The Weston Mercury and Somerset Herald revealed a new, faster lifeboat could be gifted to the RNLI. It appeared in the paper 50 years ago.

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Part of a river was expected to be diverted for the extension of the M5.

The Banwell River and Hewish New Rhyne, the construction of roads in the area around Weston and improvements to the A38 were among the schemes needed to be carried out in connection with the M5 works between St Georges and Edithmead.

A draft compulsory purchase order was released, which looked at the different bits of land needing to be purchased for the main road extension.

A number of diversions were proposed to allow for the associated works.

%image(14259781, type="article-full", alt=""I want to vote, too!" Youth's clamouring for a voice in government seems to be expressing itself from the pram in this incident at the Christ Church Polling Station. Picture: WESTON MERCURY")

– A change in the type of lifeboat stationed at Weston was proposed for the summer.

Instead of having the conventional type of boat, it was hoped two rubber inshore rescue crafts would be given to the charity.

The news came after a survey of the services carried out in the area by the RNLI.

It was suggested a faster boat was required because of the distances the boat had to travel in answering emergency calls.

%image(14259781, type="article-full", alt=""I want to vote, too!" Youth's clamouring for a voice in government seems to be expressing itself from the pram in this incident at the Christ Church Polling Station. Picture: WESTON MERCURY")

The Calouste Gulbenkian – a 37-foot Oakley self-righting boat capable of carrying seven crew members – had been at the station since 1961.

– Improvements and the extension to a bar at Knightstone Theatre were expected to cost £1,800 more than originally anticipated.

Extra staircases and other fire stipulations were to blame for the unexpected additional cost.

The Borough Council was told the total cost would be £7,920 compared with the original estimate of £6,190.

%image(14259781, type="article-full", alt=""I want to vote, too!" Youth's clamouring for a voice in government seems to be expressing itself from the pram in this incident at the Christ Church Polling Station. Picture: WESTON MERCURY")

– There was no election fever 50 years ago when Weston went to the polls to elect a new MP after the death of David Webster.

Polling opened on a bitterly cold day, but there was no ‘feverish excitement’ for the day.

Three candidates went head to head – Conservative Jerry Wiggin, Labour’s Nicholas Bosanquet and the Liberal Democrats’ Edward Deal – hoped to snatch the Conservative seat.

Bookmakers put Mr Wiggin as the cast-iron favourite, but all candidates were happy with the way their campaigns went.

– Negotiations to purchase the Cheddar swimming pool were due to be completed soon. Axbridge Rural District Council wanted the Cheddar Parish Council to run the pool again, with both parties sharing the profits.