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Gideon Amos, MP for Taunton and Wellington, has called for tougher measures on illicit trading after four shops were closed down in his constituency. His comments came during a Parliamentary debate on high street shops, held in Westminster Hall yesterday (Wednesday). Mr Amos, the Liberal Democrat spokesperson on communities, said: “High streets are the heart of our communities, and we cannot allow them to become sites of decline. “Both Taunton and Wellington have a fabulous r

Gideon Amos MP has backed Liberal Democrat plans for an 'Essential Energy Guarantee'. His comments came after it was revealed that more than 4,500 households in the Taunton and Wellington constituency are living in fuel poverty. The scheme would see every household receive a basic energy allowance, equivalent to 50% of average energy consumption, at a discounted rate, helping with the cost of everyday essential energy needs such as heating, lighting, and running medical equ

Gideon Amos, MP for Taunton and Wellington, paid tribute to pharmacy campaigners in Wellington as he told a debate in Parliament that communities should not have to “rise up against the challenges and rules of the NHS to get or restore pharmacy provision”. Mr Amos’ comments came in a Westminster Hall debate earlier this week secured by fellow Liberal Democrat MP Rachel Gilmour on the topic of community pharmacies in which he spoke of the challenges that Wellington has faced

Gideon Amos, MP for Taunton and Wellington, has called on the new Health Secretary, James Murray, to honour his predecessor’s promise of a meeting to discuss bringing forward the new maternity and paediatric unit at Musgrove Park Hospital. Before his dramatic exit from the Government, Wes Streeting acknowledged the “unacceptable situation” for patients and staff at Musgrove in an interview with BBC Somerset and said: “We will do our best to bring forward the schemes”. In

Shocking analysis published by Taunton and Wellington’s Liberal Democrat MP Gideon Amos has revealed that sewage has spilled into the River Tone at least 35 times in the past year. He says it contributed to the poor water quality of the local bathing site and was among the million hours of sewage spills in England over the past five years. Mr Amos is calling for more to be done to protect people in Taunton and Wellington as temperatures rise and this year's bathing water seas

Liberal Democrats in Somerset are calling on the government to allow more than 600 new council homes to be built in the county. Gideon Amos, MP for Taunton and Wellington, raised the issue during a Parliamentary debate on housing needs for young people. He said: “Lib Dem councils such as Somerset want to build more, but their borrowing is maxed out. Referring to the national budget he added “If the Government will not increase the £3.9 billion a year for council and social ho

Taunton MP Gideon Amos has paid tribute to the town’s boxing club after accepting an invitation to attend one of its training nights. He visited the club’s HQ off Wood Street to meet coaches as well as both senior and junior boxers. Mr Amos, who also stepped into the ring to throw a few practice punches, said afterwards: “It was an absolute pleasure to visit, thank the volunteers and congratulate the youngsters and adults on their commitment to the club. “Whenever I’m invited

An innovative scheme to take dental care advice into local primary schools – with a touch of magic – was launched in Somerset yesterday (Monday). Taunton and Wellington’s MP, Gideon Amos, has joined forces with The Magic Dentist charity to provide sessions across the constituency via an ‘Adopt a School’ programme. The scheme will see dental practices visit schools to provide education on oral hygiene and care – all delivered through magic. It comes after Mr Amos launched a de

From left, Gideon Amos MP, Matthew Pennycook MP, Cllr Habib Farbahi and Cllr Mike Rigby. A delegation from Taunton travelled to London for talks with Housing Minister, Matthew Pennycook, on how essential infrastructure can be delivered in the county town. It follows the development of 2,000 new homes at Orchard Grove and national government targets for further major housing growth in Somerset. The meeting was arranged by Gideon Amos MP who was accompanied by Somerset Council’

Taunton and Wellington’s MP, Gideon Amos, challenged the Energy Secretary, Ed Miliband, to extend the rollout of solar panels to car parks and warehouse during a Parliamentary debate yesterday (Tuesday). Following a Liberal Democrat Private Member's Bill, new Building Regulations were published this week requiring developers to fit solar panels as standard on all new houses that are built. Mr Amos, the party’s spokesperson for housing and communities, is backing their campai

Taunton and Wellington’s MP, Gideon Amos, toured a local company which has been supplying vital medical equipment to war-torn Ukraine. ESU Medical Solutions, based on Westpark at Chelston, aims to help healthcare professionals improve the lives of their patients. Its Managing Director, Periwinkle Kaur, said: “We were delighted to welcome Gideon to ESU Medical Solutions. “It was a great opportunity to showcase how our team supports the healthcare sector, both locally and inter

Bloor Homes has held a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the official start of construction on a crucial spine road that will provide access to Wellington's new £20m railway station. The ceremony was attended by Gideon Amos MP (Taunton & Wellington), who cut the first turf to get work under way, alongside and senior members of Bloor Homes’ Exeter team. It comes soon after Somerset Council's planning committee west unanimously granted full planning permission for Bloor Homes’ de

A Health Minister has agreed to meet Taunton’s MP Gideon Amos to discuss bringing forward a new maternity and paediatric unit for Musgrove Park Hospital. The unit has been included in the government’s funding programme – but isn’t scheduled to happen until 2033. Mr Amos has been campaigning for the work to be brought forward and raised the issue in Parliament during a Westminster Hall debate on NHS capital spending. He described the “dire state” of the current maternity unit.

A huge hike in business rates for a Taunton garden centre was highlighted in Parliament yesterday (Tuesday). Local MP Gideon Amos was speaking in reply to the Spring Statement by the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves. He said: “Monkton Elm Garden Centre, with its 400-cover restaurant employing 120 staff, has been hit by a £70,000 increase in its business rates this year as part of £178,000 in costs put on by the last Budget. “If the Government will not accept the 5% cut in VAT that t

Wellington’s MP Gideon Amos has said it is “great news” that the town is going to have a third pharmacy again. Allied Pharmacies has announced it is to open next Monday (March 9th) in the former Jhoots premises behind the now-closed Luson Surgery in Mantle Street. Mr Amos has campaigned for improved pharmacy provision in the town after it was reduced to only two outlets last year. The facility run by Boots at Wellington Medical Centre in Mantle Street closed just over two yea

Gideon Amos MP says he has “serious concerns” about proposed reforms to Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND) support, a view shared by local campaigners and SEND advocates in Taunton and Wellington. The Department for Education has set out its vision for SEND and around £4 billion of extra funding over the next three years in a white paper published earlier this week which includes the proposed reducing the use of Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) apart from

Taunton and Wellington’s MP, Gideon Amos, has challenged the Prime Minister to recognise Somerset’s 'remoteness factor' in its funding settlement from the government. This 'remoteness factor' is designed to compensate rural councils for the significantly higher cost of delivering vital services including waste collection, social care workers, and transport to SEND schools across a huge area with a spread-out population, as well as maintaining and filling potholes for the vast

Somerset’s MPs joined forces yesterday (Tuesday) to urge the Local Government Minister for extra funding to prevent an 11 per cent Council Tax rise in the county. The meeting took place in the Parliamentary offices of Alison McGovern, who told MPs she would consider their proposals and respond as soon as possible. Lib Dem MPs Gideon Amos (Taunton and Wellington), Adam Dance (Yeovil), Sarah Dyke (Glastonbury and Somerton), Rachel Gilmour (Tiverton and Minehead) and Anna Sabine

Gideon Amos, MP for Taunton and Wellington, is opposing the government’s proposed reforms to the jury trial system. The Justice Secretary, David Lammy, wants to scrap jury trials in England and Wales for crimes which carry a likely sentence of less than two years. Serious offences including murder, robbery and rape will still go before a jury but magistrates, who deal with the majority of all criminal cases, will take on even more work. Mr Amos said: “Taunton has been the sce

More than 4,500 people across Taunton and Wellington have signed a petition opposing the introduction of digital ID cards. They are being supported by their MP, Gideon Amos, who spoke against the idea in a Westminster Hall debate yesterday (Monday). Mr Amos said afterwards: "I have grave concerns about the government’s ability to keep our personal data safe. “A digital record of everyone would carry even greater risk than the data leaks which are already commonplace and, as I