Friday 21st March

Friday, 21 March 2025 05:00

By Steve Haigh

Leonardo in Yeovil is developing a new type of self-flying helicopter. A report into the creation of Somerset Council has found the case for it to be 'weak' and marked by 'poor decision making'. The village of Montecute has been told that it may have one of the country's oldest working clocks...and more.

Leonardo is developing a new type of self-flying helicopter in Yeovil. The aircraft, believed to be the first of its kind in the world, will be used by the Royal Navy. Managing Director of Leonardo in Yeovil, Nigel Colman, says the future of the Yeovil factory is dependent, to a very large extent, on the success of the self-flying helicopter.

A report into the creation of Somerset Council has found the case for it was 'weak' and marked by 'poor decision making'. The Chartered Institute of Public Finance says the authority was put in a 'perilous financial position' when it started up in 2023. Leader of Somerset Council, Councillor Bill Revans, has welcomed the report’s findings saying its recommendations will be acted upon.

Around 100 people in Chard have been left without an internet connection. It follows an incident in which a car collided with a green cabinet on Furnham Road, cutting off the internet in the area. Openreach has apologised and says it’s waiting for the National Grid to reconnect the cabinet to the mains electricity.

The village of Montecute has been told that it may have one of the country's oldest working clocks. Experts, working on restoring the clock at St Catherine’s Church have dated it to the 15th century.

Motorists are being advised that the A361 at Burrowbridge on the Somerset Levels will be shut for ten days next month. This will allow Wessex Water to carry out the second part of a water main replacement project. The A361 will be shut in both directions at Burrowbridge from Monday, April 7th to Thursday, April 17th.

Sir Tim Rice, co-writer with Andrew Lloyd-Webber of famous tunes like ‘Don’t Cry For Me Argentina’ and ‘Any Dream Will Do’ is coming with his touring music show to Yeovil next month. Sir Tim will be at the Westland Entertainment venue on Tuesday, April 15th, with ‘My life in musicals - I know him so well’ featuring singers and musicians from London’s West End.

More from News

Thursday 30th October

Bird flu has been found at a nature reserve in Somerset, closing part of it down. St Margaret’s Hospice in Somerset is calling for the hospice sector to be given more central funding. The Barrington Boar in Barrington has been placed 12th in The Good Food Guide’s list of 100 best pubs in Britain... and more
Wednesday 29th October

Police are investigating a suspected arson attack on a mobile home near Yeovil. Somerset Council is suggesting people turn their pumpkins into soup this Halloween. People in Yeovil have until Sunday to comment on controversial plans to sell off four car parks in the town centre... and more.
Tuesday 28th October

Plans have been submitted to build 12 new homes in Chard. A nursery in Yeovil has been rated ‘overall good' by Ofsted. A Somerset mortgage broker has achieved national recognition. A stretch of the M5 at Wellington will be shut every night this week...and more
Monday 27th October

The Unite union has announced four days of strikes by its members at Leonardo in Yeovil. One of Yeovil’s busiest roads is closed to traffic today. Staff at the Ferne Animal Sanctuary near Chard raised £3,000 taking part in a Sleeping Ruff challenge at the weekend...and more
Friday 24th October

New figures show that 500 young people were either injured or killed on roads in Somerset and Devon last year. The Old School Community Centre in Queen Camel has reopened, thanks to a donation of £10,000 from Somerset Freemasons. Two Fleet Air Arm engineers based at RNAS Yeovilton have recreated a family moment from 26 years ago...and more
Thursday 23rd October

Yeovil-born actress Sarah Parish is supporting efforts to reopen the Octagon theatre. Mobility scooter campaigners in Somerset have welcomed a government review of the legislation governing the use of mobility scooters on public highways. Changes are being made to the dates when garden waste is collected in Somerset...and more
Wednesday 22nd October

A major house builder in the South West says government targets for new house building in Somerset are 'unrealistic'. Pizza Hut is closing its restaurant in Yeovil. Staff at the Ferne Animal Sanctuary near Chard will be taking part in a ‘Sleeping Ruff’ challenge tomorrow...and more .
Tuesday 21st October

Reckleford in Yeovil is to shut for 15 days for essential drainage works. Somerset NHS Foundation Trust has paid out compensation of £23 million for claims related to birth injuries. A Grade II listed building in Glastonbury has been converted into a health and wellbeing centre...and more