By Harry Mottram: With the advent of social media like YouTube and Instagram and in particular Tik Tok anyone can make a film about anything and upload it. On Tik Tok there are some frankly terrible films about the town – mainly from people who have visited briefly. I say briefly as many refer to Axbridge as a village and some confuse it with Uxbridge while others made by The Lamb Inn add humour and a degree of professionalism to their mini movies. Day Lewis Chemist has a clip of Dawn French and a film crew outside in the street while there are a small number of videos about the filming of a Good Girl’s Guide To Murder that was shot in the town. An estate agent talks about bringing homes ‘to the market’ in the town while Axbridge Bespoke Furniture is based in er… Cheshire.
DJ Alfie Cridland sort of asks his viewers to come the town, while Searchers of the After Life seem rather keen on the Old Drug Store and St John the Baptist Parish Church. And as you might expect on the internet not everything you see is real. Frank Faversham has confused Axbridge with Rome and other Italian cities which is understandable if you have had a bottle of Italian wine – but goes on to claim the town dates back to Roman times with a shot of a medieval bridge spanning a river which sadly doesn’t look like our own River Axe. Axbridge United FC have a couple of slick videos, there’s the pageant of course but perhaps the quirkiest video is make by Big Fat Cult – whose film is shot in a ‘creepy house’ in the ‘village’ of Axbridge which has an exhibition of ‘witches, crimes, burials and history.’
Football, history, witches, film locations and the pub – at least we’re famous for something.
404,000
Our local MP Tessa Munt has welcomed the Final Delivery Plan on ME/CFS published by the Government. ME/CFS or Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), is a long-term condition that can affect different parts of the body. The most common symptom is extreme tiredness – and the cause of ME/CFS is unknown and can affect anyone, including children. In the past it’s been given the derogatory name of Yuppie Flu and was even suggested it didn’t exist but was all in the imagination and linked to young professionals.
Tessa Munt said she was delighted the plan was finally being published having been part of a group of MPs that included Helen Morgan putting pressure on the Health Secretary Wes Streeting to release the plan before the summer recess for parliament. It includes proposals to improve awareness, invest in research, and expand access to care. But patients and campaigners have raised concerns that the plan will have no immediate impact — highlighting the lack of NHS services, clinical expertise, and committed investment in research.
It is estimated that 404,000 people in the UK suffer from the conditions with the numbers thought to be higher as many have not yet been diagnosed. At least after decades of investigation into what constitutes ME/CFS there is a plan although clearly there are reservations about it as the NHS has its other problems. The NHS state: “While there’s currently no cure for ME/CFS, there are treatments that may help you manage the condition and relieve the symptoms. Treatments include:
- energy management – where you’re given advice about how to make best use of the energy you have without making your symptoms worse
- cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
- medicine to control symptoms such as pain and sleeping problems
“People with ME/CFS will need to adapt their daily routine and pattern of activities on a long-term basis. There may be periods when your symptoms get better or worse.”
Bird Flu
Somerset Confidential – the online in-depth news website – has a story on bird flu crossing into the county from Dorset this month. They reported: “Yesterday bird flu was detected at in Somerset. It is the latest occurrence in an outbreak that started in November 2024. To date there have been 65 similar incidents identified with controlled zones set up around each area of an outbreak. So far this year most of the outbreaks have been in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. However, in recent weeks the disease has been identified in Dorset and Devon and it felt like it was just a matter of time before it arrived in Somerset. Highly pathogenic avian influenza was confirmed in captive birds at premises near Yeovil and as a result a 3km captive bird (monitoring) controlled zone has been declared surrounding the premises.”
In the last couple of years ducks, swans and gulls have been detected with bird flu at Cheddar Reservoir and Chew Valley and Blagdon lakes. In south Somerset an exclusion zone has been put up around West Coker – although since the flu is mainly spread by wild birds it is difficult to control. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) advises that bird flu is primarily a disease of birds and the risk to the general public’s health is very low.
Planning
Axbridge Town Council has given notice about the planning application for the proposed new home off Axbridge Moor Drove. The details are: Planning Application Referral: 02/23/00028/AGE. For the construction of a two-storey dwelling with garage and associated works on land to the West of Axbridge Moor Drove – opposite the farm more or less. This is the one that has attracted a lot of comment – with those in Bailiffs Close concerned about the loss of views across the moor. This application will be considered by Somerset Council’s Planning Committee (North) at its meeting on 12 August 2025. The agenda will be published a week or so before the meeting. A member of the council will speak at the meeting.
Bristol Water
We have had some rain so although the level of the water at Cheddar Res is low it is not yet at drought levels – so don’t panic. However just to make us feel a little bit worried Bristol Water reported: “Climate change is impacting the weather, bringing hotter summers and less predictable seasons. By 2050, summers in the South West will be on average 2-3 degrees hotter than today, with at least 20 days a year of extreme heat. The hot, dry summer of 2022 had a strong impact on river flows, reservoir stocks and groundwater levels, but by 2050 the chance of summers reaching 2022 temperatures will be 50%.” The good news is the utility have announced they will have halved their own leaks from their pipes by 50% in the next few years as they work to update their system. Hmmm. There are no updates on Cheddar Reservoir 2.
Calendar of events
Some Axbridge dates coming up. Send Axbridge events to me and I’ll try to keep the list updated. Email: harryfmottram@gmail.com I’ll also post on my website at www.harrymottram.co.uk and hopefully we can sort out a permanent calendar for the town soon.
Wed 20 Aug. Axbridge. Acoustic music evening at Axe Vale Arts Centre. 7.30pm.
Sat 23 Aug. Axbridge. The Oakhouse. Music Festival. 5 bands plus DJ. From11am.
Wed 27 Aug. Axbridge. Poetry evening at Axe Vale Arts Centre. 7pm.
Sun 31 Aug. Axbridge. Lamb inn. Pub quiz. 8pm.
Sat 6 Sep. Axbridge Farmers’ Market. 9am-1pm. The Square.
Thu 18-Sat 20 Sep. Axbridge Fun Fair. Axbridge Square.
Sat, 20 Sep. Axbridge Carnival. 2pm. Procession through the town.
Sun 28 Sept. Axbridge. Axe Vale Arts Centre. Crumbs. Badapple Theatre. 7pm.
Sat 4 Oct. Axbridge Farmers’ Market. 9am-1pm. The Square.
Sun 5 Oct. Axbridge. Phil Hill in Concert. Carnival fundraiser. Town Hall. 7.15pm.
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.
Wed 31 Dec. Axbridge. New Year Celebrations in the Square. 11.59pm.
2029
Sat-Mon 25-27 Aug. Axbridge. Pageant/community play. 3pm The Square.
Axbridge Review is edited by Harry Mottram and is published for the interest of himself and fellow residents.
Harry is a freelance journalist. Follow him on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube etc
Email:harryfmottram@gmail.com
Website:www.harrymottram.co.uk
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