News in Cheddar

PCC Mark Shelford and Avon and Somerset Police are warning local people to take extra care when shopping online in the run up to Christmas.

According to Action Fraud, over 28,000 people across the country reported falling victim to online shopping fraud with losses totalling £15.4million. Of this number, 4,489 people reported being conned out of their money during the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales.

Businesses, individuals and charities have just two weeks left to enter the Somerset Business Awards 2022 – and with 14 categories there is something for firms of all sizes across all sectors.

The deadline for entries is Friday, December 3, with all entries needing to be submitted via the Somerset Business Awards website www.somersetbusinessawards.org.uk.

Ten new native coppice trees have been planted by Thatchers Cider as part of the Queen's Green Canopy campaign to mark Her Majesty's Platinum Jubilee.

Martin Thatcher and his daughter Eleanor Thatcher planted the trees, which are accompanied by a commemorative plaque, alongside the popular Strawberry Line and adjacent to the family run cider mill at Myrtle Farm in Sandford.

Work has started on the creation of a new pump track in Cheddar.

The quarrying company who posted that they were happy to help with donating the hard core needed to start the work

Cheddar Indoor Play centre, Ocean Adventurers, are celebrating this week after hearing that they are finalists in both the "New Tourism Business Award" and also the "Resilience and Innovation Award" categories at the highly acclaimed and sought after 2022 Bristol, Bath & Somerset Tourism Awards.

Director Tom Filer said: "We are so delighted to be finalists in two award categories and to be the first indoor play site to have ever reached the finals. Being shortlisted as a finalist is a testament to the hard work of our teams and the amazing support that our customers have shown over what has been a difficult two years since the pandemic began."

Nearly a dozen new holiday cabins will be built close to the M5 – despite concerns that the noise will be too loud to make them appealing.

The Rookery Manor complex lies just north of the Sedgemoor services between junctions 22 (Highbridge) and 21 (Weston-super-Mare).

Nearly 100 new homes will be built on the edge of the Mendip Hills after plans were approved by councillors.

Sedgemoor District Council voted in July 2018 to grant Waddeton Park Ltd. outline permission to build 96 homes on the Round Oak Farm site east of the A371 Upper New Road in Cheddar.

Staff at Mark-based Somerlap are celebrating, after finding out that they have been shortlisted in not one but two categories at the Somerset Business Awards.

The forest products company, which will celebrate its 40th anniversary soon and remains family-run, has been shortlisted in the categories of 'Environmental Achievement' (sponsored by Gravity) and the 'Somerset Manufacturer and Producer Award' (sponsored by Garador). Staff will find out if they have reached the finals in January, with the Awards ceremony being held at the Winter Gardens Pavilion in Weston-super-Mare on March 11.

Thatchers Cider is on the look-out for people who would like a fulfilling apprenticeship in the food and drink industry with the family-run Somerset cider maker.

An Early Careers Apprenticeship Open Day is being held on Saturday 29th January 2022 at the cider maker's mill at Myrtle Farm in Sandford, with registration now open for those interested in attending.

Strode College are offering free online or classroom based functional skills courses in Maths or English starting in February 2022.

Functional Skills are national qualifications focussing on the skills and knowledge required to apply English and Mathematics to employment and everyday life. Offered at Entry Level, Level 1 and Level 2 (GCSE equivalent), Functional Skills at Strode provide adult learners with the opportunity to work at their own pace and ability in a relaxed and friendly, supportive environment on campus or online.