By Harry Mottram: Firstly, just a brief note to apologise for the suspension of the news and diary of events in the town recently. It marked something of a hiatus in my life as things got on top of me and the diary and news take a lot of time. After an appeal from Barry Walsh and messages from more than 100 residents to keep it, I changed my mind. So, back to the news:
Axbridge Carnival AGM
On Monday, March 9th, there is the annual general meeting of the Axbridge Carnival in the Church Rooms at 7.30pm. The September Carnival is a highlight of the year in the town – but it is run entirely by volunteers despite its impressive size and the large crowds who watch the procession. This meeting is a chance to show an interest, find out how to take part or to help behind the scenes or to be a marshal on the day. For newcomers to the town the carnival takes place on a Saturday afternoon in September and unlike the illuminated processions in other Somerset towns is more or a child-friendly, family and community event – with no need for thousands of lightbulbs! For more on the carnival see https://www.facebook.com/AxbridgeBlackberryCarnival and https://www.blackberrycarnival.com/
Town Council Annual Assembly
The annual meeting of the electorate of the town is held in the town hall on Monday 16th March this year at 8pm and is open to all residents of Axbridge. Under the 1972 Local Government Law all parishes must hold a meeting between 1st March and 1st June each year so the local council can update the town on important matters but also local groups and charities including the police and other organisations can give a report.
The agenda this year is expected to include the presentation of reports from Axbridge Town Council, Somerset Councillors, the Police and the School Governor representatives. Local organisations also have the opportunity to update residents on their activities and some organisations including the Town Council, Town Trust and Parochial Charities present their accounts. All residents of Axbridge are welcome to attend. It is a chance to find out more about the town and the organisations in Axbridge. For more see https://www.axbridge-tc.gov.uk/
Special Education Needs (SEND)
It was back in 1978 with the Warnock Report that Special Educational Needs (SEND) was clearly identified as an aspect of the country’s education system that needed to be tackled. Up until then provision for what was termed ‘education for handicapped children,’ was patchy with some education authorities more proactive in the early years of the 20th century. Autism was identified the 1940s and over the next 50 years came to be more defined with as it became understood so by the 1960s the first special schools were founded. Since then, the provision of SEND has varied depending on where you live but with an increase in the diagnosis of conditions that include autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia, speech issues, and physical disabilities the number of school places available are too few. Although huge strides had been made in providing education due to the lack of provision for many and too few places of children in special schools the consensus was it was a mess.
The Government have published the long-awaited schools white paper: Every Child Achieving and Thriving which plans to make SEND a universal system providing for all children who need the service. That will be a relief for their parents as in Somerset there are simply not enough places meaning that many families end up with children falling out of education or being educated at home. The Government said they are ‘creating a simple, logical system to meet the needs of all children and young people with SEND.’
The changes will give every child with additional needs a new Individual Support Plan. Billions will be invested in creating thousands of more SEND teachers and spaces in existing schools, nurseries and colleges with the aim of as far as possible integrating SEND in most local schools. The only drawback is although the plans have near universal political support they will take several years to be fully implemented with the cash feeding in from the next academic year.
In Somerset to find SEND provision visit https://www.somerset.gov.uk/children-families-and-education/the-local-offer/find-send-services/ but be warned as managing to get your child a place is not easy as most are oversubscribed. For more on the changes announced by the Government visit https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2026/02/schools-white-paper-what-parents-need-to-know-about-changes-to-the-send-system/
Former Yeo Valley site
With the planned Lidl store on Upper New Road, more homes being constructed either side of the road, and the traffic heading to the planned Cheddar Reservoir 2 site, the area around the MFG Cheddar Fuel Station and shop by the traffic intersection (popularly known as the Magic Roundabout) is set to be even more congested in future. As it is the road is often nose to tail from the bypass all the way to the Draycott end of Cheddar in the rush hour. There is likely to be even more congestion when the former Yeo Valley Yogurt site finally sees new homes being built. Cheddar Parish Council noted that Yeo Valley had been identified originally for commercial development and had subsequently been set to be used for housing due in part to a lack of demand for commercial developments. Back in 2018 Yeo Valley Farm and Holt Farms applied for outline planning for 100 new homes, a 60-bed care home, 12 extra care units, five live/work units and a nursery, on the site. However, things didn’t move forward in part due to changes in the economy followed by the Covid 19 Crisis which led to Homes England the Government’s housing and regeneration agency taking on the development in 2023.
Concerns were raised locally that the numbers of new residents on the development would go ahead without added infrastructure – but was agreed in 2020 by Sedgemoor District Council ‘s development committee – now abolished. Now Somerset Council has approved revised proposals for the site put forward by Homes England with work expected to take place this year.
Increased population
The population of Axbridge is now well over 2,000 with the new estate off Cheddar Road at Mendip View and the 53 homes on the Lavender Field development off Houlgate Way which is 80% complete. More than 40 homes are planned for the development by Strongvox of Taunton off Orchard Road who confirmed to Axbridge News the plans are to go ahead this year. Each decade has seen new estates built in the town with Starrs Close, Hippisley Drive and Knightstone amongst others. With the new Bloor estates off Upper New Road in Cheddar together with the plans for the Yeo Valley site the population of the village will be well over 7,000. As each development is agreed it is not only the health care provision and schools that are affected but also the roads as most new homes come with a car and in many cases more than one car. Two centuries ago the population of Axbridge was around half of today’s – although there were fewer homes as most properties housed larger extended families.
Axbridge Heritage Stitchers
Following their textile interpretation of the Axbridge Heritage Trail, which is now installed at the back of the parish church, the Axbridge Heritage Stitchers decided to create a wall hanging of Somerset depicting various well-known scenes.
The driving force behind the project Margaret Cowie spoke about the textile creation following its completion and is now hanging in the Grade II Listed Church Rooms at the top of the Church Steps.
She said: “The Axbridge Heritage Stitchers held a coffee morning in the Church Rooms on market day in the town square on 7th March, so that anyone interested in seeing their work could come and enjoy coffee and cake with them all. The Friends of the Church also had a jewellery stall selling donated vintage and preloved items and the most enjoyable morning raised a total of £294 for the restoration of the organ in their beautiful grade one listed church.
“The Somerset Scenes hanging took over a year to complete and the following stitchers, Margaret Cowie, Sally Batt, Judith Strange, Barbara Wells, Pam Ryan, Lynn Howes and Sue Rushworth all created either one or more panel each, to make the hanging.”
Each of the scenes is an individual work of art using a variety of techniques and making use of different materials including cotton, wool and even buttons to indicate flowers. It pays to look carefully at the hanging to inspect the work to see the intricate details. They convey a kaleidoscope of scenes: air sea rescue, the Wicker Man statue, Glastonbury Tor, Ashton Windmill, Bridgwater Carnival, Burnham-on-Sea’s Lighthouse and even our own Open Gardens event in June.
This year Open Gardens is chalked up for Sat-Sun, 6-7 June, 2026 and the money raised is in aid of the Friends of Axbridge Church who work to restore and enhance the historic building and its interior which includes the organ.
Restoration of the organ in Axbridge Church
The Friends of Axbridge Church as mentioned in the heritage stitchers article raise money to restore and preserve some of ancient features of the church. A reminder the Friends are not part of the religious organisation but focus on the building’s historic and social aspects which attract many visitors each year.
The Friends write on their website: “The Axbridge Church organ was built in 1884 by W G Vowles. Vowles was an English pipe organ maker and refurbisher based in Bristol. He established his own practice in 1856, building and renovating organs across South West England and South Wales. Additional work to the Axbridge organ was carried out by Geo Osmond, Taunton between the wars and there was a major restoration by Percy Daniel & Co in 1971.”
Interestingly, the original Vowles organ remains, while the former organist, Martin Latham, carried out regular maintenance during his 50 year term. Visiting experts have made a number of suggestions to restore the huge musical instrument to its former glory which would include removing different parts of the organ and undertaking extensive cleaning and restoration, at an estimated cost of around £15,000.
The Friends are seeking fundraising support from other Axbridge organisations and grant applications by the Church Council along with events such as coffee mornings and events like the one organised by the Axbridge Heritage Stitchers. To donate: Cheques can be sent by post and made payable to Friends of Axbridge Church. Please use Sort Code: 30-91-84 and Account Number 00871868 for bank transfers and standing orders and pay to the account of Friends of Axbridge Church. See https://www.stjohnthebaptistaxbridge.org.uk/foac.asp
Note: I get asked this frequently so just to repeat I write up these stories from time to time out of personal interest – all the information is in the public domain – I put it together, so it makes sense to me. I am not paid – my main job is covering Bath for Bath Voice News and ICSM of Bridgwater which is about business insolvencies.
Axbridge Diary
I try to keep this diary of what’s on in the town up to date – so do send in your events to me as it gets thousands of reads a month – I’ve moved it to a new spot on my website. See https://www.harrymottram.co.uk/journalist/axbridge/diary/
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