Chair post

CHAIRMAN’S COLUMN 31st May 2018

June is going to be a very active month in Shepton. We have Collett Festival, the next Sunday Market and even the Charles Chipperfield Circus in the park.  But before all that, the Friends of Shepton Mallet Library have arranged a “Love Your Library Day” on Sunday 3rd June starting at 10am

The campaign to keep our library in the High Street has been very active since Somerset County Council launched a consultation to get the public’s views on its plans to move the  library from the town centre into Mendip District Council’s SHAPE complex. Steve Barlow and Sarah Thomas have worked extremely hard over the past months to raise awareness and organise events to keep our library in the centre of our community.

To make sure everyone understands all the benefits of having this town centre facility, the Friends of the Library have organised a full day of activities for young and old alike.  It will all take place in Shepton Library, starting with a mass public demonstration at 10am. Many authors will be at the event and it is a very important opportunity to show your support for keeping this vital community service right in the heart of Shepton.  Please come and show your support!

Remember that the County’s consultation on the future of the library ends on 13th June. There’s still time to tell them what you think of taking the library away from the town centre.

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Garfield Kennedy and his team of volunteers are extremely busy making the final preparations for Collett Festival. This year it will be held over the weekend of 9th-10th of June. Collett Festival 2018 features the traditional Collett Day Fair followed by an evening music concert that goes “One Step Beyond” with the world’s leading Madness tribute act, Los Palmas 6.  It’s going to be a “House of Fun” and a great evening.  Advance tickets can be purchased at CollettFestival.co.uk or in person from the Tourist Information Centre.  Don’t miss out!

On the following day (Sunday 10th), we have the third Children’s Festival, where Collett Park will be filled with bouncy castles, amazing games, and again back by popular request, the Bubble Man - and it’s all free!

There is still time to book a stall or to volunteer to help us stage Shepton’s showcase event. Look out for the Festival Programme and Guide that will be dropping through Shepton letterboxes in the next few days.  It’s going to be another brilliant weekend, so come and enjoy the whole show.

I hope to see as many people as possible this Sunday at 10am at the library, and during the following weekend in Collett Park.

Chris Inchley, Chairman, Shepton Mallet Town Council