclusive education for those struggling in mainstream settings, a valuable resource for children and young people across North Somerset. Already offering alternative provisions, school sessions, and targeted groups, the team at RESET went above and beyond for young people in 2024, hosting the first annual North Somerset Youth Awar

A 16-year-old boy has denied the murder of nine-year-old Aria Thorpe, who died in Weston-super-Mare in December 2025. The teenager, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, is accused of killing Aria after emergency services were called to the Mead Vale area at 6:09pm on 15 December. She was later pronounced dead at the scene. A previous hearing at Avon Coroner’s Court was told that Aria died from a single stab wound to the chest at her home. During a hearing at Bristol Cr

Dan Aldridge, MP for Weston-super-Mare and member of the Business and Trade Select Committee, has challenged senior leadership at Royal Mail over serious concerns about declining service and reports of staff being told to hide undelivered post. During a Parliamentary evidence session, Dan directly questioned Alistair Cochrane Chief Executive Officer of Royal Mail, raising concerns from frontline postal workers about pressure on staff and reports that some may have been told t

UK Town of Culture is a new national competition that celebrates towns with strong identities, creative ambition and a great story to tell. The winning town will host a year of arts, heritage and community activity, bringing together local people, artists, organisations and visitors to tell the story of the place they call home. Cllr Ciaran Cronnelly, leader of Weston Town Council said; I love Weston-super-Mare, I love the creativity of our town, the energy of residents and b