I HOPE you all had a wonderful Christmas and aren’t too confused by what day of the week it is.

It was heart-warming to see so many people at the Mayor’s Carols around the Bandstand earlier this month where over £900 was raised for the Mayor’s charity, CHARIS Refugees.

This free event, hosted by Taunton Town Council, was an uplifting occasion to stop and allow ourselves to get into the festive spirit and come together at what is a busy and frantic time for many of us.

Reverend Tobie Osmond, who compèred the event brilliantly, reminded us all of how welcoming our community has been and continues to be for those who need our support - a message amplified by the wonderful Ukrainian choir who kicked off the carols with one of their traditional songs.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this important event a success.

This month has also seen an amazing performance of The Christmas Carol at The Brewhouse.

The production, with a Somerset twist, was a joy to watch and it’s brilliant to have read so many positive reviews from people across Taunton and further afield.

As we look to 2024, at the town council we are preparing ourselves for our first full calendar year of existence.

We know that there are lots of things you want us to achieve for the benefit of the town.

Whether that be sorting out our public toilets, improving our parks and play equipment, or providing grant funding to local organisations and much more, we are building a budget that ensures we can deliver on the things that you care about most.

I believe that next year can be a truly amazing year for our town with lots to look forward to and I know the town council team are committed to making that happen.

I wish you all a very happy, healthy, and prosperous 2024.

Written by Cllr Tom Deakin, Leader, Taunton Town Council