Dear Editor,

I am writing to urge Wellington residents to take part in the public consultation on planning application 44/25/0013, a major housing proposal on land south of Oldway Road. This consultation closes on Friday, January 16, and it is vital that local voices are heard.

Although not designated Green Belt, the site lies outside the Settlement Boundary set out in the Wellington Place Plan, which was adopted following extensive public consultation and remains part of the Local Plan. Land south of Oldway Road was given the lowest development suitability (Tier 3) due to unresolved constraints including landscape impact, remoteness from services, traffic, flooding and infrastructure capacity. Nothing has changed since adoption to justify overturning this evidence-based plan.

Wellington is already accommodating housing growth at more than four times its fair share, with around 1,800 homes proposed or approved for a town of just 16,000 people. This scheme would add further unsustainable pressure to roads, schools, medical services, drainage, sewage treatment and public transport, all of which are already overstretched. The proposal relies on a single access onto the A38, worsening congestion and road safety, particularly during M5 closures.

The development would also result in the permanent loss of high-quality agricultural land, increase flood risk from surface water run-off, and cause irreversible harm to wildlife habitats, landscape views and the rural setting of Wellington — the northern gateway to the Blackdown Hills AONB.

Residents can view the plans and submit comments directly to Somerset Council at: somerset.gov.uk/planning (search 44/25/0013)

Please take a few minutes to respond before Friday, January 16. This proposal would shape Wellington for generations, and public participation is essential.

Tim Lomas,

Wellington

Dear Editor,

Why do people need to set off fireworks on any day of the year even during the day. I understood that they were for November 5 and maybe midnight to see in the New Year.

There now seems to be a passion to use them on a whim. It's now widely felt that they should be used by licensed individuals for organised displays and no longer sold to the general public.

Animals are in fear when hearing them but could be contained if details were given in advance of the event. A ban is long overdue.

Yours faithfully,

M Hooper, via email

Dear Editor,

I am writing on behalf of the Rotary Club of Wellington to thank the people of Wellington and Rockwell Green, for their tremendous support during our Christmas street and town-centre collections. Thanks to your generosity, our collections raised the magnificent total of £2479 - a truly fantastic result and one that will enable us to continue to support local charities and good causes. Thank you!

We understand the disappointment for those living in the areas of the town we could not visit before Christmas. We really would love to do more, but the town has grown significantly over the past few years and our members are now all well over 70 and unable to get around quite as easily as they used to, we can only do so much. Next Christmas we hope to be able to visit those areas of town area of town we missed. The Rotary Club would also like to thank family and friends who collected with us and to the manager of Lidl Wellington who arranged for us to collect at the store on Sunday, December 21.

We would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a happy and peaceful 2026.

Best wishes,

Ken Atherton, press officer

The Rotary Club of Wellington

Dear Editor,

It is a nation's moral duty to look after its elderly generation. The minuscule state pension that they receive, proves that the state ignores this obligation. The unjust local council tax, which has been converted into a more or less, flat rate levy, increases the injustice to the pensioners.

Four decades ago in 1980, a large section of our community, Britain's 12-million pensioners, had their contributory State Pension reduced when the State Pension link with male average earnings was broken. This has never been given back.

Elderly people cannot strike to get higher state pensions, even though they all receive the lowest State Pension compared to EU levels. Pensioners have nobody to stand up for their rights, or make certain that they get media representation, which is why we are speaking up on their behalf.

Please go to this link to Give State Pension to all at 60 and increase it to equal 48hrs of Living Wage: petition.parliament.uk/pet.../755283/sponsors/new

Please go to this link to sign and share our petition for the exemption of pensioners to pay council tax: petition.parliament.uk/petitions/736599

The Pensions Credit means test only ensures that those on the lowest incomes receive full relief, yet pensioners on modest but above the threshold even by one penny, still have to pay this tax. This is an evil mean spirited poverty trap.

Yours sincerely,

Angela Templeton, Karen Burns, Ian Templeton, Denver Johnson, and Michael Thompson,

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