Will 2026 See the Return of the County of Avon? Sunday, January 11, 2026 avon devolution localgovernment westofengland northsomerset combinedauthority bristol unitary mayoral politics The West of England may be facing a revival of the long-defunct County of Avon, a county dissolved nearly three decades ago amid widespread unpopularity. Created in 1974 and abolished in 1996, Avon was a county centered on … Read More
Will 2026 Mark the Return of the County of Avon? Sunday, January 11, 2026 avon devolution localgovernment westofengland combinedauthority northsomerset unitaryauthority bristol mayoralelection regionalpolitics The West of England is once again facing a familiar debate—the possible revival of the County of Avon, a regional authority created in 1974 and abolished just 22 years later due to unpopularity and local opposition. Avon was … Read More
North Somerset Could Be Governed by Mayor It Did Not Elect Thursday, December 11, 2025 northsomerset weca westofengland mayor combinedauthority localgovernment elections helengodwin governance consultation North Somerset faces the possibility of being governed by the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) mayor it did not vote for, as the council moves towards joining WECA. Although North Somerset initially declined to join … Read More
Transformative Masterplan to Revitalize Somerset’s Midsomer Norton Town Centre Monday, October 6, 2025 midsomernorton masterplan regeneration heritage housing publicconsultation sustainabledevelopment urbanrenewal community westofengland Residents, businesses, and visitors of Midsomer Norton are invited to contribute their views on an exciting new vision to rejuvenate the town centre. Bath & North East Somerset Council and Midsomer Norton Town Council … Read More
New Leadership Poised to Elevate Tourism in the West of England Saturday, October 4, 2025 tourism economy westofengland visitwest leadership sustainability events bristol bath regeneration Andrew Billingham, chief executive of YTL Arena Bristol, has been appointed chair of Visit West, the Local Visitor Economy Partnership (LVEP) dedicated to promoting tourism in the West of England. This appointment marks a … Read More
Bath’s E-Scooter and E-Bike Scheme Goes 24/7, Ending the Midnight Curfew Monday, September 29, 2025 escooter ebike dotsystem westofengland transportation nightsafety metro mayor bathscooters sustainable micromobility sport The West of England’s popular e-scooter and e-bike hire scheme is launching a 24-hour service, lifting the previous midnight closure that limited availability overnight in Bristol, Bath, and South Gloucestershire. Since its … Read More