A new scheme, aimed at making women feel safer when out and about, is being piloted in Somerset. Somerset-based Olympic swimmer, Brodie Williams, says more needs to be done to stop the closure of public swimming pools. Michael Ball and Deborah Meaden are two of the big names appearing at this year’s Yeovil Literary Festival...and more.
A new scheme, aimed at making women feel safer when out and about is being piloted in Somerset. It’s part of efforts by Avon and Somerset Police to tackle violence against women and girls. Called ‘Walk and Talk’, women can arrange to meet with a female officer to show them areas where they feel most at risk.
The Department of Culture, Media and Sport says it is keen to hear what Somerset Council intends to do next with up-grading Yeovil’s Octagon Theatre after plans to spend £29 million on the project were paused due to rising costs. A new business plan is now being prepared with the aim of finding new ways to fund the upgrade to make it more affordable.
Somerset-based Olympic swimmer and Commonwealth Gold Medalist Brodie Williams says more should be done to protect access for children to learn how to swim. Swim England and Ofsted have both warned that public swimming is under threat due to pool closures and high energy costs.
Michael Ball, Deborah Meaden, and poet Roger McGough are some of the big names appearing at this year’s Yeovil Literary Festival. It runs from Thursday, October 26th until Monday, October 30th with forty-three leading authors taking part.
A coffee morning held in Chard has raised £2,000 for the cancer charity Macmillan. It was organised by the family of Guy Warren who hold the event every year in his memory.
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.
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
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
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.
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
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.
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
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,