A Cheddar and Shipham district councillor has called for the government's retail recovery money to be used to help reduce the usage of cars.

Sedgemoor district councillor for Cheddar and Shipham, Lisa Methley, has said that the government funds could benefit businesses in the area in a number of ways to improve the experience of shopping there.

Last week, the government announced it would be giving Sedgemoor District Council nearly £110,000 to help it revitalise the area's retail businesses in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

Lisa told Cheddar Nub News: "I look forward to hearing from Sedgemoor on how the new funding will be allocated, and any associated changes to regulations.

"Many parts of Cheddar would benefit from one way pedestrian and bike routes or parts of roads being used to provide safe passing spaces, supporting social distancing and reduced usage of cars.

"I am encouraging Cheddar Chamber and local businesses to agree a plan of action to relaunch a safe, vibrant business community."

The Liberal Democrat councillor is full of praise for how Cheddar has coped with the lockdown and particularly the Corona and the Cheddar Valley - Let's Help Each Other support group on Facebook.

She said: "So far, the team of 18 or so call handlers have handled well over 400 requests - and considering each request takes a call handler, a volunteer, another call handler to take payment, and someone from the Cheddar Chamber to then pay back the volunteer, that's well over 1,600 acts of kindness.

"All of this is possible through the foresight and experience of a core committee made up of the founders, myself as chief note taker, and four key individuals who together have grown and trained the team of call handlers for both phone lines.

"Various people in the committee have worked alongside the village agent, the Cheddar Patient Group, Axbridge Surgery, the pharmacies, the food bank and Cheddar Valley Hands of Change to provide a joined up response to special cases.

"There are too many wonderful people to name, and plenty of good news stories from tins of soup to meals for the NHS. Honestly, I am so proud of this community."