By Harry Mottram: Back in the 1990s I used to write a weekly property column for the Cheddar Valley Gazette and became frustrated by the lack of information about prices – were they up or down? Everywhere I investigated didn’t give me a straight answer – the only accurate figures came out months later which is no good for a weekly newspaper. The problem was the lack of honesty by the estate agents and property companies and dare I say it the house sellers, so I adopted a policy of one week I’d announce prices were down and the next week they were up – it went on for months and nobody complained about my rouse. Like then and now prices were essentially static.
In Axbridge as mentioned previously the most expensive property on the market is Old Court House in St Mary’s Street – that’s the one with the archway entrance just up from the Post Office. For £2,395,000 – that’s just under £2.4 million pounds – the seven-bedroom home is yours. Plus, it’s only yards from the Co-operative shop and features a large garden overlooking the Furlong and has that all essential of every home: a spa and swimming pool. For a little less you can own a flat in St John’s Court for just over £100,000. That’s the old workhouse – now homes to many folk in the town – many with one or two bedrooms. A survey a few years ago by Axbridge Town Council found that the most desired property in the town was one or two bedroom homes. Interesting.
Crash
There has been a nasty car crash in Cheddar Gorge this week with a BMW hitting a wall in the wall in Cliff Road late on Tuesday evening (August 26). A woman was taken to hospital as a result report Somerset Live. The news website went on to give a police appeal: “We received a number of calls to a collision in Cliff Road, Cheddar, involving a car and a building at around 10pm on Tuesday 26 August. The driver of the vehicle was not injured in the incident while the female passenger was taken to hospital with injuries which are not thought to be life-threatening or life changing. The car was written off in the collision and a structural engineer has been contacted to assess the building, which has suffered substantial damage. Any witnesses to the incident, or those with dashcam or CCTV footage during the moments leading up to the collision, are asked to call 101 quoting reference number 5225242340, or complete our online appeals form.”
In Axbridge we are not immune from Road Traffic Accidents or RTAs – at the last newspaper I worked for in Wiltshire we were not allowed to use the word ‘accident’ as apparently there are no such things – instead ‘collisions’ was the word. There have been collisions resulting in deaths on the bypass and the other blackspots near the town and on the A38 and with ‘collisions’ at the junction at Compton House roundabout and at Cross. The Magic Roundabout at the top of New Road has seen many crashes by the fuel station – partly due to the confusion caused by the layout. Thankfully the Compton House junction now has a halt sign put up – which sadly is not always adhered to by drivers leaving the bypass. A big thank you to the town council who have championed road safety and to the speed monitor group in the town – all volunteers. As the signs in the High Street windows read: ’20 is plenty.’
Bus journeys
There was a request on the Axbridge Community FaceBook page this week about public transport from the town to Weston-super-Mare and Wells. The 126 continues to link the town to both places and below are the timetables. However there has been issues with the online App that shows the route – raised by issues of reliability – but you should be able to do the whole journey from WSM to Wells – or so Axbridge News understands. For info see https://www.firstbus.co.uk/help-support/contact-us
There is also a Sedgemoor ‘Slinky’ service – door-to-door bus service funded by Somerset Council for people who are unable to access conventional transport in the old Sedgemoor area. You will need to register to use any of these services with Mendip Community Transport, the online registration form can be found here: https://www.mendipcommunitytransport.co.uk/
For Bristol there is a bus service via the airport which runs from Shute Shelve at roughly just after the half hour throughout the day. Do check for times at https://www.stagecoachbus.com/routes/south-west/fal/bristol-plymouth/xdcfal0.i
It’s a request stop so you must make sure the driver sees you – and it goes the other way to Plymouth should the west of Devon attract.
Axe Vale Arts Centre
The latest poetry and acoustic nights at the Axe Vale Arts Centre were rated a success this month. I didn’t make the acoustic night but it went well according to all who attended and the poetry and spoken word night had around 35 people in attendance. Simon Rennie has been instrumental in both events and again led the poetry night with some wonderful verse – Simon is a published poet and college lecturer – see https://experts.exeter.ac.uk/24816-simon-rennie for more.
The next dates are poetry and spoken word on the 17th September and the acoustic evening is on 24th September – both Wednesdays. On Sunday 28th September Badapple theatre present Crumbs – a one woman comedy show about a sacked TV chef. Sounds good and the professional drama is on a nationwide tour. See https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/axbridge/axe-vale-arts-centre/crumbs/e-joxzeb for tickets.
A reminder the venue is a no alcoholic place but has a very nice bar with non-alcoholic drinks for sale. The centre is the former Methodist Chapel in West Street and due to the efforts of Pete Harding and Paul Hughes now has gained charity status making it easier to raise funds to update and maybe buy the building. It is currently on a one year lease from the church authorities.
Cheddar Reservoir 2
No news since the last issue of Axbridge News which I will repeat here:
West Country Water and Environment (WCWE) the umbrella group for water utilities in the South West which includes Bristol Water will hold a public consultation as a drop-in session on Friday 19 September in Axbridge Town Hall from 4-8pm. Other dates include Saturday 13 September at noon in Cheddar Village Hall and at Cross Memorial Hall on Tuesday 16 September at 4pm.
You can complete a paper copy of the feedback form from deposit locations – as they call them – in Axbridge Town Hall and Cheddar Library, and post it to Freepost WCWE SRO CONSULTATION or you can complete one online at www.westcountrywaterandenvironment.org or send an email to CheddarSRO@westcountrywaterandenvironment.org – the website has more information of course about the project although doesn’t go into detail about specifics.
The reservoir is currently less than a third full but finally we are having rain so the crisis may be over.
There was a discussion on social media this week about whether there was a farm that was demolished to make way for the current Res built in the 1930s. Barrows Wood Farm was removed – it was in the centre of the Res – along with several orchards, hundreds of tree and many hedges. There was a track and drove connecting the farm with a path continuing from Holwell Lane – which Bristol Water in their wisdom attempted to block with a fence but after it was knocked down repeatedly – sanity prevailed and they replaced it with a gate. When Cheddar Res 2 is built there are several farm buildings that would need to be demolished – assuming Res 2 is in the Hythe Lane area. The main graphic is from 2014 – but it looks a likely contender for the location of the Res 2.
Axbridge Court Public meeting
The former nursing home in West Street has been empty for some time after Almondsbury Care Limited went bust and closed the home in 2022 making the staff redundant and the residents homeless. It also left creditors in the lurch and according to ICSM of Bridgwater it took some time to sort out their accounts with a creditors meeting held a year later. After it went into administration the property was largely empty but now a planning application has been put in to convert it into 21 ‘dwelling houses’ – which one may expect to be flats since there are 32 bedrooms in the two storey detached ‘cottage’. Originally built at the beginning of the 20th century as an Edwardian cottage hospital next to what was still essentially the work house Axbridge Court initially went on the market for £1.3m. BJ Campbell South West Ltd of Mark are behind the application.
For details of Axbridge Court Nursing Home – Planning Application 02/25/00020 visit https://sdc.somerset.gov.uk/planning_online?action=GetDetails&app=02/25/00020&p=Axbrid
There’s a public meeting in the town hall on Monday 8th September at 6pm when the developers will give a presentation of their plans. The public are invited to ask questions – which no doubt will include details such as parking, prices, facilities, access and whether the Edwardian building will be drastically altered. The normal town council will follow at 7pm when councillors will respond to the planning application to Somerset Council. A final decision is due on 20th September 2025 – comments can be made on the planning portal website.
Wheelbarrow mystery
A few years ago in the 1990s I put out an appeal for a second hand wheel barrow by posting a postcard in the shop. That’s what you did in those days. A wheelbarrow arrived at my front door in Old Church Road with two small boys pushing it. I paid them the fiver they asked and took possession of the useful garden conveyancing tool. A few days later the janitor at Fairlands Middle School reported his wheelbarrow had gone walkies. I contacted him and explained the situation and he said he was fine about the appearance of the wheelbarrow at my front door as he could claim a new one on expenses as the old one was old and rusted. No further action was needed – a sort of win-win-win wheel barrow situation. Now a wheelbarrow in Axbridge has been er… lost… and found.
This from FaceBook this week: “It gives me great pleasure to say that thanks to the eagle eyes of laura Wilcox spotting the dumped wheelbarrow in Winscombe (Winscombe – how did it get there?!), Rectory Apple Services has been restored: the barrow is replenished and back on the drive, so do come and help yourselves. Eaters at the front and cookers near the handles. Thank you so much, Laura!
The yellow barrow was outside Alistair’s house – sorry – (the Reverend Alistair Forster) in Cheddar Road and was filled with apples from his tree – and very good they are too as the sign has said ‘free apples – help yourself.’ So all’s well that apples well.
Calendar of events in Axbridge
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.
Sat 30 Aug. Axbridge. Lamb Inn. Weston Ukulele Players. Cider Shed. 9pm. Free – proceeds will go to the Children’s Hospice South West.
Sun 31 Aug. Axbridge. Lamb inn. Pub quiz. 8pm.
Sat 6 Sep. Axbridge Farmers’ Market. 9am-1pm. The Square.
Sat 6 Sep. Axbridge Square. Coin collection – unwanted foreign coins being collected in aid of Friends of Axbridge Church as well as fashion jewellery (donated) & coffee & cake in the Town Hall during the market. From 10am.
Sat 6 Sep. Tessa Munt MP Wells and Mendip Hills Surgery at The Lamb Inn, Axbridge, 11am.
Mon 8 Sep. Axbridge Town Council Meeting. Town Hall. 7.30pm. Public welcome. See https://www.axbridge-tc.gov.uk/
Wed 17 Sep. Axe Vale Arts Centre. Poetry and Spoken Word. 7pm.
Wed 24 Sep. Axe Vale Arts Centre. Acoustic Music Night. 7pm.
Thu 18-Sat 20 Sep. Axbridge Fun Fair. Axbridge Square.
Friday 19 Sep. Cheddar Reservoir 2 Consultation. Axbridge Town Hall from 4-8pm.
Fri 19 Sep. Cross Memorial Hall. An evening with John Buckler. 7.30pm.
Sat, 20 Sep. Axbridge Carnival. 2pm. Procession through the town.
Sun 28 Sept. Axbridge. Axe Vale Arts Centre. Crumbs. Badapple Theatre. 7pm.
Fri 3 Oct, Axbridge. Music concert. Phil King in the Town Hall in aid of the carnival.
Sat 4 Oct. Axbridge Farmers’ Market. 9am-1pm. The Square.
Sat 4 Oct. Axbridge Square. Coin collection – unwanted foreign coins being collected in aid of Friends of Axbridge Church during the market.
Sat 4 Oct. Axbridge. St John’s Parish Church. Concert by Joyful Spirit Choir. 7.30pm. In aid of Friends of Axbridge Church.
Sun 5 Oct. Axbridge. Phil Hill in Concert. Carnival fundraiser. Town Hall. 7.15pm.
Mon 13 Oct. Axbridge Town Council Meeting. Town Hall. 7.30pm. Public welcome. See https://www.axbridge-tc.gov.uk/
Sat 1 Nov. Axbridge Farmers’ Market. 9am-1pm. The Square.
Mon 10 Nov. Axbridge Town Council Meeting. Town Hall. 7.30pm. Public welcome. See https://www.axbridge-tc.gov.uk/
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.
Mon 8 Dec. Axbridge Town Council Meeting. Town Hall. 7.30pm. Public welcome. See https://www.axbridge-tc.gov.uk/
Sat 20 Dec. Axbridge Square. Santa in the Square celebrations.
Sun 21 Dec. Axbridge Square. Christmas Farmers’ Market. 10am.
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 News 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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