Friday, January 2, 2026 portishead brunel railway restoration construction transport beeching metrowest infrastructure northsomerset

After more than 60 years of dormancy, the long-closed Portishead railway line is finally set to reopen. Originally shuttered in 1964 following recommendations from the Beeching Report, the line that connected Bristol to the … Read More

Friday, January 2, 2026 portishead brunel railway restoration beeching metrowest transport construction infrastructure bristol

Construction to reopen the Portishead railway, which has been closed for over six decades, is set to commence in early 2026. The line, originally opened in 1867 and long envisioned by the legendary engineer Isambard Kingdom … Read More

Friday, January 2, 2026 minehead somerset planning arcade councillors transparency legal development council application

Somerset Council recently found itself in an awkward position after inadvertently granting planning permission to expand Minehead’s seafront arcade, The Arkade. Located on Warren Road near the town’s heritage railway station, … Read More

Friday, January 2, 2026 greenbelt housing development northsomerset government planning sustainability affordable housingtarget transport

North Somerset Council has revealed that the government’s increased housing targets have compelled them to allocate land within the Bristol green belt for new housing developments. The council’s draft local plan proposes … Read More

Friday, January 2, 2026 greenbelt housing northsomerset development planning sustainability government affordablehousing transportation environment sport

North Somerset Council has expressed frustration, stating that the government has effectively “forced our hand” by mandating increased housing targets that compel development on protected greenbelt land. The council’s latest … Read More

Friday, January 2, 2026 healthcare nhs twerton bath gpaccess disability community deprivation healthcentre medicalservices

Wera Hobhouse, MP for Bath, has initiated a campaign advocating for the development of a new NHS health centre in Twerton, designed to operate twelve hours a day, six days a week. This centre aims to alleviate pressure on … Read More