Friday 19th July

Friday, 19 July 2024 06:30

Glovers Walk shopping centre in Yeovil is to be demolished. The Rock and Ribs music festival starts at Wincanton racecourse today. A mobile clinic, part of the UK’s largest-ever health research programme, is coming to Chard and Yeovil. A new community magazine has been launched in Sparkford...and more.

Glovers Walk shopping centre in Yeovil, which has been mostly empty for the past 15 years, is to be demolished. Somerset Council has secured nearly £5 million of government funding to buy the site and will rebuild it as a mix of shops and housing.

A man from Yeovil is taking on a number of fundraising challenges to support two charities. Ben Horne was attacked by a dog when he suffered an epileptic seizure in 2019 and needed major reconstructive surgery on his face. Ben’s raising money for Epilepsy Action and the Royal Devon Hospital.

A mobile clinic, part of the UK’s largest-ever health research programme, is coming to Chard and Yeovil. It’ll be in both towns later this month testing members of the public for conditions like dementia, cancer, diabetes, and heart disease as part of the ‘Our Future Health’ project. If you’d like to volunteer to be tested, you’re asked to go to the Our Future Health website to sign up.

The end-of-life charity, Marie Curie, is extending its companions scheme to hospitals in Crewkerne, South Petherton, and Wincanton. The service, which provides emotional support to patients and their families was previously only offered at Musgrove Park in Taunton.

This year’s Rock and Ribs music festival starts at Wincanton racecourse today. It’s now in its 5th year, with 7,000 revellers expected to attend over next the 3-days.

A new community magazine has been launched in Sparkford. The Spark Mag is an A5 full-colour publication with local stories, an events guide and the latest planning applications in Sparkford.

More from News

Friday 14th August

Police are investigating an incident in which obscene words were scratched onto the World War One memorial at Ham Hill. Yeovil MP Adam Dance has repeated his call for the upgrade of the town’s police station to include a custody suite. A Somerset carnival club is building a specially adapted float to allow a wheelchair user and her assistance dog to take part in this year’s carnival circuit...and more
Thursday 13th August

An Ilminster family is celebrating after winning one million pounds on the National Lottery. Police have released a picture of a man they want to speak to in connection with suspected frauds in Somerset. Somerset Council has opened a tendering process to find a main contractor for the £15 million upgrade of Yeovil’s Octagon theatre... and more
Wednesday 12th August

Experts say with good visibility forecast for this evening, people across Somerset should have some of the best views of the solar eclipse anywhere in the UK. A Somerset councillor is calling for the Stop Line cycle route between Chard and Ilminster to be better supported. It's 40-years ago this week since a Lynx helicopter built in Yeovil set a new World Helicopter Speed Record... and more
Tuesday 11th August

Wessex Water says a hosepipe ban is possible if customers fail to cut their water usage. A record number of illegal dog fights were reported in Somerset last year. Yeovil Town's Mason Obeng has won the traditional sack of potatoes, given to the player who scores Yeovil's first goal of the new season, as a lucky omen... and more
Monday 10th August

A local councillor claims anti-social behaviour is putting people off coming into Yeovil town centre. South-West Water has announced a hosepipe ban in the Chard area. Great Western Railway has apologised after a wheelchair user from Chard became stuck at one of its stations... and more
Friday 7th August

Chard's biggest employer, Numatic International, makers of the Henry vacuum cleaner, has announced job cuts. A new Neighbourhood Plan for Hatch Beauchamp has officially been adopted. Two historic artefacts taken from Glastonbury Abbey more than 70 years ago have been returned...and more
Thursday 6th August

A local man and convicted former neo-Nazi, selected by the Conservatives to stand in Crewkerne South in next year’s local elections for a seat on Somerset Council, has pulled out after a backlash against his candidacy. A charity that runs children's homes in Somerset is terminating its contract early following a critical report by Ofsted...and more
Wednesday 5th August

Avon and Somerset's Police and Crime Commissioner is backing the wider use of police drones in towns like Yeovil to help tackle crime. Visitor numbers at Somerset's tourist attractions are down by around sixty per cent so far this year. A gardening expert says it'll take much more than the occasional shower to revive Somerset's parched lawns, parks and open spaces...and more