Friday 16th May

Friday, 16 May 2025 06:00

By Steve Haigh

A Wincanton woman, who is due to give birth with her first child at Yeovil Hospital, says she’s been left in shock after being told the maternity unit in the town is to close. A South Petherton man has appeared in court charged with riding a motorbike while under the influence of drugs. One of Ilminster’s oldest residents has died aged 104...and more

A Wincanton woman who is due to give birth with her first child at Yeovil Hospital says she's been left shocked after being told the maternity unit in Yeovil is closing due to safety concerns. Somerset NHS Foundation Trust has apologised for the sudden shutdown that will see the baby unit at Yeovil Hospital close on Monday for an initial period of six months. The decision follows an inspection by the Care Quality Commission that identified safety issues and staff shortages within the unit. Jem, who is 29 weeks pregnant, says at this stage, she does not know which hospital she will use to have her baby.

A South Petherton man has appeared in court charged with riding a motorbike while under the influence of drugs. Appearing before magistrates in Yeovil, Liam Kingsnorth, aged 19, of Mere Lynches in South Petherton, admitted being in possession of crack cocaine and cannabis when he was stopped by police in Martock following a car chase. Kingsnorth was also given a twelve-month community order with 80 hours of unpaid work.

One of Ilminster's oldest residents, Bill Lawson, has died at the age of 104. Bill, who served in the RAF during World War Two, worked most of his life in local government and, in retirement, lived in Ilminster. He was involved with the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans. A Memorial Service for Bill Lawson will be held at The Minster Church on Tuesday, June 10th, at 2 pm.

Marcus Stewart has left Yeovil Town following his diagnosis of Motor Neurone Disease (MND). The former player, and more recently Head of Player Development at Huish Park, was diagnosed with MND in 2022. In a statement, Yeovil Town thanked Marcus for his contributions on and off the pitch and said he remains a cherished part of the club's history.

Yeovil's Mayor, Tony Lock, officially opened a new baby unit at a Yeovil nursery. The addition of the unit and a new garden area is part of a major upgrade of facilities at the Happy Days Nurseries, formerly known as Yew Tree Nursery, on Forest Hill in Yeovil.

More from News

Tuesday 17th February

Avon and Somerset Police are asking the owners of replica guns to hand them in. It's claimed motorists in the Bruton and Wincanton area are paying out hundreds of pounds in repairs due to the poor state of local roads. And, Yeovil Town take on Aldershot at Huish Park tonight... and more
Monday 16th February

Yeovil MP Adam Dance has warned that the Westlands entertainment venue in Yeovil would be at risk should Leonardo not be awarded a government contract to build new medium life helicopters. A Chard woman has been given a suspended jail sentence for carrying a knife in a public place. A petition has been launched to slowdown motorists using Coker Way and Wyatt Way in Chard... and more
Friday 13th February

Somerset Council has dropped plans to close two town centre car parks in Yeovil. A Yeovil man has been charged with attempted murder after a woman was attacked in her home. The Environment Agency has committed to reviewing its water management of the Somerset Levels following the recent floods... and more
Thursday 12th February

The government says it's ‘working flat out’ to arrive at a decision on ordering a new medium lift helicopter with Leonardo in Yeovil. We’re being asked to suggest where new electric vehicle charge points should be installed in Somerset. A new project is inviting people to look up and help map Somerset’s night skies... and more
Wednesday 11th February

Somerset Council has been told it can’t raise council tax by more than 5 percent. Businesses in Somerset are being warned to watch out for fake £20 notes. A Martock man has successfully completed a parachute-ski jump off the top of Mount Snowdon.
Tuesday 10th February

Eye operations in Somerset have been cancelled, due to a private company running out of NHS funding to provide the surgery. A local MP is calling for the permanent installation of pumps on the Somerset Levels to reduce the flood risk. A £3 million pound project has begun to refurbish the grand organ at Wells Cathedral... and more
Monday 9th February

Multiple flood alerts and warnings remain in place across South Somerset following the weekend’s heavy rainfall. Work starts today repairing a sinkhole on Station Road in Castle Cary. A business in Crewkerne is closing after 50-years trading in the town... and more
Friday 6th September

Leonardo has announced a major deal to build helicopters in India. Campaigners trying to set up a new bus link to Castle Cary railway station from Glastonbury say they need 150 thousand pounds of council money. A community event is being held in Chard for charities and service providers to showcase their activities.... and more