News from WIN
From the outset, Wells Independents' purpose has been to contribute far more to the local community than winning the right to serve on the City Council.
Each of us, whether as councillors or as part of our own private life, gets actively involved wherever we can be useful in as wide a variety of projects and causes as time allows.
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And, of course, that’s in addition to the projects that we ourselves initiated – notably the quarterly SOUP! grant-funding lunches and the award-winning Wells Ambassadors, who welcome all visitors to our city.
WIN - continuing
to work for you
Wells Ambassadors
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Wells Ambassadors (a WIN initiative) greet visitors to Wells and help them to find and explore the city’s many tourist attractions. If you enjoy sharing this wonderful city with others then Wells Ambassadors would love to hear from you. We are currently recruiting new Ambassadors, and would love to have you on board.
Basic training and notes on features are given and you will be initially teamed up with existing Ambassadors. For more information please call or email Ross Young on 07721 523487 or
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The Ambassadors do a great job in welcoming visitors to Wells and the feedback and thanks they get are so rewarding. Two hours a week Monday to Saturday is all the time that’s needed.
Wells Community Network
WCN was born just before lockdown in March 2020 as the Wells Coronavirus Network. Eight or nine worried, ordinary volunteers from local community groups gathered in Daniel’s Café’s back room in Queen Street to see what we could do to help. WCN grew like Topsy and after the Covid pandemic subsided we did not quit but instead changed the name to Wells Community Network, as we had identified needs which are not being met. Now WCN can
WCN announces winning the National Lottery grant
announce that we have received a grant of £243,757 over the next three years from the National Lottery’s Reaching Communities programme. This will fund the recruitment of a Manager and Administrative Assistant to strengthen our organisation, support our volunteers and expand our work in the community.
The funding is a profound vote of confidence in WCN and will:
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Make our volunteer-only structure more secure for the future with core paid staff.
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Reduce the admin burden on volunteers, give them more time to work in the community and reduce the risk of burnout.
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Strengthen governance, planning, and service delivery.
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Expand services including the Helpline, Welcome Hub, Trishaw, and Microprovider support.
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Expand the Wells Neighbourhood Watch which help reduce crime and protect residents from it.
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Maintain the free fortnightly WCN newsletter which supports community events and charities.
Expected annual beneficiaries include:
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150 more Helpline users
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200 mainly Ukrainian refugees via the Welcome Hub
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25% increase in Trishaw rides
New projects we have in mind include:
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Creating a hub to boost our support for the many, and increasing number of carers in Wells, who are isolated and often stressed.
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Adding to the supply of community transport.
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This grant has been secured by Wells volunteers for the people of Wells and we are delighted that the National Lottery has shown so much faith in our city and our wonderful volunteers.
West Mendip Hospital
The peaceful protesters at West Mendip Hospital
Wells Mayor and WIN councillor Louis Agabani joined other people from the city at a public protest outside West Mendip Hospital. They were responding to proposals by Somerset NHS Foundation Trust to “transition” 20 in-patient beds there into “pathway beds”, to get people out of acute hospitals like Musgrove Park.
Mayor Louis told BBC and ITV reporters that, when the NHS closed the Wells Cottage Hospital, patients from the city had been told they would be able to use the new West Mendip Hospital that was being planned for Glastonbury. But now it seems that some of the in-patient beds there are at risk. The St Andrew’s mental health ward in Wells has also now been closed, with patients there having to go to Yeovil.
Louis Agabani interviewed by ITV West Country
reporter Max Walsh for a news broadcast​
Litter picking
WIN councillor Deborah Orrett has set up a very effective litter picking team. There are about 60 volunteers covering the city centre, residential roads, other communal areas and the approach roads to Wells. Three times a year her crew clear our streets, and many also go out on a regular basis to cover their own patch. Wells City Council provides high-viz jackets, pickers, hoops. IDE Verde collects the rubbish from six points around the city after a litter picking weekend. There is now less litter discarded in Wells, thanks to the city’s team of volunteer pickers.
To thank them for all they do, their leader Deborah Woolven organised a social evening at the Town Hall where members agreed there had been fewer pieces of rubbish to pick up recently as people discard less if areas are rubbish-free.
The litter pickers gather in Wells Town Hall
​The social event became an interactive discussion led by one of the regular pickers, Roberto Vogel, who has worldwide experience with waste management. “We also learned interesting facts, such as clearing up litter from the UK streets costs the British taxpayer £500 million every year,” said Deborah. “We are grateful to Tesco for providing the drinks and nibbles.”
Should you be interested in joining the litter picking team please contact Deborah at deborahwoolvenorrett@gmail.com.
Wells Dementia Action Alliance
Wells Dementia Action Alliance is rolling out a revised Dementia Awareness session to businesses, and communities in Wells to keep Wells a dementia friendly city. WIN councillor Denise Denis (chair) was responsible for co-writing this updated training and has awarded certificates to several organisations including Wells City Council, The Bishops Palace and Blossom’s of Wells.
Wells Dementia Action Alliance celebrates training 1,000 Dementia Friends in March 2028 with a photocall for the media at the Bishop’s Palace
Our Environment
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WIN councillors Denise Denis and Sarah Powell have supported projects in Wells to
improve biodiversity and encourage sustainable planting and land management for a better environment. We've sponsored a flower planter at the bus station to encourageimprove biodiversity and encourage sustainable planting and land management for a better environment. We've sponsored a flower planter at the bus station to encourage pollinators.
It is hoped that this will encourage future plantings to be sustainable and bee friendly.
Another environment pilot project which both Sarah and Denise support is the wilding of an area in Tor Hill Lane which is managed by Sustainable Wells. Denise helped Sustainable Wells obtain the licence from Mendip District Council by setting up the framework for the project and ensured Wells City Council support through insurance cover and signage. Sarah and Denise helped out on the scything and raking day by turning up with rakes to clear up the grass cuttings and involved Wells City Council Open Spaces in the removal of the grass which is an important part of the wilding process as it removes the excess nitrogen which makes the soil too rich for wildflowers.
Wells City Almshouses
The Wells City Almshouses are celebrating receiving a grant of £158,490 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to restore the historic Bubwith Chapel on the Chamberlain Street side of their site.
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The project will develop and transform the chapel, making it both a visitor destination in Wells and a community space for the city. The restored chapel will provide a continuing place of worship and contemplation, and a warm space for activities to reconnect older residents and local community groups. It will also host concerts, recitals, lectures, workshops, seminars and rehearsals.
The project has already received support from Mendip Communities Fund, The Blair Foundation, Wessex Water as well as community backing through a sponsored walk by trustee Chris Vigar, and investment from Wells City Almshouses themselves.
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WIN councillor Stewart Cursley, Chairman of the board of trustees, said: “We are thrilled to have received this support thanks to National Lottery players. We have been developing plans for some time and are delighted to have the opportunity to restore the Bubwith Chapel and to ensure this building retains its original purpose as well as becoming a vital part of Wells’ community landscape and an important place for people to connect.”
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Since the 1400s the almshouses have been supporting those with housing needs in Wells. With five buildings on either side of Priest Row, the trust provides housing in the centre of the city for 33 older people with a housing need.
The earliest of the five almshouses was founded in the 15th century through a legacy from the Bishop of Bath and Wells and Treasurer to King Henry IV, Nicholas Bubwith.
Bubwith’s Almshouse is located next to St Cuthbert’s Churchyard and includes the chapel and a Guild Room which was used for city council meetings before Wells Town Hall was built.
Trustees, residents and staff of the Almshouses
Bubwith's Chapel, interior and exterior
Councillor Advice Surgeries
At a full council meeting in 2022, WIN councillor Sarah Powell proposed that Wells City Council do monthly advice surgeries at the Town Hall for any member of the public. This was adopted by the Council, with all councillors involved. Each month two councillors attend the surgeries, which take place on a Monday from 6.00 pm to 7.00 pm. There is no
need to book and any topic or problem is welcome. Councillors will do their best to give advice and help to resolve the issue.
The dates for these surgeries can be found on the Wells City Council website, by clicking on this link: Council Diary
How we've already made a
WIN-ning difference
Control of important landmarks, such as the Bishops Barn and the Recreation Ground, has been returned to Wells, and we hope others will follow.​​
The part pedestrianisation of the Market Place has given the centre of Wells a truly ‘café society’ feel, welcomed by visitors, residents and retailers alike.
The Wells Neighbourhood Plan gives local people a voice about their particular area. The plan covers housing, transport, heritage, the natural environment, retail, tourism and biodiversity.
The Portway Annexe has been purchased for the Community, to provide a centre for local learning, charities, good causes, as well as a home for the council’s Open Spaces team.
A temporary and now a permanent new Post Office facility has been set up in the centre of Wells.
In April 2016, WIN launched SOUP! The quarterly programme of fund-raising lunches has so far benefitted over 100 good causes in the Wells area. For more information, go to www.wellssoup.org.uk
What next for WIN in Wells?
Unitary Authority
Somerset Council became a Unitary Authority on 1st April 2023 when the 5 District Councils ceased to exist. Wells City Council is hopeful that assets will be transferred back to the City as Somerset reassesses all the assets it has taken on. A new role of joint working for all parish and town councils has been created through the 18 Local Community Networks
and WIN councillor Philip Welch has taken on the role of LCN Councillor Representative for Wells City Council.
Wellspring Music
Live Music in Wells is being brought back to life with the help of WIN. The Wellspring project is raising funds for performances in the
Market
Place.
Wells in Bloom
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The award-winning Wells in Bloom has been relaunched, with the centre of our city decked in colour.
