October 2008
Watchet Town Council
Council Chambers
Swain Street
Watchet
Somerset TA23 0AB
Tel/Fax: 01984 633344
Email:
Website:
OFFICE HOURS:
Monday – Thursday 10:00am – 12:30pm
COUNCIL STAFF
Town Clerk: Sarah Reed
Clerical Officer: Sue Upstone
Groundsman: Niall Watson
Groundsman(p/t): John Eslick
YOUR COUNCILLORS
ChairmanCllr David Banks
Vice-ChairmanCllr Paul Chamberlain
Cllr Hazel BowdenCllr Wendy Turner
CllrSally de Renzy-MartinCllr Doug Webber
Cllr Jenny Hill*Cllr David Westcott *
Cllr Peter Murphy Cllr Loretta Whetlor
CllrAnn SnellingCllr Vincent Woods
Councillor’s contact details are available from the office
* also West Somerset Council District Councillors
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MEETINGS
Watchet Town Council meetings take place 11 times a year on the second Monday of each month at 7.00pm (except August).
There are 3 Committees comprising the chair and vice-chair (ex officio) and five councillors, which duties include:
Environment & Planning Committee
Manage the West Street Car Park, highway matters and street lighting. This committee makes observations to West Somerset Council on all planning applications relating to Watchet
Finance & General Purposes Committee
All financial matters, staffing, cemetery administration and maintenance, grant/donation applications
Tourism & Leisure Committee
This Committee spearheads projects in the town, the three gateway floral displays, the3 amenity areas including the Memorial Ground plus signage, hedging etc. Approval of bookings by local organisations for the Esplanade.
Committees meet either on a Monday or Thursday evening once a month. A full schedule of meetings is available from the Council Office or can be downloaded from the Watchet Town Councilwebsite
REPRESENTATIVE COUNCILLORS
ON OUTSIDE BODIES
Watchet Youth Centre
Cllr H Bowden, Cllr Snelling
Memorial Ground Committee Cllr Westcott
MuseumCommittee Cllr Banks, Cllr Webber
Watchet Twinning Cllr H Bowden
Watchet Regeneration Partnership
Cllr de Renzy-Martin,Cllr Turner, Cllr Webber
WACET Cllr de Renzy-Martin
Friends of the Flatner Cllr Murphy
Friends of Watchet Station Cllr Turner
St Decuman’s Charity(4 year post 2007–2011)Cllr Hill
Harbour Advisory Committee Cllr Webber
Area Panel Cllr de Renzy-Martin, Cllr Banks
Watersports Steering Group
Cllr de Renzy-Martin, Cllr Westcott
Tourist Office & Carnival Committee
Chairman of Tourism & Leisure
West Somerset Mineral RailwayCllr Murphy
Interview CllrChamberlain, Cllr Snelling, Cllr Woods
West Somerset Advice Bureau Cllr Westcott
Minehead EYE Forum Cllr de Renzy-Martin
Watchet Forum Chair & Vice-Chair of WTC
SALC Cllr Snelling, Cllr Woods
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Public Car Parks in the Town
Market Street Car Park
Swain Street Car Park
Harbour Road Car Park
Anchor Street Car Park
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Parking in Watchet
If you would like a secure parking place why not rent a space in West Street Car Park. Rental charges are currently £143.00 per annum* which includes a £10 refundable deposit for the swipe card.
Please speak to the Clerk for more details.
* Charges reviewed annually
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Brickbats and Bouquets
Are we are doing it right – tell us!!
Are we are doing it wrong – tell us!
If we don’t know we cannot deal with it
Telephone:01984 633344
Email:
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Statutory Responsibilities of the Town Council
The followingprojects are additional to the council’s daily role of representing the local interests of the town and providing local services.
Further duties include:
- Maintaining and administration of the NewCemetery and maintaining the closed churchyard
- Maintaining & administering rental spaces of West Street Car Park, and letting of 5 allotments
- Responsible for the 3 recreation groundswith designated children’s play areas in the town
- Municipal planting of flowers which includes planting at three gateways to the town
- Responsible for the maintenance costs of 44 street lights throughout the town *
- Managers of the Esplanade including responsibility for bookings by local organisations
- Constant liaison with local authorities ensures the needs of the town are met
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* Street Lighting
SomersetCounty Council - Highways Division is responsible for many of our street lights. If you are aware of a problem please phone 0845 601 0939 with the following information:
- Location – street/road name and house number closest to the column.
- Unit number/letter –shown at the base of the column, usually white rectangular stencil.
- Problem –ie daytime lighting, not working, damage etc.
Watchet Town Councilthrough the Environment & Planning Committeeis responsible for the repair and maintenance of 44 lights. If you have a query as to responsibility, please telephone the office on 01984 633344
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Noticeboard locations in the Town
- Outside the Council Chambers Swain Street
- Opposite “The Fish Plate” in Market Street
- At the entrance to Swain Street Car Park
- Tourist Office wall on the Esplanade
- Large Triangular Noticeboard on the Esplanade
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Footpaths
Watchet Town Council office holds the reference numbers of all the footpaths in and around the town. If you have to report a problem with a footpath, please contact the office and we will pass the report off to the relevant authority. Cllr Peter Murphy is the Watchet Town Council nominated Parish Path Liaison Officer.
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Tourist Information
During the winter months a reduced selection of leaflets are available from the Watchet Town Council Office - Mon – Thurs 10.00am – 12.30pm
Email:
Telephone:01984 632101
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WATCHET INFORMATION
Refuse & Recycling
If your weekly collection day is a Thursday, please ensure that your refuse bags are put out in good time for the early collections.
Recycling is collected fortnightly (09 & 23 October, 06 & 20 November, 04 & 18 December).
For further advice please contact West Somerset Council 01643 703704.
email ; or visit for more information.
Market Street Car Park in Watchet also has collecting units for paper, cardboard, bottles, clothing, shoes and wax cartons. Please ensure you place articles into containers.
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Watchet Local Produce Markets
The last Watchet Local Produce Market for this season took place on the Esplanade on Wednesday 8 October 2008 in bright sunshine! The Watchet Town Council will be reviewing the success of these markets with a view to enhance them next season. Date of the first market next year is Wednesday 8 April 2009 10.00am – 4.00pm. Anyone wishing to set up a stall can contact the Clerk for an information pack.
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Old Mineral Line Project
The Heritage Lottery Fund has funded a project to restore and improve access to the Old Mineral Line which ran from the BrendonHills to Watchet. Iron ore was loaded onto ships on Watchet’s West Pier and transported to Ebbw Vale steel works in Wales. In Watchet, the project is providing money to improve the displays in the MarketHouseMuseum and alsoshow where the line ran on the West Pier and to provide an interpretation panel explaining the history.
To find out more, please contact the Heritage Education Officer on 07966 515589 or e-mail
.
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“Looking after YOUR money”
The Finance and General Purposes Committee is tracking how your Council Tax is being spent by the Town Council. We only have one serious source of income: YOU, so it is good to report that spending is within budget and good value is being delivered. Your help to the Carnival and Kids Festival made these events a great success this year and the improvements to the Henry Davey Field have been well received by our youngsters. Thank you.
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Some dates for your diary
Saturday 13 December 2008 - WACET “Caturns Night”
Friday 19 December 2008 - Watchet Christmas Market
from 11.00am – 8.00pm with music and entertainment
Visit for information about “What’s On” in Watchet or
a new website developed from the the MCTi WASP –Watchet Action Strategic Planning group
ELECTORAL REGISTRATION FORM
IF YOU WANT A VOICE IN THE COMMUNITY PLEASE RETURN YOUR FORM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO VOTE WITHOUT REGISTERING.
Next Edition due January 2009