Friday 6th June

Friday, 6 June 2025 06:00

By Steve Haigh

Community Speedwatch volunteers in Keinton Mandeville have stopped monitoring the local traffic because of online and verbal abuse. Redstart Primary School in Chard has been rated as ‘Good’ by Ofsted. A care home resident in Glastonbury has raised more than one thousand pounds for Children's Hospice Southwest by knitting soft toys...and more.

Community Speedwatch volunteers in Keinton Mandeville are temporarily pausing their activities due to online and verbal abuse. Somerset Council has talked about introducing a 20 mph speed limit in the village. The volunteers say they will only return to monitoring the local traffic once it comes into force. John Walker, a Speedwatch volunteer in Keinton Mandeville, says he and his colleagues have been subjected to the worst kind of abuse, and they’ve had enough of it.

Redstart Primary School in Chard has been rated as ‘Good’ by Ofsted. Inspectors spent two days assessing the school and praised its 'high expectations' and 'ambitious curriculum', ‘positive student behaviour’ and ‘personal development opportunities’.

Revised plans have been submitted to build 43 new homes at Queen Camel. If changes to the original application granted in 2019 are approved by Somerset Council, the homes will be built on West Camel Road. As part of the planning consent, developers, Ashford Homes Ltd, will provide nearly £300,000 towards new places at Countess Gytha Primary School and £60,000 towards new play equipment in Queen Camel.

A contractor has been appointed to rebuild the carnival sheds on Bristol Road in Bridgwater. The work, costing £5 million, involves replacing the existing sheds with 14 new ones, each equipped with heating, lighting, and running water.

A care home resident in Glastonbury has raised over £ 1,000 for Children's Hospice Southwest by knitting soft toys. Peggy Moore, who’s 93, lives at the Brunel Care Home in Glastonbury. She’s sold more than 100 of her knitted items for the charity.

Silver Street in Ilminster will be closed to traffic tomorrow and on Sunday. It’s to allow for a food and craft market to be held between the Market Square and Court Barton. Residents of Silver Street are kindly requested to remove their vehicles by 7:00 a.m. tomorrow.

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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

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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

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Tuesday 2nd December

A 33-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a serious assault in Wincanton. Fire crews have dealt with a house fire in the village of Pitney. Plans have been submitted to redevelop Bridgwater Docks into a cultural and tourist destination. Ilminster's annual Christmas tree festival has opened in the town...and more
Monday 1st December

New figures show that crime in the Avon and Somerset police area rose by 8% in the year to June. South Western Railway has restarted running hourly services through Sherborne, Yeovil and Crewkerne following months of disruption. Persimmon Homes South West has donated £1500 towards the running costs of Castle Cary Rugby Club...and more