Charlie Watts

North Somerset Council has begun a three-week trial of specialist matting at an entrance to Weston-super-Mare beach to improve access for disabled people and those with reduced mobility. Council leader Mike Bell welcomed the initiative, which follows repeated requests from wheelchair users. Feedback will be assessed before a decision is made on whether to retain the mats permanently.

A planned day trip to Steep Holm from Cardiff and Weston-super-Mare was abandoned after an unexpected wind shift and extremely high tide covered the island’s landing beach, making it unsafe for visitors to disembark. Bay Island Voyages and the island’s volunteer crew attempted to facilitate the landing, but passengers instead toured the island by boat before returning to the mainland. Organisers apologised for the disappointing outcome and encouraged visitors to rebook.

National Grid Electricity Distribution will send approved Calisen contractors to inspect electricity service termination points, or cut-outs, at homes and small businesses in Churchill, Langford and Long Ashton. The visual checks will not interrupt supplies, and defective equipment will be repaired without charge. Residents may instead submit photographs of their cut-out and meter for assessment. The visits form part of a 20-year programme covering 400,000 inspections annually across the South West, Midlands and South Wales, while also helping NGED record low-carbon technologies such as electric vehicle chargers and solar panels for future network planning.

TGJones will close its Clevedon store at The Triangle on September 26 after more than 120 years of trading in the town. The closure follows the company's nationwide restructuring plan, approved by the High Court, which could result in up to 150 store closures. The branch formerly operated as WHSmith before Modella Capital acquired and rebranded the high-street business. Local residents have expressed sadness at the loss of another traditional shop, while TGJones says it is supporting affected employees.

Weston-super-Mare Town Council and Weston-super-Mare Civic Society will join North Somerset Council in sharing the cost of restoring the damaged pond in Grove Park. The pond suffered a serious leak, while its fish were rehomed the previous year. North Somerset Council will oversee specialist contractors carrying out the work, which is intended to bring the pond back into use, preserve the park's historic character, support wildlife habitats and establish a plan for its future maintenance.

Little Adventures Nursery in Birmingham organized a seaside trip to Weston-super-Mare that attracted almost 200 children and family members, requiring four coaches instead of the single coach originally planned. Many attendees were visiting the seaside for the first time and spent the day enjoying beach activities with several generations of their families. The trip was largely funded through the Department for Education’s early years pupil premium, with nursery representatives saying it provided valuable family time and access to experiences that disadvantaged children might otherwise miss.

Matthew McGrath, 23, was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court to nine years and six months in prison after pleading guilty to causing the death of 20-year-old passenger Emily Jordan by dangerous driving. The court heard he was over the alcohol limit and travelling at about 60mph in a 25mph zone on Kewstoke Road, Weston-super-Mare, before losing control and hitting a tree. McGrath was also disqualified from driving for 12 years and six months and must pass an extended retest. The judge cited his excessive speed, alcohol impairment and disregard for the safety of others, while the defence highlighted his difficult upbringing, mental-health problems, alcohol issues and remorse.

North Somerset Council trialled multi mastic surfacing repair on Walliscote Grove Road in Weston-super-Mare to seal cracks and minor defects before they develop into potholes. The treatment uses heated material followed by bauxite grit, can be applied to concrete and bitumen without excavation, and allows roads to reopen within about five minutes. The council says it may reduce noise, dust, waste and carbon emissions by up to 90 percent. Highways officials will review the results before deciding whether to use the method more widely.

Punch Pubs & Co has acquired the Duke of Oxford pub on Oxford Street near Weston-super-Mare seafront and plans to announce a refurbishment later. The company intends to build on the work of former operators Greg and Jevan, while retaining all existing staff. Punch said the venue has strong potential to attract residents and visitors and confirmed that it operates more than 1,300 pubs across the UK as it continues pursuing further acquisitions.

First Bus has sometimes replaced the open-top vehicles on Service 1 between Weston-super-Mare and Sand Bay with standard buses because of antisocial behaviour incidents. The change affects a scenic route popular with residents and visitors, though the operator says drivers will continue working to make journeys enjoyable.

Organisers of the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta apologised to Long Ashton residents after the event attracted an estimated 300,000 visitors and caused congestion, parking problems and restricted access. Long Ashton Parish Council reported residents' complaints and requested a meeting with organisers and North Somerset Council. The fiesta team has begun a review of travel, parking, traffic management, waste and visitor behaviour, promising to reduce future disruption to a manageable level.

The UK Government has proposed giving councils greater control over high-street businesses, including requiring new vape shops to obtain planning permission and strengthening powers over betting shops and adult gaming centres. The proposals would also extend Closure Orders for premises linked to criminal activity from six to 12 months. Weston-super-Mare MP Dan Aldridge welcomed the plans, saying residents had called for fewer vape shops, more variety and action on empty units, and pledged to continue campaigning for a stronger town centre.

North Somerset Council is pausing its district-wide replacement programme for damaged and faded red recycling bags during August, but residents can exchange unusable bags for free at Drop & Swap events in Weston-super-Mare, Nailsea and Portishead. The council attributed the bags’ early deterioration to manufacturing issues and said replacements will continue through spring 2027; usable faded bags should still be used.

Alexandra House on Lonsdale Avenue in Weston-super-Mare has entered its main demolition phase after internal strip-out work. Alliance Homes expects the controlled demolition to take about 10 weeks and finish toward the end of October 2026. The vacant block, along with Hillsborough House, is being removed because both are more than 60 years old and would require substantial investment to meet modern housing standards. All residents have been rehoused. Hillsborough House is scheduled for demolition later in 2026, with plans for 36 new social-rent homes on its site and the adjacent former Bournville Infant School site. Alliance Homes has also applied to demolish Bruton House in Oldmixon.

Taco Bell has opened its first Weston-super-Mare restaurant at the former Tim Hortons site off Winterstoke Road, attracting queues and offering digital ordering facilities. A meal costing just over £25 included several menu items; the Nachos BellGrande, chicken tenders, chocolate churro bites and jalapeño dip were highlights, while the BBQ Habanero Burrito was overly sauced and the Crunchy Taco Supreme lacked cohesion. The restaurant was judged affordable, generous and different from existing local fast-food options, making it worth trying despite the mixed dish-by-dish experience.

Plans submitted by Daish’s Sandringham Hotel Limited would redevelop and refurbish Weston-super-Mare’s Sandringham Hotel with new restaurant, lounge, café and roof terrace areas, a redesigned frontage, improved guest facilities and better accessibility. The revised proposal retains more of the existing building than an earlier approved scheme because of rising costs, removes seven ground-floor bedrooms and reduces capacity from about 180 to 166 guests. North Somerset Council will decide the application.

Matthew Beaton of Weston-super-Mare was arrested by Avon and Somerset Police and charged with five theft offences. Prosecutors have also asked the court to consider an additional alleged theft and an alleged breach of a police dispersal notice. He is due to appear at North Somerset Magistrates' Court, while local police emphasized the broader effects of shop theft on businesses, prices, staff and customers.

Additional building work, security patrols and measures to secure windows, skylights and other access points have been introduced at Weston-super-Mare's vacant Grand Atlantic Hotel after repeated complaints about anti-social behaviour, trespassing and a small fire. North Somerset Council leader Mike Bell and MP Dan Aldridge have criticized the owners, Singapore-based hospitality company The Fragrance Group, for not doing enough to protect the Victorian property. The hotel has been closed since June 2025 for a planned refurbishment, but no start date has been announced.

New accessible public toilets with baby-changing facilities have opened at Grove Park in Weston-super-Mare following the demolition of the vandalised former toilet block. North Somerset Council’s improvement scheme also upgraded the park entrance with new planting, seating, resurfacing, signage and sustainable drainage, while Weston-super-Mare Town Council will operate the facilities. Council member Mark Canniford said the work restored historic views and would make the park more attractive, particularly ahead of a planned café opening by Busy Lizzies.

A man was taken to hospital with a head injury after an altercation on Meadow Street in Weston-super-Mare at around 12:15 a.m. on July 31. A man in his 20s was arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm and later released on conditional bail. Avon and Somerset Police are continuing their investigation and appealing for witnesses.

Three men, including a 17-year-old boy, and a woman have been arrested following an attack in Richmond Terrace, Avonmouth, that left a Filipino cargo-ship worker critically injured. Two other Filipino crew members suffered less serious injuries. Avon and Somerset Police are treating the incident as a suspected hate crime after an alleged use of racist language, while stating that no knife or similar weapon was involved and that there is no wider threat to public safety. The investigation is continuing through CCTV reviews and witness interviews.

Bare Grills, a smokehouse restaurant in Weston-super-Mare, apologised to customers after unexpected staff sickness left its kitchen short-handed during a Saturday dinner service. The shortage caused longer waits and service below the restaurant’s usual standards, despite management staff being called in to help. The restaurant thanked diners for their patience and understanding.

A new cafe is scheduled to open at The Stable on Wadham Street in Weston-super-Mare on August 3, operating Monday to Friday initially. The venue plans to expand into an evening cheese and wine bar from September. The opening follows the closure of the Rowan Tree Tea Room, which was run by David Lewis for nearly two decades.

Weston-super-Mare Coastguard Rescue Team responded to 25 incidents in July, its busiest July since records began and roughly one-fifth of its average annual total. Call-outs involved medical emergencies, missing people, mud rescues, people in crisis, suspected ordnance and children in the water. Working with partner emergency services across North Somerset, coastguards urged visitors during the school holidays to avoid mudflats and take care near the area’s exceptionally large tidal range.

Plans to introduce oysters to Weston-super-Mare Marine Lake have been abandoned because of concerns that the oysters would interfere with dredging and prevent local authority approval. The Weston Native Oyster Project will continue by seeking another publicly accessible site in the area, with organisers aiming to improve water quality and create wildlife habitat. The project is seeking scientific advice and public participation to identify a suitable alternative location.

Avon Fire & Rescue Service identified an operational issue with a panic exit at Cineworld Weston-super-Mare after investigating a complaint about the evacuation of a disabled 15-year-old. The teenager, who uses a powered wheelchair, was reportedly directed to a refuge room without adequate information or working communication support. Cineworld apologized and launched an urgent review covering staff training, evacuation procedures, signage, refuge-room communication and emergency protocols. The company said further training and internal inquiries would follow, while the fire service noted that the cinema had passed a 2024 fire-safety audit.

National Highways has warned motorists to expect significant congestion on the M5 and surrounding roads during the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta, taking place at Ashton Court from August 7 to 9 and expected to attract up to 100,000 visitors daily. The busiest areas are likely to include M5 junction 19 near Portishead, junction 21 near Weston-super-Mare, the A369, A370 and M32. The Clifton Suspension Bridge will close from 6pm to midnight on Friday and Saturday for the event’s night-glow displays. Drivers are advised to plan ahead, check traffic information, leave early and allow extra travel time.

North Somerset Council will carry out sand management works on Weston-super-Mare beach from August 3 to 7 to reduce sand accumulation against the seawall, lower flood risk and keep paths, slipways and access ramps safe. The work will also preserve access for emergency services, businesses and beach users. Dry, windy weather and tidal activity have shifted additional sand after 17,070 tonnes were relocated in March and June.

Taco Bell will open its first Weston-super-Mare restaurant at Weston Links, off Winterstoke Road, on August 5. The branch, operated by Campana Ltd, will open daily from 10am to 11pm, with the first 100 customers receiving T-shirts and free cinnamon twists available with purchases on opening day. The menu will include established Taco Bell items, vegetarian options, new BBQ Habanero products and Chocolate Filled Churros, while Baja Blast is also expected to reach UK restaurants this summer.

Beaconsfield Veterinary Clinic in Weston-super-Mare is seeking information about a young deceased tortoiseshell female cat found on Severn Road and brought to the surgery. The cat was not microchipped or wearing a collar and may recently have had kittens. The clinic has asked anyone who recognizes her or knows her owner to make contact.

Cineworld apologized to Shaun Rowlands after his 15-year-old son, who uses a powered wheelchair and has Duchenne muscular dystrophy and learning disabilities, was reportedly left without adequate assistance during a fire-alarm evacuation at its Weston-super-Mare cinema. The company acknowledged concerns about unclear guidance, stairwell directions, insufficient staff support and an inaccessible refuge-room intercom, and ordered an urgent review covering staff training, wheelchair evacuation procedures, signage, communication and emergency protocols. Cineworld also said it was working with the local fire service to identify further lessons.

A gas leak forced the temporary closure of Weston-super-Mare Crematorium and Cemetery, leading to the cancellation of scheduled funeral services while staff notified affected families and funeral directors. The site remains inaccessible as teams work to resolve the issue, with the crematorium issuing apologies for the disruption and pledging updates as the situation develops.

A five‑bedroom guest house near Shepton Mallet was fined £26,000 and ordered to pay additional costs after pleading guilty to four breaches of the Fire Safety Order 2005. Inspectors found multiple deficiencies, including a non‑functioning alarm system, lack of a fire risk assessment and defective fire doors, leading to prohibitions on using the premises for accommodation until repairs were made. The company has since undertaken safety training and passed a follow‑up inspection. Fire safety officials emphasised the need for proper risk assessments and compliance to protect guests and avoid prosecution.

A Weston-super-Mare shop owner, Naseh Mahmoodi, received a 12‑month community order and must complete 100 hours of unpaid work after being convicted of selling and possessing illegal tobacco and vaping products. Trading Standards officers, supported by police, seized counterfeit and non‑compliant goods valued at about £10,000 during a 2023 inspection of Grand Supermarket. The court also ordered him to pay investigation costs and a victim surcharge, and issued a forfeiture order for the seized products. North Somerset Council stated the case demonstrates its commitment to tackling illegal tobacco and vape sales and protecting public safety.