LOCAL BOOZER RAISES £470 FOR MIND IN SOMERSET

 

Choughs MIND fundraiser

In addition to being a local councillor, I am fortunate in being able to become involved in a number of local organisations, mainly charities, and often with a focus on mental health. 

In addition to being a volunteer and fundraiser for Samaritans, this last year I also became a listening volunteer for MIND in Somerset.  

I have always been a keen pub goer, and it was whilst attending a fundraising event for Chard Museum at The Choughs on Chard’s High Street, that I came across Steve Morgan. Since his arrival in the area almost two years ago and taking over at the helm of the pub, Steve has applied the discipline of his army experience to turning around the pub’s fortunes. At a time, when due to the pandemic, many hospitality businesses suffered terribly Steve now has a regular customer base, and knows the names of all of them, who describe him as a ‘top man’. 

‘I wanted to make the pub a place where women feel safe to come in on their own,’ said Steve, and speaking from experience, added, ‘In the last year I have become very aware of the increase in mental health problems suffered by young men in particular and I wanted to do something to help raise the profile of this, and the local organisations that support people with mental health issues.’ 

With the help of local Tesco manager, Raechel Shepherd, who is herself a force to be reckoned with, and popular local band Sea Trees, the event was a roaring success, and I was delighted to have been invited to witness the generosity and exuberant enjoyment of our local pub goers. 

The Choughs really is just a boozer (until Steve starts doing his famous Sunday lunches again), and not my normal spot for liquid refreshment, but mindful of the proverb, ‘different strokes for different folks’, I intend to become a regular. With local people demonstrating this level of passion for others I see a brighter future for us all.  

MRS. GRUMPY DINES OUT

I really don’t mean to be grumpy but, as a customer, I do get cross when I am not getting what I think I deserve for the money I am paying, and the environment I am in.  

I have always loved eating out and staying hotels, looking for any excuse to sleep in a bed that someone else has made (the sheer bliss of crisp, freshly laundered sheets) and a meal that someone else has cooked (no washing up!). I eat out around five times a week. I don’t need five-star luxury, and I am just as happy eating street food as sampling the delights of some of the world’s top establishments. For me, it is all about the experience. 

Working my socks off recently, on a visit to Calne, and keen to avoid a 150-mile round trip journey, I checked myself into a modest hotel; clean and decent enough, but with plenty to grumble about if I put my mind to it; the traffic noise, the absence of desk space, and somewhere to plug in a hairdryer within close proximity to a mirror.  

Putting a positive spin on my stay, I was looking forward to my dinner in the hotel’s 2 rosette restaurant. So far, so good. The menu looked interesting, was reasonably priced, and being on site, it meant that I could happily imbibe and just stagger upstairs.  

Sadly, from there on in it would seem that my high expectations were to be shattered. It was not so much the food, which was perfectly acceptable, but lacking the panache to deserve its award. It was the environment and the service. The soulless dining room, in which loud music rock music was blaring (clearly the choice of the kitchen staff), had just one other occupant, a woman, who I could hear across the room as she spent much of the time face-timing her French chef boyfriend. As for the service, the young staff were pleasant and helpful but lacking in professionalism. I was not offered any water with my meal (yes, I could have asked for some), both of the starters I ordered were delivered together (without having been asked), no additional cutlery was provided, and there was no enjoyment check during the meal, where I had been plonked in the centre of an empty dining room.  

I felt that I had become just the faceless, plump, old woman that in fact I am. 

What destroyed any serenity I might have been experiencing though was the ‘heritage tomatoes, goat’s curd, toasted hazelnuts, basil, sherry syrup’ at £6.50. Time and effort had clearly been spent on making the dish look attractive, but the hazelnuts had never seen the inside of a toaster (doesn’t one ‘roast’ them anyway?) and the tomatoes, amounting to less than one whole tomato in total, were fridge cold. Instead of enjoying my meal, which took just 45 minutes from start to finish, I beat a grouchy, hasty retreat to my room. Thank goodness I had brought the brandy with me with which to drown my sorrows. Thankfully, tomorrow is another day.  

LOOKING FORWARD, LEARNING LESSONS FROM THE PAST

There are few who would disagree that the past 18 months have been challenging for all of us, not least our local authorities. I think that in Somerset, apart from a few blips, we can hold our heads high for the way in which have handled the situation. 

Adjusting to the ‘new reality’ post-Covid, and post-Brexit, has been difficult at times and in addition to the difficulties posed by the pandemic, we have all been heavily involved in discussions and debate relating to the future of local government in Somerset.  

Resident concerns over the provision of social services, health, education, highways and planning continue to occupy much of my time; not always achieving the outcomes I would desire. Moving forward, I am optimistic that many of the reasons for high levels of dissatisfaction will be resolved. 

The decision for all five local councils to become a single unitary authority was not met with universal approval, but in my capacity as a long-standing district and county councillor within South Somerset, it is a decision I welcome wholeheartedly, if for no other reason than that in future there will be a single point of contact for all services.  

In terms of future service provision, I am optimistic that, with the leaders of all councils working well together thus far, we will see much needed improvement across the board.  

Adjusting to new ways of working have played a key a part in the way services have been delivered, and in how residents are able to communicate with their local council. Overall, this has garnered a good deal of criticism. It is elected members who have taken up the slack, playing a vital part in keeping channels of communication open at a time when levels of anxiety have been high. My monthly reports, which are distributed widely across the division, have been the cornerstone to maintaining regular contact and keeping residents informed. 

The move to a unitary authority is a once in a generation opportunity for all of us to embrace change. In order to do so, we must all be willing to engage with the process to ensure that we influence future service provision positively.   

I continue to have reservations about the relentless push towards digitalisation, and the potential impact this can have on the essential relationship between local councils and taxpayers, who after all foot the bill.  

In the coming weeks and months, I will be continuing to do my utmost to ensure that the views of ALL residents, especially those who are vulnerable or isolated, are heard, and that they have equal access to the services they need, where they need them, and when they need them. 

Whilst it is easy to criticise, it is much more productive for us all to aim to work together to seek solutions to the challenges that lay ahead, to ensure that Somerset is considered a desirable place; one that people aspire to live, work and play in.