by Daniel Hatton It’s funny, isn’t it? We give personalities to things that, in reality, don’t have one. Cars are perhaps the best example. We all know a car is simply a machine designed to get us from A to B in relative comfort. But spend enough time with one and you begin to realise that a car does in fact have its own personality. You know when it’s happy, when something is wrong and, more importantly, when it’s about to throw an expensive tantrum. Have you ever listened t

by Cllr Jemma Coles, Liberal Democrat councillor for Mid-Worle on North Somerset Council When someone is struggling badly with their mental health, asking for help is already a huge step. It can take everything they have just to say out loud that they are not coping. It can take even more for a family member to pick up the phone and say, “I’m really worried. I think they are in crisis.” So what happens next really matters. What worries me is how easily mental health crisis su

by Dan Heley (Editor) The development of a lido once again at Weston-super-Mare’s Tropicana might sound like a nostalgic and exciting idea, but when you look closely at the numbers and realities, it quickly becomes clear that it would be a waste of taxpayers money and a financial black hole for North Somerset Council. The issue of a Lido and the Tropicana rears its head from time to time, and it’s that time now, as residents offer their views on North Somerset Councils plan t

By Dan Heley (Editor) Local elections across North Somerset won’t take place until May 2027, but the council areas up for grabs this Thursday will be a litmus test for where the wind is blowing here in Weston-super-Mare. There’s a difference between a bad night and a turning point. When Thursday’s local elections deliver the kind of losses many in Westminster are bracing for, Keir Starmer won’t just be facing a downturn in the polls—he’ll be facing this fundamental fact even

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

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

by Paul Howe National politics can be frustrating. Headlines are dominated by disputes, policy U-turns and criticism of government decisions. That noise will always exist. But here in Weston-super-Mare, there is a more grounded and practical question: What is our MP doing for us — locally? Since being elected in 2024, Daniel Aldridge has shown that when he sets his sights on something for Weston, he pursues it. Not with slogans, but with action. A clear example of that determ

by Laura Chalmers “The Weston-super-Mare First National Spiritualist Church has been based on Stafford Road for over 80 years and has long been an active and valued part of the local community. We are deeply concerned that proposed parking restrictions being introduced by North Somerset Council may force us to significantly curtail our services. Under the current plans, parking restrictions would operate from 8am to 7pm, leaving our premises realistically usable for only one

by Paul Howe Across the South West, the NHS is facing a sharp and accelerating rise in flu cases at a point in the winter when pressure is already high. Regional data shows hospital admissions linked to influenza have increased steeply in recent weeks, with far more hospital beds occupied by flu patients than at the same stage last winter. This surge is already placing strain on hospitals serving Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire — including those that support

by Paul Howe I’ve just come back from watching a film at The Other Place on Meadow Street — a space where many groups meet and share their stories. The film followed the lives of two Muslim women who grew up here in the UK, revealing what they and their families endured simply because of who they were. It hit me far harder than I expected; at one point, I found myself with tears in my eyes — and I’m not someone who cries easily. Yet this film showed the painful reality that l

How community effort, culture and investment are reshaping our town. by Paul Howe Weston-super-Mare is changing before our eyes — not through grand announcements, but through real progress happening right here in our own town. This year’s carnival reminded me of something important: when Weston comes together, we don’t just celebrate — we rebuild, reinvigorate and rise. Living here, I’m struck by how much is being achieved through local effort. The carnival shines brighter ea

by Paul Howe As a resident of Weston-super-Mare, and particularly of the Central Ward where I live, I’m increasingly concerned about the creeping influence of powerful figures and movements trying to shape public opinion — both globally and here in our own town. The growing presence of Reform UK in Weston, and their efforts to gain a foothold locally, deserve careful attention. Behind their slogans and easy answers lie misconceptions and distortions that risk misleading decen

Behind the slogans about “putting Britain first” lies a lack of substance and, too often, a willingness to mislead.

“Many residents, particularly those with disabilities or limited resources, are at a huge disadvantage without a physical point of contact”

Simon Harrison-Morse puts forward his passionate argument for using independent pubs before it's too late

The track & trace system headed up by Weston's millionaire MP's wife has failed miserably, but it's still key to returning us to normality.

Cllr Pete McAleer, Labour councillor for Milton, argues that amid the pandemic & Brexit, now is the time for the town to embrace Fair Trade

Barry Edwards, trustee at Somewhere to Go argues we need to tackle rent to tackle homelessness.