We were the only local newspaper offered backstage access to the Summer Fest at the Beach weekend where crowds in their thousands were able to watch some amazing artist perform such as Craig David, Blue, Five, Feeder, Madness and Dizzie Rascal. This is what we experienced. Photo: Weston Independent News To get it out the way, the wind. We all know the seafront in Weston is very open to the elements, and if the unpredictable British weather takes a turn for the worse like it

A 22-year-old man has been charged following an incident in which a taxi driver was assaulted and racially abused in Weston-super-Mare. The incident happened in Clevedon Road at just before 3pm on Saturday (6 June). Kai Easen, of Haydon Wick in Swindon, has been charged with racially/religiously aggravated actual bodily harm; two further charges of causing actual bodily harm, making threats to kill, and assaulting an emergency worker. He’s been released on bail to attend Nort

Kewstoke Parish Council have published an open letter to all of Weston’s secondary schools urging them to remind students that damage and anti-social behaviour at Sand Bay should not take place during end of year exam results celebrations. The letter reads; “To all Weston-super-Mare area secondary schools Dear Headteacher, It’s fast approaching the time of year when your students and their families will be celebrating their end of year exam results and we would like to wish e

Avon & Somerset a police have issued an appeal for witnesses following an alleged racially aggravated assault on a taxi driver, where a police officer who responded to the incident was also assaulted The incident took place on on Clevedon Road, Weston-super-Mare A spokesperson for Avon & Somerset Police said; We’re appealing for information following an incident shortly before 3pm yesterday as people were leaving Summer fest. A taxi driver was subjected to racial abuse and as

Waste bins belonging to private companies have been left seemingly abandoned just before one of busiest weekend for the town centre, after builders started work on a nearby building it has been alleged. Photo: Black Cat MicroPub A spokesperson for the Black Cat MicroPub said; “The builders developing the old Subway building decided that they didn't want the waste bins down Post Office Lane, so they dumped them outside the front of the Black Cat Micropub on Monday. Photo: Blac

Rowan Tree Tea Room, located within The Stables on Wadham St is to close a spokesperson has said. The business formerly operated from Weston Quarry until it was forced to relocate in August 2023 after concerns with the buildings it operated out of. David Lewis who operates the venue said; Our last day of trading will be Saturday 27th June. Until then we will be open our usual hours Wednesday to Saturday. Owner David Lewis with staff. (Photo: David Lewis) Due to the current fi

Organisers of this weekends Summerfest at the beach have issued a statement in response to upset felt by ticket holders which was highlighted by Weston Independent News regarding free tickets being issued and disabled access. In a statement issued by Ellie Griffiths of ERG Management, the organisers of Summerfest at the beach said; As a brand-new festival launching in its first year, we have worked with a number of local businesses, sponsors, community groups and corporate pa

Avon & Somerset Police have secured a temporary restricted airspace from the Secretary of State for Transport, meaning no drones can fly within the restricted area over the course of the Summer Fest weekend. Image: Avon & Somerset Police A spokesperson for Avon & Somerset Police said; “From Friday 5 June to Sunday 7 June, Weston-super-Mare will host Summer Fest along the seafront. To help keep everyone safe, Avon and Somerset Police have secured a temporary restricted airspac

Some ticket holders for this weekends Summer Fest at the Beach in Weston-super-Mare, which will see performers including Craig David, Dizsee Rascal, Madness & Sister Sledge, have been left disgruntled at free tickets becoming available for the event after they have paid to attend. This has coincided with local Facebook groups seeing high numbers of tickets being offered for sale, suggesting that the sellers have managed to bag a free ticket, and are now trying to re-sell ones

Dan Aldridge MP has announced the return of the Weston Summer School, bringing together students from across Weston-super-Mare for two days of inspiration, skills-building and career opportunities. Following the success of last year's inaugural event at the Grand Pier, the Summer School will once again connect young people with leading figures from business, technology, the creative industries, public service and entrepreneurship. The initiative was created by Dan Aldridge af

Significant buildings works are at last beginning to take place at the row of empty shops on Waterloo St owned by local businessman Richard Nightingale though his company Nation Commercial Holdings. Weston Independent News has learnt that the buildings works include new windows at the front and rear of the properties and a full renovation of the inside of the commercial units leaving them identical to one another. The works will also remove the old signage to the units which

A move to bring North Somerset into the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) has taken a significant step forward after receiving support from both councillors and local residents. The decision follows a public consultation in which 56.7 per cent of respondents backed the proposal, opening the door for stronger regional cooperation on key issues including transport, housing, skills development, and investment. West of England Mayor Helen Godwin (Centre) with WECA council

Push bikes and e-bikes have been involved in almost 100 collisions in Weston-super-Mare since 2020, we can reveal. Of the 93 reported incidents, 55 took place from mid-2022 to 2025, with the remaining 38 occurring between August 2020 and mid-2022, a Freedom of Information Request (FOI) to Avon and Somerset Police has revealed. The force said that five people were seriously hurt in the incidents while 44 sustained slight injuries as a result of the collisions. There were

People with Football Banning Orders in Avon and Somerset are required to surrender their passport by Monday (1 June) ahead of the upcoming FIFA World Cup tournament. A total of 64 people in the area are prohibited from travelling to the USA, Canada and Mexico and attending matches involving England. Anyone who fails to surrender their passport by the deadline could be arrested unless they have applied for an exemption. Football Banning Orders can be issued for any type of foo

Armed police rushed to the scene of the incident on Walliscote Grove Rd yesterday (Thursday 28th) in Weston-super-Mare after receiving reports of a male with a firearm which turned out to be an airsoft gun. Witnesses saw police speeding into Weston-super-Mare from the motorway in unmarked vehicles prior to the incident unfolding in which armed police were seen with their weapons drawn Armed police with guns drawn in Weston-super-Mare (Photo: Supplied) Police identified the ma

A man has been arrested after armed police were called to a street in Weston-super-Mare town centre this afternoon (Thursday, May 28). Armed police on Walliscote Grove Rd (Photo: Supplied) Police were called to Walliscote Grove Road at around 2.12pm following reports of a suspected firearm inside a residential property. Armed officers attended the scene and arrested a man on suspicion of possessing a firearm. He remains in police custody while enquiries continue. A suspected

North Somerset Council has completed a programme of shop refurbishments in Weston‑super‑Mare town centre, supported by £20 million of Government funding. Funded by the Local Regeneration Fund, the programme has focused on improving several vacant and underused units on the High Street and within the Sovereign Shopping Centre as part of the council’s Improving Weston programme. Four High Street properties were refurbished between November 2024 and September 2025, with up

North Somerset Council has put emergency support measures in place to help homeless people during the ongoing heatwave. The authority has activated its severe weather emergency protocol (SWEP) due to the exceptionally high temperatures. In Weston-super-Mare, the Somewhere To Go rough sleeper outreach team is handing out sun cream and bottled water to vulnerable people in the area. Temporary overnight accommodation is also being offered by the charity to individuals with medi

Over 1,500 potholes in 366 locations have been repaired by North Somerset Council in April thanks to the use of specialist equipment. And the repairs will continue throughout May with an average of 400 holes being filled each week, depending on the weather the council has said. NSC have deployed a spray injection patcher – a specialist piece of equipment that uses high velocity air to clean debris then sprays material to fill holes instantly. Repairs take around two minutes t

Kasper Stankiewicz, of Congresbury, appeared before Bristol Crown Court this week accused of causing death by dangerous driving. The court was told that on September 10, 2024, Stankiewicz attempted to overtake another vehicle on the A370 near Puxton Park, where he collided with an oncoming motorbike. The motorbike was being ridden by Alfie Gray, who tragically died at the scene. A trial was held to determine whether the 19-year-old was guilty of causing death by careless driv