Dear Editor,

Watchet Live (Carnival) would like to express our gratitude to everyone who made the carnival weekend such a success.

Many thanks to Hollam Solicitors and Red Deer Country Estate Agents who sponsored us this year and all those who made donations including the Community Bookshop, the Esplanade Club and Football Club and and Alex & Jenny Reynard.

We couldn’t have managed without the help of John Stone, the Marina Company, Wessex Water, the Snooker Club and Ryan Willis and Walsh & Sons who loaned their trucks for transport. Thanks to The West Somerset Hotel and The Star Inn. Thanks also to Crispy’s Fish and Chips for providing food for our volunteers who work hard all year to raise funds to put on this Free event as well as long hours over the weekend.

Many apologies if we have missed anyone. There are too many people to mention individually but you all know how much we appreciate your help.

Carnival Saturday is evolving to include entertainment around the town as well as the Esplanade. This year we had a pirates cave for the children, a roving magician, Mike the Bike with a wind-up gramophone and bands set up in various locations. We aimed to have music for all tastes and hopefully succeeded. The Fayre had Jonathan Marshall’s black horse, Amadeus and Dangerous Steve who juggled a chainsaw and did motorcycle and quad bike stunts. Entertainment is very costly and we raise funds throughout the year to provide it so many thanks to all who support us in our fundraising by helping or by buying draw tickets, ducks etc.

Look out for fundraising activities over the next few months for next year’s carnival weekend which will be held on July 25 and 26.

Sandie Hornby

Watchet Live (carnival)

Dear Editor,

I am still trying to grasp the relevance of Marilyn Monroe to the subject of Nigel Farage’s fixation with Donald Trump!

This was included in Jim Sokol’s wide-ranging defence of Farage’s preference for the way America is run today (Letters, July 30). He agrees that Trump is “a felon” but says the Americans voted him into office “and it’s not for us…..to question them”. It’s a pity that Trump and Vance don’t follow that advice when questioning the way the UK is governed - derogatory remarks on Free Speech and wind turbines for example. Are these not “problems” for us to sort out? Today, I hear Trump has sacked the person in charge of issuing employment statistics in the U.S. claiming they are false (unflattering to him) with no details of why that is so. Ghislaine Maxwell has suddenly been moved to a “nicer” prison…why? Trump also ignores the Constitution on a daily basis - and Farage admires him!

The assumption that I may be associated with the Conservative Party is not wrong but I am not blind to the shortcomings of the last administration. Farage is an excellent communicator but there is no evidence that he has ever “run” anything. I repeat: two of his six MPs are suspended. If elected to government who will fill senior Cabinet roles? Answer: unknowns with zero experience of Parliament …let alone overseeing multi billion pound budgets. If you think the last and present governments have made a mess, see what economists say about Reform’s plans for the economy - they don’t add up!

The allegation that a “Westminster Bubble” kept Farage out of Parliament is bizarre. He stood at five general elections and two by-elections under the UKIP banner before he succeeded last year. It was the voters who kept him out - and Mr Sokol takes the view that “it is not for us to question them”!

Yours sincerely,

Sandra Jones

Old Cleeve

The UK’s ability to export, grow advanced industries, and attract international investment hinges not just on national policy, but on the readiness of its regions. In the Great South West, we are building a globally connected manufacturing base - a springboard for businesses looking to reach international markets and supply chains.

The region already exports over £23-billion in goods annually, with 60 per cent of that coming from machinery and transport equipment – far above the UK average. From precision marine systems to aerospace components, and photonics to pharmaceuticals, Great South West products are in demand around the world.

What sets our region apart is our ability to support manufacturers at every stage of their export journey. For growing firms, we offer fast access to export finance, trade mission support, and international market intelligence. For global investors, we provide investment-ready sites in Industrial Strategy zones, including freeports, backed by local authorities and private sector partners ready to help companies scale.

Our regional ports, logistics infrastructure, and air links create real-world connections. But it’s our people and partnerships that seal the deal. We’re home to a community of exporting SMEs and multinationals, supported by Make UK and DIT.

At the heart of our Manufacturing Investment Plan is a commitment to make the Great South West the UK’s best place to scale manufacturing for global growth.

In an era of economic uncertainty and supply chain reconfiguration, the message is clear: if you want to grow your manufacturing business and go global, build it in the Great South West.

Karl Tucker

Chair, Great South West Partnership

In last week’s edition we reported on the refusal of planning permission for static caravans at the Home Farm site in Blue Anchor in which we quoted an objection by a local resident. The objection was made by Margaret Smith and not, as stated, Sarah Wilsher. We are happy to correct the matter.