Weston Independent News has learned that the former M&S has been purchased by a development company and that advertisements for renting the space were not authorised. ABL Group who have purchased the store are a property investment group which specialises in conversions of unused commercial/office space and have successfully carried our multiple projects. They have a small portfolio which is forever growing and have around 15 companies that operate under the ABL Group. In a

Weston-super-Mare’s MP, Dan Aldridge, has secured a further £19 million in Growth Mission funding to complete the restoration of the town’s iconic Birnbeck Pier, following months of lobbying Government to close a critical funding gap. With the first phases of restoration already progressing at pace – including essential repairs to the island sea wall and stabilisationworks on the boathouse, clock tower pavilion and landside cliff face, completed in 2024 – a significant shortf

The former M&S store on Weston-super-Mare High St, is linked with the same people behind a pop-up market that was operating out of a former department store in Cheltenham which wracked up over £800,000 of unpaid bills. Some social media pages have seen vague adverts by an anonymous person advertising small spaces to rent within the premises. It is unclear at this time if the store has been purchased or leased by the new management from Marks & Spencer who own the site. An adv

Avon & Somerset Police will be hosting free online sessions led by a Child Exploitation Prevention Officer. The events which will be taking place on the 18th & 30th March are information sessions for parents and carers to learn about the different forms of child exploitation and how offenders groom/exploit children both online and offline. The sessions will be led by Avon & Somerset Police’s Child Exploitation Prevention Officer, Andri Nicolaou, and they will help participant

The M5 is closed in both directions between junctions 18 (Avonmouth) and 19 (Portbury) due to a welfare-related incident. Emergency services are at the scene, however there is significant congestion in the area. Motorists are advised to give extra time for their journey and seek alternative routes.

Weston-super-Mare is set for a weekend of boots, guitars and country spirit as Dakota Saloon presents Country Rock, a two-day live music event taking place on Easter weekend, Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th April 2026, on the Beach Lawns of Weston-super-Mare.   The event will bring together some of the region’s talented country and country-rock performers for a lively weekend of music, dancing and community spirit, while also raising awareness and support for Weston-super-Mare Se

A poll conducted by Weston Independent News with over 1000 responses has found that 78% of respondents when asked the question; “Do you approve of North Somerset’s Council decision to introduce a booking system at Weston Recycling Centre”, with a “No”. A total of 1073 people responded to the poll with 186 votes (18%) answering “Yes”, 836 votes (78%) answered “No” and 51 votes (4%) were undecided. The changes to the way residents can attend the recycling centre in Weston-super

Cannabis pipes have been spotted on sale next to sweets at the Milton Supermarket which is under news management and is currently being revamped. The items were spotted by a local resident next to sweets in the store The item, a small metal pipe with packaging depicting marijuana leaves was spotted in front of the tills above sweets this week. The shop is Milton is currently being revamped by a new owner (Photo: Weston Independent News) The pipe can be used for ordinary toba

Builders merchant Jewson is inviting builders and tradespeople from Weston-super-Mare to come and celebrate the official relaunch of its local branch, following a major refurbishment. From 7:30am on Friday 20th March, the branch at Winterstoke Road will host live entertainment from local band Lipinski, with free food and drink including breakfast rolls, burgers and ice cream from regional providers. There will be merchandise up for grabs and suppliers on hand giving free demo

A man from Weston-super-Mare has been jailed for more than three years after a police investigation found he had more than half a million indecent images of children. The images were found following a search of Martin Schwarz's home after intelligence was received that indecent images were being accessed at the address. The 65-year-old was subsequently arrested and 11 phones and external hard drives containing a total of 542,904 indecent images were seized. After an investiga

A man from Berrow near Weston-super-Mare has been sentenced to 27 years in prison after pleading guilty to rape and several other non-recent sexual offences against children. Philip Garrett, 70, of Berrow, near Weston-super-Mare, was sentenced at Taunton Crown Court, sitting at North Somerset Magistrates’ Court, to a total of 19 offences on Thursday 5 March. Garrett, who was convicted at Taunton Crown Court on Friday 6 February, is now on the Registered Sex Offenders’ Regist

As part of its project to restore Birnbeck Pier in Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset Council has signed an agreement with Somerset Wood Recycling to give a new lease of life to wood salvaged from the Grade II* Listed pier. The partnership aims to create a circular sustainability process: wood recovered that can’t be reused on the pier will be turned into items which will go on sale at the new shop to be housed in the Pier Master’s Cottage. All income generated from the sale o

Fostering North Somerset, part of North Somerset Council, is proud to announce the launch of its fourth Mockingbird constellation, a pioneering initiative developed by The Fostering Network. The scheme brings together groups of foster families and children to create an extended family model of support, mirroring the warmth and connection of a wider family network. The formal launch event for the new constellation will take place on March 14th, bringing together everyone invol

Three people have been charged following an assault in Weston-super-Mare over the weekend. Jo Junior Martin, aged 18 of Laira Bridge Road, Plymouth, and a 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named due to his age, have been charged with wounding with intent. The 17-year-old was additionally charged with being in possession of a bladed article. Nathaniel Ashman-Stanislaus, aged 18 of Frenchay Road, has been charged with affray. The charges relate to an incident in Oxford Street, in.

Dan Aldridge, MP for Weston-super-Mare, has welcomed the publication of the Government’s new Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) White Paper, saying it reflects many of the concerns raised directly by local families at a SEND roundtable he hosted in September. Last autumn, Dan Aldridge MP brought together parents, carers, teachers and local advocates in Weston to hear first-hand about the challenges families face navigating the current SEND system. “ Parents tol

The senior investigating officer leading enquiries into the theft of hundreds of high-value museum artefacts appeared on BBC’s Crimewatch Live tonight (Friday 6 March). Photo: Avon & Somerset Police Detective Inspector Jason Chidgey will appeal for viewers help to identify four people police wish to speak to in connection with the theft from a building in the Cumberland Road area of Bristol in September. Image: Avon & Somerset Police Police are also releasing a list of some

711 collisions in which at least one person was killed or seriously injured took place across Avon and Somerset in 2025 - an average of two per day.

Weston-super-Mare will host a range of events on Sunday 8th March to commemorate International Women’s Day. Building on the success of last year’s exhibition at the Weston Museum, curators Sarah Freear and Lyn Gilbert have organized a town-wide celebration. This year’s program honors inspirational women from every walk of life—from global icons who changed the course of history to the incredible local women making a difference in our community today. The exhibitions will feat

Emergency services are at the scene of a serious incident which is currently ongoing at The Old Town Quarry in Weston-super-Mare. Multiple fire engines, police cars and ambulances were seen heading along Upper Bristol Road in the direction of the Quarry at around 2pm this afternoon. Weston Independent News has learned that a male is on the quarry face and emergency services are on the scene. The Quarry is closed to the public. Police negotiators are at the scene handling the

Weston General Hospital has now reopened and services are running once again A spokesperson for Avon & Somerset Fire Service said: “At 5:36am on 5 March, crews from Avon Fire & Rescue Service and Devon and Somerset Fire & Rescue Service were called to a fire on Grange Road, Uphill, Weston-Super-Mare. There were no people in the affected area and no casualties reported.”   “Firefighters extinguished the fire using water jets. The police were also on scene supporting crews. The