Hotwells and Cliftonwood named best places to live

Several interesting stories are making headlines in the West of England on March 21, 2025. Bristol 247 reports that Hotwells and Cliftonwood have been named as some of the best places to live in The Sunday Times Best Places to Live 2025 list. The Chew Valley was also highlighted as the top spot in the South West. In a more serious story, a mother spoke to Somerset Live about her anguish after her son, Michael, vanished during a holiday last year. She described her situation as a "living nightmare." Swindon Advertiser featured a local restaurant owner discussing the challenges of a recent "dine and dash" incident, which has become a concern amid rising costs for businesses. Good news came from Gloucestershire, as Gloucestershire Live reported that long waits for hospital treatments have been slashed by nearly two-thirds. In social media news, Bristol photographer Simon Withyman expressed his excitement after winning the British Wildlife Photographer of the Year for a beautiful image of a fox taken in the city. This weekend, the M4 motorway will be closed between junctions 18 and 19 due to the demolition of the Badminton Bridge. Additionally, the RNLI in Weston-super-Mare introduced a training manikin named Fred, who is used for practice in cold sea conditions. Lastly, Swindon Town Football Club is dedicating their match against Accrington Stanley to a local Down Syndrome group in honor of World Down Syndrome Day. For more local updates, follow the BBC West social channels.