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.

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Friday 12th June

It's claimed the increasing availability of drugs such as ketamine and cocaine has normalised drug use among young people in Somerset. The trial of a man accused of killing his one-month-old son in Chard begins today at Bristol Crown Court. A stone pillar outside the Langport Arms Hotel in Langport has been replaced after it was destroyed in a car crash... and more
Thursday 11th June

Sir Keir Starmer has paid tribute to the three aircrew from RNAS Yeovilton who died in last week's helicopter crash in Devon. Two men have been arrested and stolen vehicles seized following a major multi-agency operation in South Somerset. An event highlighting opportunities for women in the aerospace industry has been held in Yeovil... and more
Wednesday 10th June

The public will be consulted on how best to spend fifty million pounds of government funding to tackle flooding in Somerset. Avon and Somerset Police are backing a new road safety campaign aimed at reducing motorcycle fatalities. New welcome signs have been installed at entrances to the Mendip Hills National Landscape... and more
Tuesday 9th June

The government has announced a £50 million investment to strengthen Somerset’s flood defences. A woman from Stoke-sub-Hamdon has been banned from driving for 14 months after admitting drink-driving. Somerset Council has been told it must improve its adult social care services... and more
Monday 8th June

Plans for a new railway station in Langport remain stalled in Whitehall, according to Somerset Council. Plans to build 50 new homes in Broadway, near Ilminster, have been refused. The new water fountains in Yeovil’s Triangle, in Lower Middle Street, are being switched off during very hot weather because of safety concerns... and more.
Friday 5th June

A new NHS dental practice in Crewkerne says it won’t start operating at full capacity until July due to staff shortages. Somerset Council says it has no plans to show England matches in the World Cup on the Big Screen in Yeovil town centre due to safety concerns. A Somerset family has been thanked after completing a 73-mile walk raising money for a third world charity... and more
Thursday 4th June

An investigation continues today into the crash of a Royal Navy helicopter, based at RNAS Yeovilton, in which all three aircrew were killed. Somerset Council has confirmed that a new operator will take over several leisure centres across the county. The new live-action Masters of the Universe movie, filmed in Somerset, is released this week...and more
Wednesday 3rd June

A Yeovil man has appeared in court charged with assaulting three police officers. Somerset Council has begun legal action to recover more than £320,000 owed by housing developers. The line-up has been announced for this year’s Ilminster Midsummer Experience...and more