Local magazine causes stir
An article about so-called 'community sheds' in the March edition of local magazine 'Levelling Langport' has sparked hundreds of excited enquiries at its newsroom. The piece, written by the editor (pictured above) and entitled 'Shed on the Levels', discusses how the buildings can be used for a range of different events and meetings.
(Indeed - it forgot to mention a very good one which opened in Huish Episcopi to 'replace' the Rose & Crown which had to be closed for flood repairs some years ago - see YouTube link at foot of this report)
However, it's the magazine's wording that appears to have captured public imagination. It (page 5) says the sheds are
"...friendly and welcoming meeting places where men can get involved in a variety of mutually agreed activities..."
"...friendly and welcoming meeting places where men can get involved in a variety of mutually agreed activities..."
Three churchwardens reportedly passed out when they read the article at the dentist's. A 'closed for the rest of the day' sign appeared in the window of The Langport Stores on Tuesday while nobody was available on the phone at Langport Town Council for 6 days (it's usually just 5). Travis Perkins took 15 orders for 'large garden sheds' in just half an hour and Google says at least half the male population of Somerton was typing 'community shed' into their search boxes on the internet last night.
The article's apparently been such a hit, Levelling Langport's readership has doubled this month to over 12,000. (Almost as high as Carry On Langport's)
But Langport Surgery says it'll be banning the magazine - when after reading it in the waiting room, several elderly patients from Eastover grabbed Garden City residents and waterboarded them in the tropical fish tank.
Langport's Town Clerk and Town Council Chair, pictured above, dashing off to their nearest 'community shed' on Sunday. Their tandem was later found abandoned outside a barn in Coombe.
For rare footage of the Huish shed which adopted Eli's customers during the pub's flood, click beneath to go to YouTube.
