Benefits being paid to people in Weston-super-Mare cost the taxpayer an estimated £249m during the last financial year, according to research by The Taxpayers alliance An astonishing 1 in 13 working aged adults are assessed as Limited Capability for Work-Related Activity (LCWRA) with the overall Universal Cresit bill for the 2025/26 year estimated to have cost taxpayers over £139m with 11,497 households claiming. LCWRA is a health related category within the Universal Credit

New powers have come into force to tackle persistent antisocial behaviour, following Dan Aldridge, MP for Weston-super-Mare, work with local businesses and police leaders to push for stronger action. Dan Aldridge has welcomed the introduction of new Respect Orders, which came into effect on 26 October 2026, giving courts stronger powers to tackle persistent antisocial behaviour and help make Weston’s streets and neighbourhoods safer. The new orders follow Mr Aldridge’s conti

The Labour Party could withdraw from the power sharing agreement on North Somerset Council over the Green Party’s “Zionism is racism” policy, Weston Independent News has learnt. During the Green Party’s national conference earlier this month, a motion was passed that stated that Zionism should be treated as any other form of racism and commits the party to a single Palestinian state across all of historic Palestine. As reported by Politico; The Labour Party nationally has con

North Somerset Conservatives have called on the Liberal Democrat leader of North Somerset Council, Cllr Mike Bell, and his Labour deputy, Cllr Catherine Gibbons, to demand that their Green partners publicly reject the Green Party’s “Zionism is Racism” policy, or remove them from the council’s Executive. The motion was passed at the Green Party conference in Brighton on 4 October by 1,022 votes to 813. It states that Zionism should be treated as any other form of racism and co

by Oliver Masley Over the last week, the UK Youth Parliament (UKYP) has been splashed across headlines as the Government has announced that it will no longer fund it in its current form - but what actually is the UKYP? “The UKYP has existed since the turn of the millennium, as a platform for young people’s democratic voice to be heard on a national scale. In its current form, it is funded by the Department for Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS) and operated by the National You

Shortly off of the back of the Hutton & Locking by-election which saw Reform leave all but the Liberal Democrat’s far behind, the Weston-super-Mare Restore Party, who did not stand in the by-election, held one of their first meetings since being formed which saw dozens in attendance. Photo: The Weston-super-Mare branch of Restore appear to be growing in numbers (Photo: Restore) With the local elections for both North Somerset Council & Weston Town Council coming up in May ne

Reform romped home in yesterdays by-election on North Somerset Council leaving all but the Lib Dem’s in disarray. Reform’s William Jones was elected for Hutton and Locking in Thursday’s September 10 by-election, held after the death of long-serving Conservative councillor Terry Porter. Cllr Jones secured 706 votes, finishing ahead of Liberal Democrat candidate Georgina Barry, who received 612 votes. Conservative candidate John Standfield ended third with 281 votes, followed b

A Labour councillor has hit out at Liberal Democrat and Conservative councillors who voted against a disabled ramp at Weston Town Councils offices, branding the decision as “regressive”. The ramp was planned for the front of the council offices on Waterloo St to enable access for members of the public who required aeditional access needs. However the proposal was turned down this week at the committee stage with Conservative & Liberal Democrat councillors joining forces to ve

Whilst the UK has hopefully seen the back of one of the hottest and driest summers on record, one local Councillor Cllr Jill Bute who is the Conservative Group Leader on Weston Town Council and councillor for Uphill has backed a hosepipe ban in Weston-super-Mare that doesn’t exist. Photo: Facebook In a post on Facebook Cllr Jill Bute called it an “Important Announcement” before wrongly informing her followers that a hosepipe ban was in effect as of today. Wessex Water provide

Reform UK have announced their candidate for the Locking & Hutton by-election just days after the funeral of the much loved Cllr Terry Porter who was the incumbent councillor in the Hutton and Locking seat, and before North Somerset Council have even formally called a by-election. To add further controversy to the situation, Reform UK have announced William Jones as the candidate for the yet to be called by-election, William was the lead organiser at the last general election

The controversial movement of raising the flag on public property has returned to Weston-super-Mare with a Union Jack flag being placed on Mendip Roundabout by a group calling themselves “Flagman UK”, and with an insinuation that more flags are to come. The incident comes just weeks after a recent meeting of Weston Town Council, where Inspector Lee Kerslake of Avon & Somerset Police Neighbourhood Policing Team was asked by councillors if any action had been taken regarding fl

Families across Weston-super-Mare are set to save hundreds of pounds a year, as four more local schools join Labour's free breakfast club programme from September. When pupils return to the classroom after the summer holidays, Walliscote Primary School, Milton Park Primary School, Christ Church C of E Primary School and Mendip Green Primary School will all begin offering free breakfast clubs as part of Labour's Best Start programme. The expansion means even more children in W

Cllr Terry Porter, the Conservative member of North Somerset Council, representing the Hutton and Locking ward has died. Cllr Porter served as councillor on North Somerset Council since 2009 and during that time chaired the Community and Corporate Organisation Policy and Scrutiny Panel (during the previous Conservative administration). He also served on a number of committees, including the Planning and Regulatory Committee, where he was Vice-Chair until his recent passing Cl

After North Somerset Council's original proposals offered closure in every scenario, a grassroots campaign to save Worle Library has succeeded in securing a Town Council debate for a community-run alternative. A motion by Cllr Catherine Gibbons will be put to the Town Council on Monday, asking for support for a communityrun option in Worle. North Somerset Council launched a 12-week consultation between July and October 2025 as it sought to make £433,000 of savings from librar

Weston-super-Mare’s Labour Councillors have reacted to the sudden resignation of the Prime Minister and leader of their party; Keir Starmer, after months of pressure towards his premiership, his reign of Prime Minister has ended off the back of disastrous local elections results across the country for the Labour Party. A leadership election will not take place with a new Prime Minister in post by September. The former Mayor of Manchester, Andy Burnham who recently battered Re

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

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

Ahead of a Full Council meeting of North Somerset Council, Liberal Democrat councillor; Cllr Jemma Coles has hit out at criticism of her scrutiny of the proposed Live Nation lease of the Tropicana. North Somerset councillors will meet on Tuesday 12 May and vote on recommendations that could see world-class event organiser Live Nation sign a lease to run the Tropicana in Weston-super-Mare for the next 25 years. In a statement issued by Cllr Jemma Coles, the Liberal Democrat co

Great Western Railways (GWR) will be brought into public ownership this year, the Department for Transport (DfT) announced yesterday. The Secretary of State for Transport, Heidi Alexander, has confirmed GWR’s contract with DfT will end on 13 December. The West of England's Mayor has welcomed the news. Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, said: “I’m sure everyone in the West who – like me – catches the train will welcome this news. “We need a transport network which wor

Weston-super-Mare’s MP, Dan Aldridge, is to host a summer school once again this year after last years success. Last year more than 40 young people from Weston-super-Mare and surrounding areas attended a two-day summer school hosted on The Grand Pier which gave young people the opportunity to learn from leaders in tech, media, and business. The Summer School last year (Photo: Supplied) Dan Aldridge MP said; “I’m really excited to be having my Second Summer School in Weston-su