Taunton and Wellington: All you need to know about new Somerset seat

Taunton is the county town of Somerset

On 4 July people in Somerset will vote in all-new constituencies with boundaries having been redrawn to even out the number of voters. Here is all you need to know about the new seat of Taunton and Wellington.

How has the constituency changed?

The new constituency of Taunton and Wellington effectively splits the former seat of Taunton Deane in half.

The focus is now more firmly on the county town and the neighbouring market town of Wellington.

It's because the western and entirely rural portion of the old constituency has become part of a new Tiverton and Minehead seat.

All in all, the new Taunton and Wellington constituency is more urban than its predecessor, and geographically about half the size.

What are some of the main issues?

There are lots of public sector workers in Taunton and Wellington with big employers including Musgrove Park Hospital, the UK Hydrographic Office, and one of Somerset's biggest employers - Somerset Council.

This means the NHS is likely to be a big issue for local voters, as well as education.

In recent years, small-scale industry has been growing in the area, as has house building.

That's also the case in Wellington which has seen lots of new homes built and where a new train station is due to open next year.

Water quality and pollution has also been widely discussed in the area, with part of the River Tone recently being awarded Bathing Water Status by the Environment Agency.

Who are the candidates and what do they believe in?

Gideon Amos is the Liberal Democrat candidate for Taunton and Wellington

Gideon Amos grew up in Somerset and lives in Taunton with his wife and four children.

He is a chartered architect and town planner by trade, and has worked on renewable energy projects around the UK including offshore windfarms.

Mr Amos was awarded an OBE for services to sustainable development.

He told BBC Somerset his top three priorities are the NHS, cost of living and the environment.

"The Conservatives have failed to build the new hospital in Taunton they promised people at the last election and it’s now increasingly difficult to access GPs and dentists," he said.

"Lib Dems would start to recruit and train 8,000 more GPs so everyone can get an appointment within seven days."

Charles Hansard is Reform UK's candidate

Charles Hansard lives in Wellington with his wife and three children.

He served in the Army for 12 years before going on to work in industrial recycling and on combustion projects on oil refineries and coal fired power stations.

Mr Hansard told BBC Somerset his top three priorities are local roads being well-maintained, the lack of NHS dentists and school funding.

"There is a crisis in education. A head teacher approached me only last week about the financial issues in her school," the Reform UK candidate said.

"If the next government is Labour, the state schools in Taunton and Wellington will see a flood of pupils and there are certainly not enough places in some Taunton schools – only making the situation worse.”

Rebecca Pow is the Conservative candidate for Taunton and Wellington

Rebecca Pow was elected Conservative MP for Taunton Deane in 2015 and is also a minister for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

She is a scientist and a former journalist who has lived in the area for more than 35 years bringing up three children with her late husband.

Ms Pow told BBC Somerset her top three priorities are: "the full upgrade of Musgrove Park Hospital by 2030 with the new maternity unit coming first; the delivery of Wellington Rail station; the new Selworthy Special School rebuild".

"I will also deliver the clear plan that is seeing the economy improve following the pressures of the pandemic, the Ukraine War and the energy crisis which means we can now continue to lower your taxes leaving you with more money in your pockets," she added.

Ryan Trower is the Green Party candidate

Ryan Trower is a photographer and works at Bridgwater and Taunton College.

He has lived in Bathpool on the eastern edge of Taunton for seven years.

The Green candidate said his top three priorities are the NHS, affordable housing and "pushing for water companies to be brought back into public ownership".

"Defending the NHS: keeping it fully public, and and properly funded through taxing the super wealthy is my most important priority," he said.

Brenda Weston is Labour's candidate for Taunton and Wellington

Brenda Weston was born in Taunton and joined the local Labour Party in 1980.

She has worked in social policy research and political activism, as well as serving as a local councillor and deputy mayor of Taunton.

Ms Weston told BBC Somerset her top three priorities were affordable housing, integrating the NHS and social care and enhancing children and family centres.

"The most important is a decent, affordable home to give every child a secure start in life," she said.

Ms Weston said she also wanted to see "a 10-year house-building, renovation and eco-friendly programme, providing decent, affordable homes for everyone".

Rochelle Russell is the local candidate for the Communist Party.

Rochelle Russell, the Communist Party candidate, lives in Wellington.

She said she has lived and worked all over the country including in hospitality, youth work and adult social care, and has been a local councillor.

Ms Russell said her top priority is "the provision of high-quality health and social care for all, particularly dentistry, which is responsive to the needs of the people of Somerset - there is no NHS dentist for around 100 miles".

Other priorities for the Communist Party nationally are peace and reduced government spending on arms and war, restoration of public services and the protection of workers' rights and jobs.

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