Community news in and around Wellington

FROM carnival fun to an illuminated park, live music, art, Christmas shopping and festive entertainment, Wellington has a busy few months ahead.

There is no shortage of things happening in Wellington as summer gives way to autumn, with a packed programme of local events continuing right through to Christmas.

Things get off to a tasty start when the Wellington Independent Food & Drink Festival organisers return on Saturday, September 19 and Saturday, December 12 for quarterly markets in the town centre.

BrewTwo at The Cleve welcomes opera singer Mary-Jess this Saturday, September 12, combining a three-course dinner with an evening of music ranging from Gershwin and Donizetti to Nessun Dorma.

Music features again with a free singing day ‘Together in Tone’ on Sunday, September 20 in Wellington School Great Hall. Running from 1 pm to 7 pm, it features a concert for friends and family at 6 pm.

On Sunday, September 13 and September 20, there will be a Fox Brothers walking tour led by historian Talitha Clarke from 2pm-4pm. This will feature buildings significant to Fox Brothers and those interested in the free tour should register at Wellington Museum.

A Town Crier tour of the town takes place on Sunday, September 27 at 2.30 pm, £5, register at the museum.

September’s big date is undoubtedly Wellington Carnival on Saturday, September 26. The annual Grand Procession gets under way at 7.30 pm, bringing the familiar spectacle of illuminated carnival entries, music and crowds to the town.

Earlier on the same day will be the official opening of the new Pump Track in the recreation ground from 10 am to 2 pm. This continuous circuit is designed to be used by wheeled equipment such as bicycles, scooters, skateboards, roller skates and longboards.

There is also plenty happening away from the main events. Somerset Art Weeks Festival runs from September 19 to October 4 at The Old Brick Workshop at Higher Poole, with a group exhibition showcasing the work of artists working from the studios there.

October brings one of Wellington’s more unusual events when Wellington Garden of Light transforms Wellington Park on Saturday, October 24, from 6.30 pm to 9 pm. Expect fire, aerial performance, light installations, projections, music and illuminated artworks created with local artists, young people and community groups.

Tickets are just £2 for adults and £1 for children.

For something more hands-on, Bodley Studio has autumn craft sessions on October 7, when the project is 3D pumpkins, followed by poppy-themed work on November 4 and Christmas decorations on December 2.

The autumn programme continues into November with music, food and entertainment.

Wellington Choral Society performs Mozart’s Mass in C Minor at St John the Baptist Church on Saturday, November 28, while the town’s independent businesses begin turning their attention towards Christmas.

At BrewTwo, Santa Paws returns on Sunday, December 6, raising money for St Giles Animal Welfare, followed by Christmas at the Musicals with Mary-Jess on Friday, December 11.

There are plenty of other festive dates to put in the diary too, including Wellington School’s Winter Wonderland Christmas Party on Saturday, December 12, and a Christmas charity concert at St John the Baptist Church on Monday, December 14.

The Christmas season gathers pace on Saturday, November 28 with the Christmas Market and Light Switch On - on Wellington High Street - the market commences at 10 am with the lights switching on at 6 pm.

The Cheese and Wine Shop has a series of festive tastings beginning on the day, followed by wine, port, cheese and ale events during December.

Seen the Visit Somerset website for further details.

A TALK in a series of Wiveliscombe open evenings with local community groups, is being held on Thursday, September 17 with Nick Harvey, manager of the town’s In The Mix Project, a charity which supports young people. The free talk, “Youth, Community and the Power of Being,” is organised by the Wiveliscombe Civic and Historical Society and will be at St Andrew’s Church at 7.30 pm (doors open 7 pm).

THE Wellington U9s are offering a fun start to football with Little Lions for three to five year olds.

Sessions begin on Sunday, September 20 offering little ones the chance to learn basic football skills in a fun, safe and encouraging environment while growing their confidence and making new friends.

Open to boys and girls, the Little Lions sessions last 45 minutes and will be taking place at the playing field next to the Wellington Cricket Club. Cost is £5 per session.

Contact Rich Bethell for more information at Wellington U9s.

PROTECT Wellington will be at the Wellington Independent Market on Saturday, September 19, inviting local people to find out more about the community group and have their say on the future of the town.

The group was formed by local residents in response to the increasing scale of housing development being proposed around Wellington and concerns about where that development is taking place.

They believe Wellington should continue to grow, but at the right pace and that new homes should be located in appropriate places, with priority given to brownfield and previously developed land rather than productive farmland and valued green spaces.

Protect Wellington is particularly concerned that the town could be expected to take a disproportionately large share of Somerset’s future housing requirement as the Government pursues its target of delivering 1.5 million new homes in England. Protect Wellington believes the size of Wellington should be properly considered when housing targets are allocated, rather than placing an excessive burden on a relatively small town.

The group has particularly campaigned against the proposal for up to 250 homes on farmland south of Oldway Road, outside the current Wellington Place Plan. The application was refused by Somerset Council earlier this year.

It remains concerned about the cumulative impact of continued development, with around 10 sites currently under development or proposed, and the pressure this could place on traffic, flooding, sewage, wildlife, medical services, schools and other infrastructure.

Protect Wellington intends to work constructively alongside Wellington Town Council and Somerset Council to ensure that the concerns of local residents are heard as future housing and development plans are considered. The group is also encouraging residents to make their views known directly to both councils, the local MP Gideon Amos, and to take an active interest in future planning consultations.

A spokesperson said: “We are not opposed to housing development in principle , but we believe it must be sustainable, carefully planned, that protects our farmland and natural environment, and be supported by the necessary infrastructure.

“Most importantly, local people should have a genuine voice in determining what Wellington looks like in the future.”

Residents are invited to visit the Protect Wellington stall at the Wellington Independent Market on Saturday, September 19 and share their views.

THE September meeting saw Nic Wheeler give fellow members of the Monument Probus Club of Wellington a presentation about the West Somerset Railway.

With the aid of photographs and diagrams, Mr Wheeler, who serves as a volunteer environmental advisor to the railway, gave a detailed illustrated account of the history, ownership and operation of the 23-miles of track which runs between Bishops Lydeard and Minehead with eight stations in between.

He explained how the line was originally opened in 1862 as a commercial concern, running between Taunton and Watchet and was extended to Minehead in 1874. Although the single-track line was considerably improved during the first half of the 20th century to accommodate the significant number of tourists that wished to travel to the Somerset coast, it was closed by British Rail in 1971 and reopened as a heritage line in 1976.

The freehold of the line and stations is now owned by Somerset Council and is leased to and operated by West Somerset Railway plc, which is supported and minority-owned by the West Somerset Railway Association charitable trust and the West Somerset Railway Heritage Trust. It operates services using both heritage steam and diesel trains.

Mr Wheeler went on to highlight the vast amount of work that has gone into restoring and upgrading both the track and 10 stations to turn it into the major Somerset tourist attraction it has become today.

“Although the railway employs more than 50 staff, it is indebted to an army of volunteers, serving in various capacities to keep the services running smoothly”, said Mr Wheeler, who added that more volunteers are always welcome.

Following a questions-and-answers session, Mr Wheeler was thanked by the club president, David Badham, who reminded members that the club’s next meeting will be on Thursday, October 1st, 11 am, at the Beambridge Inn, Sampford Arundel, when Mike Crew will give a presentation on ‘Princess Louise’.

The Monument Probus Club is a non-political and non-sectarian social organisation for retired and semi-retired men. It meets on the first Thursday of each month at 11 am at the Beambridge Inn.

Further details can be obtained by emailing the secretary on [email protected]