Latest news with #Weston-super-Mare
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Council apologises for wave of missed bin collections
A councillor has apologised to residents whose bin collections have been missed due to "driver shortages". Many households in North Somerset – including those in Weston-super-Mare, Nailsea, Portishead and surrounding areas – have experienced missed collections for recycling and garden waste this summer. The BBC understands some residents have waited up to three weeks for collections. Recycling is normally collected weekly while garden waste, a paid service, is collected fortnightly. North Somerset Council's Mark Canniford told BBC Radio Bristol: "We've got to apologise. No one is happy with this scenario, my bins were late this week. Everyone's suffering with the same problem." More news stories for Somerset Listen to the latest news for Somerset Mr Canniford said it was not an exclusively "North Somerset problem". The UK is currently 20,000 to 40,000 bin lorry drivers short, he said. He said part of the problem was the high demand for time off during summer. "It's hot, people want to be on their holidays," he said. "These were pre-booked a long time ago, then we find we got a shortage. It makes it really difficult." North Somerset Council is appealing for locals to help drive its bin lorries and said anyone with a HGV licence should contact them. Mr Canniford said: "You can expect things to go back to normal. "I'm not saying we won't have these problems again in the future, simply because of the HGV issues, but we're trying to find ways and work around that." Follow BBC Somerset on Facebook and X. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. More on this story Council moves bin collections to every three weeks Residents encouraged to download recycling app Related internet links North Somerset Council
BBC News
a day ago
- General
- BBC News
North Somerset Council 'sorry' for wave of missed bin collections
A councillor has apologised to residents whose bin collections have been missed due to "driver shortages".Many households in North Somerset – including those in Weston-super-Mare, Nailsea, Portishead and surrounding areas – have experienced missed collections for recycling and garden waste this BBC understands some residents have waited up to three weeks for collections. Recycling is normally collected weekly while garden waste, a paid service, is collected Somerset Council's Mark Canniford told BBC Radio Bristol: "We've got to apologise. No one is happy with this scenario, my bins were late this week. Everyone's suffering with the same problem." Mr Canniford said it was not an exclusively "North Somerset problem". The UK is currently 20,000 to 40,000 bin lorry drivers short, he said part of the problem was the high demand for time off during summer."It's hot, people want to be on their holidays," he said. "These were pre-booked a long time ago, then we find we got a shortage. It makes it really difficult."North Somerset Council is appealing for locals to help drive its bin lorries and said anyone with a HGV licence should contact Canniford said: "You can expect things to go back to normal. "I'm not saying we won't have these problems again in the future, simply because of the HGV issues, but we're trying to find ways and work around that."
BBC News
6 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Weston-super-Mare RNLI volunteer has dedicated 60 years to saving lives at sea
A 77-year-old who has dedicated more than 60 years to saving lives at sea has said he is far from Spindler, from Weston-super-Mare, was first introduced to the RNLI at the age of 12 when he volunteered to help clean lifeboats at weekends - little did he know at the time that it would turn into a lifelong Spindler, who joined the crew aged 17 in 1965, said he no longer goes out to sea, but still gets "the tea and biscuits in" and looks after the crews and the boathouse"It's about being part of something bigger than yourself," he explained. "It all started when I was 12. A friend's dad ran pleasure boats and invited me down to help. I found out they were part of the lifeboat crew too and I never looked back," Mr Spindler stretch of coast near Weston-super-Mare is home to the second highest tidal range in the his decades of service, Mr Spindler said he had seen it at its most unforgiving in 1978 when he swam into a flooded cave at Brean Down to rescue three boys and two coastguard volunteers. "It was one of those nights you think should I really be doing this," said Mr Spindler. "But you do it, because there's a life at stake and you trust your crew completely."When you save a child, something else happens in your heart... you don't forget that." Mr Spindler now spends his time looking after the Weston lifeboat boathouse and supporting crews."I still get the tea and biscuits in," he said. He was awarded an MBE in 2016 by Prince William, but said: "It's not about medals."It's about saving lives. It's the greatest feeling in the world."I love it, I love Weston, I love the boats and I love the RNLI. We're one family wherever you go in the country, if you're lifeboat crew, you're home."Mr Spindler's dedication has been recognised by him being named as a finalist in the volunteer category of the BBC's Make a Difference Awards. You can find out more about the BBC Make a Difference Awards where you live here.
BBC News
04-08-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
D-Day veteran celebrates 100th birthday
A D-Day veteran who joined the Royal Marines - despite not being old enough or able to swim - has celebrated his 100th Butt went to Juno beach on a landing craft on D-Day after enlisting with the marines in 1943. "I went in as a boy and came out as a man. It made me," he Butt, who lives in Somerset, went on to have four children, eight grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren and two great great about what he had learned during his 100 years, Mr Butt said: "I've been happy and never had money, money doesn't help and doesn't bring happiness." Mr Butt said he remembered his time with the marines fondly and had a "wonderful time" in Tahiti."The marines taught me everything I know, my way of living. Everything has to be perfect," he kept many souvenirs from his times with the marines, including his original kit bag, crossing the line certificate and his "housewife kit", which contains the original wool and needle. He was never issued a D-Day medal because he joined up at 17 after lying about his age, but his daughter said the Royal Marines were in touch with the French government to try and get him World War Two, Mr Butt moved to Worle and worked in the quarry industry until he retired at met his wife in Weston-super-Mare and married her in 1947. They were together until she died 11 years ago. Music group, The D-Day Dollies, performed wartime favourites at Mr Butt's birthday party in Shepton Mallet on Saturday and members of the Royal Marines and his family attended."We love him so much, you can't say anything without getting emotional because he's a really big part of our lives," his granddaughter Gemma Lazarevic, who travelled from Australia to see her granddad, said."He's very kind, generous and he's just shown us so much love. We feel very privileged to be his family," she added.
BBC News
17-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'Our football club changed my family's life'
A father of three has spoken about how joining a pan-disability football team transformed the confidence of his two autistic from Weston-super-Mare told the BBC's Extra Time programme the family had initially looked for a mainstream club for their oldest son, but it was clear it was not suitable. However, from the first session at Weston Ability FC, Simon said his son was like a "whole different person", joining in and talking to new people. Within a year he became captain of the under 16s. Simon said: "He thinks he's Messi or Ronaldo. It's fantastic how something like that can change for someone who was sitting indoors and happy to stay indoors." Before finding football, Simon said his sons were extremely shy and wouldn't do anything without their parents. They also struggled more with crowds or big groups. They tried a mainstream football club for their eldest, but Simon said the combination of lots of verbal instructions and meeting new people was too much."The pace was so fast compared to what he'd ever done before.... they would say what to do but then there was no visual representation," he said. Previously the boys wouldn't have been interested in an activity outside of the house with anyone other than family members."They don't do gaming at all... drawing, watching a film or playing board games, or just being silly. But not anything to do with outside," Simon Weston Ability FC, it was a completely different experience: "You're coming in to a place that's safe and you can be your authentic self. You can run around with a ball in your hand for half an hour if you want."It is a pan-disability team that is open to players with a range of needs, including mental health conditions, ADHD, Tourette's and cerebral palsy. Simon said: "I think it's fantastic because there's no all together and we're all trying to understand each other... learning how we talk, communicate, pass - all the simplest things.""They're having fun, and that's the main thing, that's what Weston Ability try to provide. As long as you see the smiles on the faces, that's a good day," he added. For Simon's family, the impact of being part of the club extends well beyond the pitch."The confidence, positivity, is massive. The schools have noticed it."Before joining the club, Simon said his sons often found it a real struggle to leave the house to go to school, but that's all changed: "They're both looking forward to going in, talking about football or about their favourite clubs."It's making their school work easier too: "You could say 'let's write a paragraph' for the English lesson, and guess what? We're going to write about football", Simon said. "Having this has just made that easier in a whole aspect of learning." 'A new lease of life' Simon is now a coach for the under 16s and the under would love to see more pan-disability-specific coaching qualifications available, and said he and the club share the goal of pushing that forward. "It's being noticed, but nowhere near enough."In future, Simon would love to make pan-disability coaching his full-time job. He currently works in a warehouse. Being part of the club has also benefitted his own mental health. "Being able to help other players feel how my boys felt, and feel now... it's given me a new lease of life," he said. Simon said the club has given him great support in his coaching: "They have really backed me and been there for me.""I want to say thank you to all the parents and the players for being themselves. They are amazing and I'm privileged to know them.""Weston Ability FC, without them, the family wouldn't be where we are now, definitely."The FA said coach development is a key pillar of its latest strategy for disability football in England. It's recently carried out research to improve the learning experience for disability and para pathway coaches. The FA also offers various training resources and workshops on disability and inclusion.
