On Saturday, October 18, the Five Arches Park Run in Radstock celebrated its 100th event. It takes place each week from the Tom Huyton play park.

Over the past two years it’s been a huge success for the town with both runners and walkers from far afield taking part. Dr Julia Hawkins at Hope House was instrumental in getting the event started and an average of 160 participants turn up each week to either run, jog or walk the 5k route.

It’s not a race as such and you can do whatever you’re comfortable with. It’s free to enter and registration details can be found on the Five Arches Parkrun website and facebook page. Each week it takes 19 volunteers to stage the event so if you’re not up for running there are always volunteering opportunities available each week.

Let’s continue having Park Runs in Radstock for the benefit of everyone. Future ongoing support and participation is vital for its continued success.

Dave Plummer

Park Runner and volunteer

Dear Editor,

I refer to the recent letter by Cllr Eleanor Jackson on her mental health following council meetings as a consequence of a current "stressful time for planning".

I would wish to point out, however, that I can personally verify that the consequences of one planning decision that received wholehearted support from the said committee against local opposition, has affected the mental health of 10 households over a period of two years, not to mention burning holes in pockets, mainly that of pensioners, from legal fees, signage and surveyor costs in a vain attempt to protect access rights to homes.

The most memorable reason in favour of the corporate application that astounded me the most was a declaration from a member that the site looked sufficient enough through the window of the bus the member was travelling in. Sensible suggestions from a few proposing a site visit to check the community's concerns was overuled by the many and deemed unnecessary.

Consequently, I am filled with complete and utter dread at what is to come as a consequence of the devastating planning reforms proposed from this Labour government that will threaten our democracy further, and brick by brick will wreck the countryside and wild animal habitats on a much larger scale pandering further to the interests of private developers.

Yours sincerely,

Delyth Morris

Peasedown St John

It was madness to chase Reform UK voters by shifting right. The Conservatives tried that - and destroyed themselves. You’re repeating their mistake. Reform has surged while Labour and the Tories sink.

You talk endlessly about “growing the economy”, but growth means nothing if most of the gains go to billionaires and the top one per cent. Their wealth has exploded, especially since COVID, while ordinary families are crushed by soaring costs for basics like housing, food, energy, water and council tax. Yes, you’ve raised the minimum wage, but most people are still worse off.

You’ve refused to touch taxation of the ultra rich’s wealth, apart from ending non-dom status. Meanwhile, you’ve kept the Tory freeze on tax allowances (fiscal drag) - a stealth tax on workers that automatically drags more people into higher tax bands while the super-rich glide by untouched.

As economist Richard Murphy’s Taxing Wealth Report 2024 shows, simple reforms - eg taxing capital gains like income; applying a National Insurance like tax to investment income; restricting tax relief on pensions to basic rate; charging VAT on financial services; and many more - could rebalance the system overnight. Instead, middle earners shoulder most of the burden while the richest normally pay less than 20 per cent.

Oxfam and the Resolution Foundation both warn that inequality is deepening and living standards are still stagnating and even worsening. If Labour fails to deliver real gains for ordinary people, don’t be surprised if voters head to the Greens or Reform (God forbid!) in 2029.

Tax Wealth - millionaires and billionaires! Who else has any significant money left!

Dilys Morgan , via email

Dear Editor,

Peter Weaver, making one of many return visits to our club, was his usual cheery self when judging our October Open Print Competition. Known for his own expertise in photographing local events and people, Peter appreciated the efforts of those whose entries mirrored his own interests, but these did not always make the final cut in either colour or monochrome, and the eventual honours were shared across a range of genres.

Diana Walker was the most successful entrant in the Colour section with Highly Commended for her portrait of a “Harvest Mouse”, her 3rd place with the quality image of “Porcelain Fungi”, and in winning the section with “Punching Mum’s Nose”, an image that cleverly depicted a decisive moment between a tiger and her cub. Two of Diana’s three entries in the Mono section were also held back, both portraits of animals. She was Commended for her up close and personal “Malaysian Tiger” and Highly Commended for her “Red Deer Stag” in the rut.

David Bathard was almost as successful, with two of his three entries in each category placed. In the Colour section he was Commended for both his “Impression of Pulteney Weir” and “Pier Runner”, whilst in the mono section he was placed second with his image of “St Peter’s, Stourhead” a masterpiece in tone and detail, and won the section with a stunning portrait, taken abroad , entitled “After Work Smoke”.

Other successes in the Colour section were Pamela Bruce – Lockhart’s Commended for “Blue Hour”- it’s good to see her creativity being rewarded at last! Jane Richardson and Tony Nineham were Highly Commended for the simple but colourful “Barrel Wave” and “Four Spotted Chaser” respectively. With first and third places going to Diana Walker it was Graham Nicholls’ still life “Autumn Elegance” that split them and took second place. In the Mono section Tony Nineham was again Commended for his steam engine “Arriving at Corfe Castle”, as was Pamela’s unique approach for her ICM effort “Keeping Dry”. Pamela was again rewarded in this section with a Highly Commended for a well deserved “Alone in Bristol”. Jill Toman was Highly Commended for her “Whispers of the Old Ways” and her “Workshop Window” was placed third in this section behind David’s two winning entries.

The rest of us took on board the ever-helpful feedback and advice that Peter is renowned for, and that motivates us to keep trying! We look forward to an evening led by Pamela Bruce Lockhart next- one that will almost certainly feature a lot of black and white!

Jenny Short

Chair of Norton Radstock Photographic Society