By Harry Mottram: A huge new area surrounding the current reservoir is to be included in the project boundary for the construction of Cheddar Reservoir 2. It includes as expected the area south of the Res where the new reservoir will go but also the fields to the west and south west of the Res – presumably for a works site, portacabins, storage zone and parking areas for the staff.
Access to the construction areas will be interesting as there are public footpaths across the marked zone plus the clay pits fishing lakes, Sharpham Road playing fields, the yacht club – let alone the original reservoir itself with its popular walkway around the perimeter. Whether these will be no-go areas remains to be seen – but there is still much work to be covered before the first spade is pressed into the ground. Planning permission, consultation, surveying and archaeology for starters – but with the new proposed treatment works doubling the size of the existing one and a question mark over access – along with the vast pipeline linking up with Devon – there is much to take in.
West Country Water and Environment (WCWE) have issued a lengthy document online at (https://www.westcountrywaterandenvironment.org/flagship-projects/cheddar-reservoir-sro/cheddar-2-sro-consultation) which skirts around access but does include more detailed maps of the area in question. It appears access could be a mixture of temporary and permanent options with the existing one from Cheddar Road being an easy one for work on the new treatment works by the current one. Another could be a new spur from the A370 near the former Yeo Valley factory while others include the access from the bottom of Upper New Road and the existing treatment works just over from the bridge. No mention of a temporary road from the A38 though. One theory has been a road from Dark Lane near Yeo Valley’s old site on the A370 snaking around to the north of the reservoir and down along the area of Portmead Drove. All speculation of course.
Cheddar Reservoir 2 appears to be an irregular shape akin to an amoeba in contrast to the strawberry shape of the current one – and it may have a small island according to the map. The maps are however not precise and are open to interpretation. Soon all will be clear with these consultations:
Friday 12 September, 4pm to 8pm: North Petherton Community Centre, Fore St, North Petherton, Bridgwater, Somerset TA6 6QA
Saturday 13 September, 12pm to 4pm: Cheddar Village Hall, Church St, Cheddar, Somerset BS27 3RB
Tuesday 14 September, 4pm to 8pm: Cross Memorial Hall, Webbington Road, Cross, Axbridge, Somerset BS26 2EL
Friday 19 September, 4pm to 8pm: Axbridge Town Hall, The Square, Axbridge, Somerset BS26 2AR
Saturday 20 September, 12pm to 4pm: St Michael’s Community Hall, Barnhay, Bampton, Tiverton, Devon EX16 9NB
And information will be available at:
Cheddar Library, Union Street, Cheddar, Somerset BS27 3NB
Axbridge Town Hall, The Square, Axbridge, Somerset BS26 2AR
Bridgwater Library, Binford Place, Bridgwater, Somerset TA6 3LF
North Petherton Library, Community Centre, Fore Street, North Petherton, Bridgwater, Somerset TA6 6QA
Thomas Poole Library, Castle Street, Nether Stowey, Bridgwater, Somerset TA5 1LN
Wiveliscombe Community Library, 9 The Square, Wiveliscombe, Taunton, Somerset TA4 2JT
Tiverton Library, Phoenix House, Phoenix Lane, Tiverton, Devon EX16 6SA
There’s an online consultation form you can complete now at https://www.westcountrywaterandenvironment.org/forms/cheddar-2-sro-consultation-feedback-form
Lidl and more houses
Planning issues at the town council on Monday 8th September 2025
On Monday evening in the town hall there are more planning issues being discussed at the Axbridge Town Council: namely Lidl’s supermarket off Upper New Road and homes planned off Axbridge Moor Drove and an estate on land to the west of Draycott Road, Cheddar. Pop along and hear more – but drop a line to the clerk Vicky Brice if you want to speak. Email: vicky.brice@axbridge-tc.gov.uk
Axbridge Court Public Meeting
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.
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
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 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. 6pm. Public meeting on Axbridge Court
Mon 8 Sep. Axbridge Town Council Meeting. Town Hall. 7pm. 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.
Fri 19 Sep. Axe Vale Arts Centre. Sloe Jam, acoustic band from Frome area, and support. Doors open at 7.00pm.
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.
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.
Mon 13 Oct. Axbridge Town Council Meeting. Town Hall. 7.30pm. Public welcome. See https://www.axbridge-tc.gov.uk/
Fri. 31st Oct. Axe Vale Arts Centre. 3 Rivers, female acapella trio from Bristol and support. Doors open at 7.00pm
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.
Events Near Axbridge
Sat 6 Sep. Shipham Harvest Home
Tue 9-Tue 30 Sep. Crook Peak Music Festival
Sat 13 Sep. Shipham Village Show. From 12.30pm.
Sat 27 Sep. Shipham Progressive Supper.
Fri 17-Sat 25 Oct. Wells Literature Festival.
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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