By Harry Mottram: When Marilyn Monroe appeared in the movie There’s No Business Like Show Business singing the Irving Berlin song Heat Wave the chorus sings of rising temperatures: 95f, 96F, 97F and 105F! For those of us of a certain age Fahrenheit was the norm – and when in the film The Go Between the thermometer hits the 90s you knew it was hot. This week the forecast is for another heatwave. Somehow 30C doesn’t sound so hot but this week the temperature is set to hit the high 20s and even 30C. All eyes are on Bristol Water and will they close Cheddar Reservoir as they have done twice this summer already? So far there has not been another closure but they state on their website: “With the warmer weather and half term upon us, Bristol Water are appealing to Cheddar residents to help us keep the reservoir open this year.The appeal follows the decision to close the reservoir last summer during spells of hot weather, following an increase in unauthorised swimming, anti-social behaviour and littering.”
Incidentally it’s all quiet on the Cheddar Reservoir 2 front. Parliament is in recess and many firms are quiet as staff take summer holidays – so we’ll have to wait until the autumn for any updates.
Hedgehog crisis
Many in the town are familiar with the Prickles Hedgehog Rescue centre in Cheddar. Sadly the centre is set to close as the charity shop in the village is being forced to shut its doors as the building has been sold. Writing on the Axbridge Community FaceBook site Jules Bishop, Founder wrote: “Thank you for all of your kind messages of support and suggestions. I have now set up Go Fund Me. Please share far and wide. It is with great sadness that I am letting everyone know Prickles Hedgehog Rescue, Cheddar is facing closure, the end of September. It has become almost impossible to generate the funds to keep Prickles a float, it cost £107k last year. The building where our Charity shop is situated has been sold and part of the income from that paid for our base, where the animals are situated. It is devastating for everyone involved in Prickles, especially the hogs. We have had 8,000 through our doors. As it stands our shop will go by the middle of September and we have no affordable premises. Everyone is devastated.”
Railway Carriage
Steve Ehrlicher of Vintage Carriages, East Somerset Railway asked readers if anyone knew of an old railway carriage that was used as a home in Axbridge. He locates old carriages to restore them for the railway and had heard a rumour of one here in the town. I published his appeal on FaceBook and we had a number of positive sightings of the carriage – except it was removed some years ago.
Several people recalled it was in Chestnut Avenue and was removed when construction began on new homes – the road ends in a cul-de-sac was connected to the station – and you can access the bypass via a footpath there. John Page thought the station master lived in it but it was Anne Garrett who wrote: “Mrs Greenman lived there in an old carriage up the back end of Chestnut Avenue just before you get to the railway station.” Shireen Upton added that it, ‘Was destroyed when a local builder bought the land and built three houses on the ‘plot.’” And she added a photograph of it. I passed all of this onto Steve who continues his search for long lost railway carriages. Apparently there is more on the home in the museum.
Heidi asks
On the community FaceBook site a lady appealed for information on facilities in the town for mother and baby groups. Heidi wrote: “Myself and my partner are looking to move to Axbridge in the next 6-8 months. I’m pregnant, due in November. I’m just trying to get a feel for the community, and was wondering if Axbridge has any mother and baby groups, parent groups, or also other groups/clubs that I might be able to get involved with once we move to meet either other new mums or just like minded people. As well as having a new baby which will obviously take up a lot my my time, I’m also interested in hiking and the outdoors, environmental projects, music, singing, dance, arts, yoga, climbing… loads of stuff, really! I’m aware there’s lots going on in Cheddar and other surrounding villages, but was wondering if there’s anything in Axbridge specifically as I may not have access to a car and the bus isn’t super regular.”
Readers were quick to point out that yes, Cheddar has more for new mums and their babes in arms – Axbridge has had mother and toddler groups in the past – with one set up after the Swiss Air Disaster in the 1970s – something of a first in the UK since so many families had lost their matriarchs in the tragedy. There was one in the town hall and another in the school room of the Methodist Church and another in the Church Rooms. With so many new families moving into the town with the new houses – perhaps there may be another one. The main issue is cost. Jade Hooper was helpful with this info: “There’s a group on a Tuesday term time Cheddar Methodist Church and one on weds Cheddar Baptist Church also you could go to Adventure Babies Bristol Central in Cheddar on a Monday.”
While Paul Botsford added: “Also check out https://www.axbridge-tc.gov.uk/business-directory/ . This lists all the community groups including play group, Santa in the Square, Blackberry carnival, busy bees nursery etc.”
As for the bus service – as long as it stops in the Square it is not bad with roughly hourly services through the day. See https://www.firstbus.co.uk/uploads/node_images/126%20(Wells)%206%20Sep%2020.pdf
Boy racers
Axbridge has its problems with speeding cars – and much has been done by the town council, Somerset Highways and the speed watch group in slowing traffic to the 20mph speed limit – although there is still motorists who ignore the limit especially in Cheddar Road and the High Street/West Street. However for years Cheddar Gorge has had a major problem with mass meetings of high performance cars and bikes. Some riders and drivers take a delight in using the Gorge and its hairpin bends as a sort of hill climbing exercise making it highly dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists – and irritating for residents due to the noise. I recall going through the Gazette’s archives and even in the 1950s Teddy Boys were causing a nuisance with their scooters by racing up and down the Gorge.
The authorities have had enough and been given new powers to deal with the problem. Avon and Somerset Police issued this statement: “Under the new Temporary Traffic Regulation Order, officers can close the road between the Cox’s Mill Car Park and the junction of the B3135 and B3371. The power is available on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays and can be used in advance of planned events or in the event of ongoing issues. The order was granted by Somerset Council for an initial 21-day period, although this can be extended to 18 months. Under the conditions of the order, closures can be put in place at any time and for any duration between 4pm and 6am on each of the three days. Businesses will remain open as usual during any closure while people living within it will also be allowed access. Officers have previously used dispersal orders to shut down these gatherings and pursued prosecutions for criminal offences, however the new power can be used proactively in advance of an event taking place.”
Acting Sergeant Daryl Screech said: “We are fully aware of the disruption anti-social driving continues to have on the residents of Cheddar and its visitors.
“Not only is it disruptive and dangerous, but these events also put significant demand on police resources with officers having to be diverted from other matters to respond and ensure public safety.”
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.
Fri 15 Aug. Axbridge. VJ Day – The Square on Friday to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of VJ Day. 2 minutes silence will be held at 12 noon, a proclamation will be read by the Town Crier and a wreath will be laid on the War Memorial.
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.
Sun 24 Aug. Axbridge. Bristol Brass Band at St John the Baptist parish Church. 7pm.
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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