By Harry Mottram: As we say goodbye to the old year and enter 2026, one thought comes to mind as the next Axbridge Pageant is only three and a half years away. The huge community history play that takes place in The Square is scheduled for August Bank Holiday weekend in 2029. For new comers to the town the event dates to the 1960s when heavy traffic through the Square ended and the bypass was opened. The word ‘pageant’ has modern ‘beauty competition’ connotations but pageants were large scale history plays that became the vogue in the early 20th century with towns and cities staging these spectacles. By the 1950s they had all but nearly died out across the country – and so Axbridge’s pageant went against the trend but has become a huge and successful production. Held in 1967, 1970, 1980, 1990, 2000 and 2022 the decision was made to hold the next one in 2029 to coincide with the granting of a charter which helped to establish the town as an important business centre in Tudor England. There’s more at https://www.harrymottram.co.uk/journalist/axbridge-news/axbridge-pageant/
The photo is by Barry Cawston of Axbridge.
New Year’s Eve in Axbridge
Every year at around 11.40pm on December 31st people start gathering in Axbridge Square to celebrate the New Year – marked by the chimes of the church bells and fireworks set off from behind the Lamb Inn. The public house is behind the pyrotechnics and are also hosting a dance during the evening. Across the square the Oakhouse is also offering music from 3pm with a disco through to midnight and beyond – while many people will be holding their own parties – although most will make it to the Square for the annual changing of the year. The fireworks can be very loud – pet owners take note.
Bird Flu
Somerset Confidential (https://somersetconfidential.substack.com/) have been reporting on another outbreak of Bird Flu also known as Avian Flu with the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and Animal and Plant Health Agency confirming the bad news. The Government authority said: “Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in a non-commercial backyard flock of other captive birds near Bridgwater, Somerset, Somerset (AIV 2025/138). A 3km captive bird (monitoring) controlled zone has been declared around the premises.”
Bird flu is no stranger to Somerset with two other cases this year – one near Yeovil and one near Evercreech. Wild birds with the disease have been found in recent times including at Cheddar Reservoir – and there are strict rules about what to do if you find a dead or dying bird as it is important not to spread the flu. More info at https://www.somersetwildlife.org/avian-flu?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23341746666&gbraid=0AAAAADyh7Rp9Ij8FVd-DEf_S56su5qiw9&gclid=CjwKCAiAjc7KBhBvEiwAE2BDOWxjQWk05HVDWFByZr_P71edEpXvivg_CJy6It7swj5UNOMx11Z_IBoCsQ4QAvD_BwE
These measures apply from 5.30pm on 29 December 2025 until this Declaration is withdrawn or amended by further declaration. More details on the Government website about the outbreak at https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6952c3d962812c3473f50641/Captive_Bird__Monitoring__Controlled_Zone_DPR_2025_258_AIV_2025_138.pdf
Animal cruelty
The BBC’s Beth Cruse has reported on a case of animal cruelty just down the road from Axbridge which has seen three horses left in an emaciated condition. The case concerns Kevin Roper, of Turnpike Road who has admitted an animal welfare offence and was ordered to pay £400 costs and a £240 victim surcharge during sentencing at North Somerset Magistrates’ Court on 15 December.
Beth recorded: “An RSPCA investigation found he had failed to give his three cob-type horses “the care they desperately needed”. The horses, named Brie, Halloumi and Cheddar, two of which were pregnant, were found with their “bones protruding” on land at Winscombe, the animal charity said.”
Two of the rescued horses were pregnant and have given birth to healthy foals reported the BBC and added: “The three horses are recovering at Bristol rescue charity HorseWorld and two of them have given birth to healthy foals. In mitigation, Roper said he loved his horses and that he was not aware of the extent of the problems.”
Cheddar Reservoir 2
West Country Water and Environment (WCWE) have announced that a new consultation on their plans for the new reservoir in 2026 which will include views from residents and the public in general. It follows the consultation held in September which included an exhibition on plans in Axbridge Town Hall. With a number of diagrams and maps it is fair to say it led to more questions since the area the utility group which includes Bristol Water wish to take over during the construction. Apart from the land which will be affected there is the issue of traffic with plans potentially for a new link road from the A371 between ‘the magic roundabout’ and the entrance to The Parsonage.
In a statement WCWE said: “The new reservoir will store surplus winter water from the Cheddar Yeo and River Axe, helping to meet summer demand and reduce downstream flood risk. This is a widely used water management approach that has been successfully implemented both in the UK and internationally for many years. It will be a non-impounding reservoir, meaning that it does not hold back a river within a valley, but is a large basin, filled by nearby water sources during high-flow periods and used during dry spells.”
Axbridge Diary of Events
I try to keep this up to date – and there is plenty of events in January and February and well into the new year listed. Solo punk guitarist TV Smith on Sunday, January 4th is the big opener at the Axe Vale Arts centre in West Street with more gigs and events to follow. Send Axbridge events to me and I’ll try to keep the list updated. Email: harryfmottram@gmail.com or FB message me and I’ll also post on my website at www.harrymottram.co.uk
Axbridge News:
Harry Mottram compiles Axbridge News for his own interest and those of fellow residents.
Everything he writes for the News is in the public domain and anyone can view it – he puts it together and writes it up, so it makes sense.
For details for the work of the journalist Harry Mottram visit www.harrymottram.co.uk
Follow him on Facebook, X, Blogger, Bluesky, Instagram, Threads and YouTube.
Or email him at harryfmottram@gmail.com
You must be logged in to post a comment.