Friday 28th March

Friday, 28 March 2025 06:00

By Steve Haigh

First Bus has invested £12 million in buying 26 electric buses to run on routes in Somerset. Approval has been given to build 18 new homes in South Petherton. Somerset’s recycling sites, including Yeovil, will revert to their spring opening times next week. This year’s Somerset Drama Festival has been won by Ilminster Entertainments Society...and more.

A fleet of new electric buses will soon start running on Somerset roads. First Bus has bought 26 of the zero-emission vehicles at a cost of £12 million, £2 million of which has been provided by the government. The electric buses will run on all routes in Somerset, including in Yeovil.

Organisers of this weekend’s Yeovil Half Marathon are reminding runners of a change to the start line. In previous years, the race has started outside the library in South Street. This year it will start on the High Street, outside Superdrug. Around 1400 people have so far registered to compete in Sunday’s Yeovil half-marathon.

People in Yeovil are being asked to have their say on plans to extend dog control measures in Ninesprings Country Park..The measures, which include a dog exclusion zone as well as making owners keep their animals on leads, expire in June. Somerset Council wants to extend the protection orders by three years and has started a public consultation that runs until the 5th May.

Somerset’s recycling sites, including Yeovil, will revert to their spring opening times next week. From Tuesday, April 1st, all of Somerset’s 16 recycling sites will open from 9 am to 6 pm Monday to Friday, and 9 am to 4 pm at weekends.

Final approval has been given to build 18 new homes in South Petherton. The houses will be built off Lampreys Lane by Acorn Homes of Taunton. The application, that’s been on hold for five years, was approved at a meeting of Somerset Council’s Area South Planning Committee after the developer agreed to additional phosphate mitigation on the site.

This year’s Somerset Drama Festival has been won by Ilminster Entertainments Society with their production of My Best Friend. The festival, featuring nine groups performing 10 plays, was held at the Warehouse Theatre in Ilminster.

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Friday 12th December

The Chief Executive of Somerset Council, Duncan Sharkey, has admitted to making mistakes in cutting jobs. Yeovil MP Adam Dance is supporting a Lib Dem initiative to introduce a new ‘Farm First’ training scheme. Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance has launched an appeal to help buy a second helicopter... and more.
Thursday 11th December

A man has appeared in court in connection with an attack in Wincanton. A member of Somerset Council, jailed for 26 months for taking part in a Just Stop Oil protest, may not have to stand down as a councillor. NHS Somerset has announced that changes to stroke services at Yeovil Hospital will "go live" in the spring of next year...and more
Wednesday 10th December

Avon and Somerset Police say 62 drivers were arrested in the first week of the Christmas drink and drug driving campaign. A reindeer farm near Yeovil thinks it may have to close after being told it needs a Zoo licence. Father Christmas has made a special delivery of presents to Charlton Farm Children's Hospice in Somerset...and more
Tuesday 9th December

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Avon and Somerset has criticised the government for axing the role. Police are appealing for witnesses to a road traffic accident near Ilminster in which a woman was seriously injured. Residents of Freedom Avenue in Yeovil are raising funds for charity with a big display of Christmas lights...and more.
Monday 8th December

Plans to build 150 new homes in Ilminster have been scrapped. A Somerset councillor has been jailed for 26 months. Marks & Spencer wants to build a new Food Store in Ilminster. Poundland has announced that it’s shutting its store in Middle Street in Yeovil...and more
Friday 5th December

Police are appealing for witnesses after an assault on a man in Chard. Lloyds Banking Group has announced a date for closing the Halifax in Yeovil. Train journeys on the Castle Cary to Taunton line will be disrupted next week due to engineering work. The mental health charity MIND in Somerset has produced a Christmas advent calendar... and more.
Thursday 4th December

The Chief Constable of Avon and Somerset Police says her force is doing all it can to reduce anti-social behaviour. Somerset Council has deferred a decision on introducing Sunday car parking charges. People living in deprived areas in Somerset are being fast-tracked for hospital treatment...and more
Wednesday 3rd December

Fire crews have rescued the driver of a car that got stuck in floodwater near Ilminster. Avon and Somerset Police are urging people going out to celebrate this Christmas to book a taxi or use public transport. A woman from South Petherton has come top at the British Down Syndrome Swimming Championships...and more,