Rail commuters across the West will benefit from the national freeze for train fares coming into effect from today. For the first time in 30 years, regulated rail fares across England have been frozen – meaning passengers won’t pay a penny more. Without the freeze, regulated rail fares would have increased by 5.8% today and added to the 60% rise experienced nationwide since 2010. With transport costs making up 14% of household spending, this cost-cutting move will provide

North Somerset Council have confirmed Worle Library is to close amongst a range of other changes to library services across North Somerset. North Somerset Council has agreed, as of yesterday (24 February) evening, to implement a number of changes to its local library services following Full Council’s approval of the recommendations considered by Cabinet earlier this month. A spokesperson for North Somerset Council said; “The decision marks the end of a comprehensive review

Up to £500,000 of funding is available this year to support Armed Forces Day celebrations across the United Kingdom, and Weston-super-Mare’s MP, Dan Aldridge, is encouraging local organisations to apply. Every year, local authorities, schools, sports clubs, charities and community organisations bring people together to honour serving personnel, reservists, veterans and military families. Weston groups have the opportunity to bid for up to £10,000 to host their own Armed Force

A group of five defectors, at least 3 of which are related, including the former Weston Reform UK chair Oliver Louis Roger-Hargreaves (aka Oliver Louis, aka Oliver Hargreaves, aka Oliver Roger-Hargreaves) have announced the launch of a new political party. The new party, to be called “Weston-super-Mare First” was described by the group as “ A local party giving Westonians a strong voice in local politics ”. The launch of a new party was announced this afternoon by the group o

Dan Aldridge MP has welcomed the publication of the Government’s landmark Water White Paper, describing it as the biggest overhaul of the water system in a generation and a major step forward for Weston-super-Mare’s coastline and waterways. The reforms will create a stronger single regulator with tougher powers to hold water companies to account. For the first time in two decades, a Chief Engineer will sit inside the regulator to provide hands-on technical oversight, ending w

Oliver Louis Roger-Hargreaves, who was the chairman of the Weston Reform UK branch has tonight defected to the newly formed Restore Britain Party that was recently launched by Rupert Lowe. Rupert Lowe himself was suspended from Reform UK after accusations of bullying and verbal threats. A statement issued by Oliver Louis Roger-Hargreaves tonight on X said; “I am hereby standing down as Reform UK Weston-super-Mare Chairman and North Somerset Regional Coordinator with immediate

Birnbeck Pier is making progress on its journey to return as a jewel in the crown of Weston-super-Mare with a 100-tonne crane being transported to the site and will be located near the Pier Masters Cottage at the entrance to the Pier, in the first major step in its £20 million programme of repairs. A Grade II* listed structure and the only UK pier linking an island to the mainland, the re-generation of this iconic local asset is coming on leaps and bounds and there are many l

A proposed ban on social media use for under-16s has sparked debate across the country, with politicians, parents, teachers and tech companies all weighing in. But one group sits right at the centre of the issue, young people. For under-18s, social media is not just entertainment, it's part of how they socialise, learn and is a place to truly express themselves. So how do they feel about the possibility of stricter age limits and legal restrictions? We wanted to find out, so

Weston Youth Council is asking people to sign a petition calling on the introduction of political education to coincide with the reduction in voting age to 16yrs old. Oliver Masley, 15, who is the Communications Officer for Weston Youth Council said; “Something our youth councillors have been discussing in our meetings is the benefits that would emerge from the introduction of political education for young people following the introduction of legislation allowing 16 year olds

North Somerset Council have been given the go-ahead by Government this week to raise council tax in the year ahead beyond the usual limit. The council submitted a formal request for council tax flexibility in December, and has this week been told that it is one of just seven councils nationally being given permission to raise council tax by more than 4.99 per cent. The Government has told North Somerset that it can raise council tax for one year only by up to 8.99 per cent. T

Papers for North Somerset Council’s upcoming cabinet meeting reveal that the council requested government permission in December to raise council tax above the usual 4.99% cap as part of “exceptional financial support.” However, with just over two weeks until the budget is due to be set, the council has not yet received a response. It is also awaiting confirmation of its final local government finance settlement. The cabinet is scheduled to meet on February 11, but meeting p

Labour have won the nearby Clevedon-South by-election tonight on North Somerset Council by just 16 votes ahead of Reform UK, with the result likely to unnerve Labour councillors here in Weston-super-Mare. The by-election was triggered after Labour’s Hannah Young resigned her seat after relocating to another party of the country. Labour had gained the seat in the 2023 local elections with a 96 vote majority over the Conservative candidate. The results in the Clevedon South by-

Leader of North Somerset Council, Cllr Mike Bell has issued a scathing statement against the Weston-super-Mare branch of Reform after they claimed £650,000 had been spent by the council on catering in a social media post about council expenditure. Weston Reform Facebook post that Cllr Mike Bell challenged (Photo: Reform UK - Weston) Cllr Mike Bell said; “ Reform UK are back at it with their politics of lies and misinformation that trash services people rely on. They talking a

Families and children across Weston-super-Mare will soon benefit from free, daily breakfast clubs, as the government confirms the next 500 schools to join the scheme from April. Four Weston schools have been selected: • Oldmixon Primary School • Windwhistle Primary School • Westhaven School • Bournville Primary School The announcement represents a campaign win for Weston-super-Mare’s Labour MP, Dan Aldridge, who has consistently pushed for greater investment in children and f

At a budget meeting held on 19th January 2026, the Labour-led Weston-super-Mare Town Council officially voted for a 0% change to its budget for the 2026/27 financial year. Despite inflationary pressures, Weston Town Council has successfully maintained its precept at £164 per year for an average Band D property (aside from a minor 14p technical adjustment). This means that for approximately £3.15 per week, the Town Council will continue to deliver many local services valued by

The West of England Mayoral Combined Authority is set to approve the start of a consultation on the combined authority expanding to include North Somerset Council. Negotiations with the national government have already unlocked an additional £15 million in the short-term for projects in the region, should North Somerset join. An additional £1 million has been offered to assist with the process of the local authority joining Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol, and South Glo

Dan Aldridge MP has met with Marks & Spencer to press the case for new investment in Weston-super-Mare, as momentum continues to build following the recent success of securing Poundland’s future on the High Street. The confirmation that Poundland will remain open and invest further in Weston has been widely welcomed by residents and businesses, reinforcing confidence in the town as a place worth backing. Building on that progress, Dan Aldridge met with Adam Hawksbee from Mark

Dan Aldridge, MP for Weston, Worle and the villages, has sponsored a Ten Minute Bill to help tackle the decline of high streets, both locally and across the country. The Vacant Commercial Properties (Temporary Use) Bill, introduced by Labour MP Luke Akehurst, would give local authorities new powers to compel landlords to make long-term empty shop units available for temporary use by charities, community groups, and small businesses. It aims to address the growing number of em

North Somerset Council has warned that council tax will almost certainly need to rise above the usual government cap next year to protect essential local services amid unprecedented funding cuts. At a meeting of the council’s Cabinet today, Leader Cllr Mike Bell set out the stark financial reality facing the authority, driven by historic decisions to keep council tax lower than in similar areas, year on year reductions in national funding and sharp increases in costs and dema

North Somerset Council has issued its starkest warning yet about the scale of the financial crisis facing them, with a funding gap of more than £10 million for next year and £33 million over the next four years. Years of government funding reductions combined with rapidly rising demand for services – particularly in adult and children’s social care – have left the authority with stark choices. The situation has been made more precarious by uncertainty created through governme