FROMKnoll YOUR LOCAL COUNCILLORS News Bob Filmer and Andrew Gilling Editor: Bob Filmer December 2014 : Issue 15 KEEPING TAXES LOCAL TEAM CHOSEN DOWN Your current District Councillors Bob Filmer and Andrew Gilling have During the last four years the Country has been chosen to contest the Knoll ward, at the District Council elections had to deal with the fall out of the Global on Thursday 7th May 2015. Crash and the huge National Budget Deficit. Local Government has been at the forefront in Andrew Gilling said “I am delighted to bearing the cuts made by Government through have been reselected to stand alongside my its Austerity programme. Local Councils have colleague and good friend Cllr Bob Filmer for the seen their funding from Central Government cut Conservative Party, in Knoll ward.” by over 40%. Some have cut frontline services that directly impact the public. has reduced the number of Bob Filmer said “I am extremely pleased staff from 401 to 356 and has made efficiency to have been reselected to contest the Knoll savings wherever possible to minimise the ward and to be given the chance to continue to impact of these cuts on our local residents. represent the electors of this area, to make their At the same time we have controlled voices heard at Sedgemoor.” spending, allowing Sedgemoor to still set the lowest Council tax in “We have both enjoyed working with local and amongst the lowest in the Country, residents from across the Knoll Ward and with the whilst maintain a good quality and range local Parish Councils to help address a wide range of services. It’s also worth noting that of of issues over the last four years. We hope to be Sedgemoor’s 9.4 pence in every pound, 2.1 given the opportunity to use the experience that pence goes to the Internal Drainage boards to help maintain the network of flood defences we can bring, to continue to serve the residents of and rhynes. Knoll ward after May.” SEDGEMOOR’S STILL GETTING GREENER

Four years ago the recycling rate in Sedgemoor was approximately 26%. It is now 44%. This has been achieved by giving local residents more NEW YEAR opportunities to recycle more waste. SOCIAL Sedgemoor works in partnership with Knoll Conservatives will be holding their New other local councils, in the Somerset Year Social on: Saturday 10th January 2015, 7.30pm at Wascelyn, 48, Brent Street, Brent Waste Partnership, saving costs. Knoll. Tickets are £6 including Finger Buffet & Trials are currently taking place Refreshments. that may allow us to further increase This event is always very popular and is open to all. It’s a great opportunity to chat informally the range of items able to be with your Local Conservative Team including recycled, helping the planet and James Heappey the Conservative Prospective reducing waste. MP for our area. To book, contact Bob on 01278 760 760 or [email protected]

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CONTACT YOUR LOCAL CONSERVATIVES RENEWABLE ENERGY James Heappey Prospective MP Knoll ward has seen many in Brent Knoll. Sedgemoor has 01749 343 255 proposed Renewable energy refused those where the impacts projects in the last four years. of the development would have John Denbee The local Development Committee, outweighed the benefits and have County Councillor chaired by Cllr Bob Filmer, has made sure that those that have 01934 712 304 been at the forefront of many been granted have done what they of the decisions on these, often can to mitigate any impacts they Bob Filmer controversial, applications. may have. District Councillor 01278 760 760 Cllr Filmer said “We have had “Sedgemoor has defended many applications for renewable robustly any appeals and are Andrew Gilling power generation, large scale wind currently awaiting the result of District Councillor farms in Burnham Without, East & the latest appeal (due in March 01934 750 580 West and Rooksbridge, 2015) from the High Court. We will small scale wind turbines in Brent continue to work with local residents Knoll, Solar Parks in , to stand up and resist inappropriate Rooksbridge, Burnham Without developments that would damage BUILDING A and Brent Knoll and a Bio-digester our local area.” PROSPEROUS FUTURE During the last four years, Sedgemoor has been working to make further afield. Successful schemes have new investment at Isleport, it is now sure our area is well placed to benefit been built in East Huntspill, Sedgemoor’s single largest employment when the economic upturn came. We and Rooksbridge and similar projects site. Four years ago Sedgemoor had an have been able to deliver new homes are being discussed in Brent Knoll, unemployment rate of 2.8%, amongst and new employment opportunities by and Burnham Without. With the worst in the South West it is now working with investors from the area the help and support of local Parish 1.7%, approaching full employment. and by bringing in new companies Council and landowners, we are helping Sedgemoor has seen the creation of from further afield. to make our local communities more over 2,500 new jobs since 2011! young people Sedgemoor has seen approximately sustainable by allowing And all this BEFORE any decision to stay in their villages 600 houses built each year and over . But new has been made on Hinkley Point 1,000 Affordable homes built in the homes are no good without new jobs. Nuclear Power Station. Sedgemoor has last four years. These include houses Despite the slow emergence from the been working at the highest levels of for rent and shared equity, allowing recession, Sedgemoor has attracted Government to ensure that, what will be local people to be able to afford to new investments into our District - the largest construction site in Europe be able to afford where they have over £300 million the last three years will have a lasting positive benefit for grown up. Under the stewardship of alone - seeing the arrival of major the area. We have secured a massive Andrew Gilling, Portfolio Holder for employers from the private sector. A Community Benefit package to help Affordable Housing, many schemes new Community Hospital and regional offset the inevitable issues that will crop have come forward with the support Police HQ at Bridgwater have seen public up during such a major development of our Parish and Town Councils. sector jobs move into Sedgemoor. The and have been working with Government Often local young families have had new Innovation Centre at Bridgwater and EDF to ensure we cope with the over to leave their “homes” to find housing and Enterprise Centre at Highbridge 10,000 workers that will be engaged at they could afford in Bridgwater or will help attract further new jobs, with the height of the build.