By Harry Mottram: Like many residents I’ve completed my feedback form and sent it off to Lidl listing my concerns over traffic congestion in Upper New Road amongst the other issues raised by a new supermarket – all of which have been aired on the Axbridge Community FaceBook site. From no public transport by the store to road safety and over development. However it seems likely the new store will go ahead – but Sainsbury’s and Tesco’s pulled out of building new supermarkets in Cheddar a few years ago due to a change in shopping habits and a dip in the economy – so nothing is certain.
Cheddar Reservoir Closed
Over the weekend of Friday to Sunday, 11-13 July, 2025, Bristol Water closed access to Cheddar Reservoir as the mercury in thermometers passed 30C. The official reason given by the utility was not to put pressure on the emergency services in the event of people getting into difficulty while swimming or suffering from heat stroke.
“With the extreme heat, and very little shade around the reservoir’s permissive path, we want everyone to stay safe,” Bristol Water was reported by the BBC to say. “We know the water can look very tempting on hot days, but it can be extremely dangerous and we don’t want any extra pressure on the emergency services on what will already be a very busy few days for them.”
The BBC’s Tess de la Mare reported: “Reservoirs can be dangerous due to currents caused by pumping machinery, hidden underwater structures and their depth. Their steep sides often make it difficult for swimmers to get out.”
There is a sign at the Reservoir that warns of dangerous currents caused by pumping but for locals the main reason not to swim there is the state of the water. The easiest area to access the water is the foreshore by the yacht club – but the water level is so low it is not easy to take a paddle. Further around the Res if you do decide to dip your toe in you have to negotiate the narrow steps and of course broken bottles, discarded stones from the builders and the deposits of birds and sheep.
Judging by past incidents when the police have been called, the Reservoir by the yacht club can seem like the seafront on a summer’s day with hundreds of people camped out enjoying the weather. Picnics, families and sun bathers. And that includes groups of young men who consume too much beer and start causing trouble – a sight I’ve witnessed in the past. It would only take one incident getting out of hand for the worst to happen and Bristol Water could be in trouble over insurance apart from anything else.
There’s also the question of litter as a warm evening can see people taking food and drink to the Res and leaving their trash there when they go home. A hazard for people the following day and a mess someone has to clear up. I walked over to Cross and Shipham instead of my usual dawn circuit of the Res but despite the signs and the fence along the Sharpham Road Playing Fields side it is easy to access the Res since there are several gates and stiles around its edge – short of building a Berlin Wall style fence Bristol Water have to rely on our cooperation on such days.
The Court goes up sale
No – not the court by the old railway station but the Grade II listed home in St Mary’s Street. With an Axbridge Heritage Trail blue plaque and QR code you can find out a little of its history. Dating to circa 1796 the six bedroom house is on the market for £2,395,000 which makes it rather more expensive than a one bedroomed flat in St John’s Court at £115,000 – about the lowest price to be had for a home in the town at the moment.
The Court has in previous years been the location for the Church Fete but it didn’t take place this year – hopefully the annual event will happen next year or when new owners have moved in. Should you fancy buying the property your water bills may be high as it has an indoor swimming pool and spa. Perhaps the biggest attraction for many is it has parking – and an arched entrance and circular turning circle for your motor car – or cars.
Axbridge Events
Send Axbridge events to me and I’ll try to keep the list updated. Email: harryfmottram@gmail.com I’ll also post social media and on my website at www.harrymottram.co.uk
Note the first Acoustic music night this week at the arts centre in West Street.
Wed 16 Jul. Axe Vale Arts Centre. Axbridge, West Street. Acoustic Night. Open Mic. 7.30pm.
Fri 18 Axbridge Cricket Club Quiz. Lamb Inn.7.30pm.
Wed 23 Jul. Axe Vale Arts Centre. Axbridge, West Street. Poetry. Open mic. 7pm.
Thu 24 Jul. Compton House. A Midsummer Night’s Dream. 7pm. Outside in the garden.
Sat 2 Aug. Axbridge Farmers’ Market. 9am-1pm. The Square.
Wed 20 Aug. Axe Vale Arts Centre. Axbridge, West Street. Acoustic Night. Open Mic. 7.30pm.
Sat 23 Aug. Oakhouse. Beer and Cider Festival.
Sat 6 Sep. Axbridge Farmers’ Market. 9am-1pm. The Square.
Wed 17 Sep. Axe Vale Arts Centre. Axbridge, West Street. Acoustic Night. Open Mic. 7.30pm.
Thu 18-Sat 20 Sep. Axbridge Fun Fair. Axbridge Square.
Sat, 20 Sep. Axbridge Carnival. 2pm. Procession through the town.
Sat 4 Oct. Axbridge Farmers’ Market. 9am-1pm. The Square.
Fri 24 Oct-3 Nov. School Half Term Break.
Sat 1 Nov. Axbridge Farmers’ Market. 9am-1pm. The Square.
Sat, 22 Nov: Axbridge Progressive Supper. 6pm-11.30pm.
Wed 26-Sat 29 Nov. Axbridge Town Hall. ACT present the play Vardy V Rooney: The Wagatha Christie Trial.
Sat 6 Dec. Axbridge Farmers’ Market. 9am-1pm. The Square.
Sat 20 Dec. Axbridge Square. Santa in the Square celebrations.
Axbridge Review is edited by Harry Mottram and is published for the interest of himself and fellow residents.