Wellington - Quality of Life

Set in an area which is rich in natural beauty and wildlife, Wellington is surrounded by an outstanding landscape of rare diversity in the valley of the River Tone and bounded by the Quantock, Blackdown and Brendon Hills, and Exmoor, forming the central gateway to these features from the motorway network. The rolling hills and the Vale of Taunton are dotted with villages and hamlets which boast welcoming country pubs, offering local brews and tasty local food.

Housing

The town offers a wide variety of house types and sizes to suit all needs for both purchase and rent. A wide range of housing is available throughout the area - from bedsit to barn conversion, maisonette to mansion, we can cater for most tastes and pockets.

Existing and new homes are largely in owner occupation, around 70% while the Borough Council owns and lets about 24% and the remainder are either from Housing Associations or private landlords.

Wellington offers good quality housing of traditional construction from the 18th to 21st centuries and provision has been made in the current Local Plan to build approximately 300 homes at Cades Farm on the eastern fringe of the town. This will provide homes for both existing residents and newcomers. This housing will offer the maximum possible choice in terms of dwelling type, price and tenure as the estate contains freehold and low cost affordable houses for purchase or shared ownership.

House prices have increased along with the rest of the UK but at a lower average level. Anyone moving into the town from high priced areas of the South and South-East will welcome a saving in purchase price.

Average property prices last quarter July -September 2005 were:-

In addition to these average house types there are of course the more exclusive houses in beautiful locations in the Hills or Tone Vale where prices of between £400,000 and over £1.0 million can be paid. We can cater for all tastes in this friendly, supportive town.

Education

Wellington has an excellent range of educational establishments. The well-known Wellington School has both junior and secondary private provision. The local state secondary school, Court Fields Community School has specialist technology college status and a recent OFSTED report states 'The good achievement is due to high quality teaching, students' good attitudes to learning and the school ethos'.

There are four state primary schools in the town, Beech Grove, Rockwell Green, St John's and Wellesley Park and there is good provision of day nurseries, pre-schools and playgroups.

Sports and leisure

Wellington's superb sports and recreation centre offers something for everyone. Following refurbishment it now offers a new state of the art fitness gym, a purpose built crèche facility and children's activity play centre. The centre also boasts a 25 metre swimming pool, 2 squash courts, a sports hall, health suite, aerobics studio and licensed bar.

A wide range of sports clubs are active in the town including badminton, bowls, sea angling, archery, cricket, croquet, cycling, football, golf, kayaking, squash, swimming, fencing, tennis and rugby.

Leisure activities are also well catered for through local clubs and societies, ranging from the Camera Club, the Garden Club, Wine and Beer Circle, through to Rotary Club and the Twinning Association.

Cultural activities

Cultural activities abound both in Wellington and within easy reach in the towns of Taunton and Exeter.

Wellington has a very lively Arts Association, which comprises the Pantomime Group, Operatic Society, Civic Players, Genesis Youth Theatre Group, Arcadians Revue Group and Spectrum Arts and Crafts Group. The Association owns the Arts Centre and Blue Horizon Swimming Pool as well as the Wellesley Theatre which stages major productions but is also the town's cinema.

Health

Wellington has two health centres and its own cottage hospital with a small in patient facility and minor injuries unit. The nearby Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton has accident and emergency facilities and all major patient services. It hosts the Somerset Research and Development Support Unit.

Shopping

Wellington town centre boasts a unique set of specialist shops, several of which have won awards for supplying high quality produce. These include the Best Fishmonger in Somerset, and the butchers who supply locally produced meat and who have won awards for their sausages.

A wide choice of cheese, dairy delights and other delicatessen food are available as well as quality wines.

Antique dealers from far and wide to attend the fortnightly sales at Wellington Auction Rooms in Mantle Street where fine furniture, ceramics, pictures and memorabilia change hands.

If its local produce you want then visit the Fox's Mill shop on the edge of the town where you can purchase some locally manufactured fabric.

Wellington - a wonderful place to live and work