What's in store for West Somerset in 2017? West Somerset Council leader Cllr Anthony Trollope-Bellew discusses the year just gone and looks ahead to 2017.

I would like to start by wishing readers a happy Christmas and New Year. 

If 2016 is a barometer, we can expect a very busy 2017. 
We have seen the historic agreement on Hinkley Point C ratified by the

Government so look forward to work on site and the number of workers building up steadily. 

Key contracts will be let and opportunities for local businesses will be significant in the coming months and over the next 10 years. 

Residents will soon be able to see some of the key infrastructure like the temporary jetty getting under way early next year.

We are very conscious of the impact of the new power station on people in West Somerset, particularly those living close to the site. 

We will continue to work hard to minimise those impacts within the bounds of the planning consents and to develop local projects to benefit all residents.

West Somerset Council, as is well documented, is facing significant challenges in the year ahead – but we have weathered choppy waters before and are about to chart a new course.

As we enter 2017, we are consulting our residents on our 'in principle' proposal to create a new council with our partner, Taunton Deane. The final decision rests with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.

I hope that residents in West Somerset will get involved in the consultation – their views are important to us as we plan ahead.

The financial challenges mean that we have had to take some extremely difficult decisions – for example the issue of public conveniences.

We are doing all we can to keep these open by working with our town and parish councils. 

We are trying to be as flexible as possible in arrangements that will enable our partner councils to take on this responsibility and hope that they will keep talking to us so we can find mutually acceptable solutions.
West Somerset has much to be proud of and to celebrate.

We are lucky to live in one of the most beautiful parts of the country with outstanding countryside and coastline.

We have energetic and resourceful volunteers who help keep us safe – for example our retained firefighters, lifeboat crews and West Somerset Flood Group.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank them all – and look forward to their continued support in 2017.