Local News Friday 11th November

Friday, 11 November 2022 at 06:00

The chair of the Somerset Association of Secondary Heads says national funding for schools needs to be "re-prioritised" towards rural areas like Somerset. Nurses in Somerset have voted for strike action in their dispute over pay. Firefighters were called out to nearly 1,000 local outdoor incidents during this summer’s exceptionally hot weather. A stretch of the A303 in South Somerset will close tonight for work to remove a temporary bridge...and more.

The chair of the Somerset Association of Secondary Heads says national funding for schools needs to be "re-prioritised" towards rural areas like Somerset. Mark Woodlock was responding to a county council report which says Somerset is now "clearly one of the weakest areas nationally" for its educational outcomes, from early years right through to GCSE results. In response, the Department for Education says it understands the challenges facing schools, driven by high inflation. It's providing schools with almost £54 billion this year in core funding, including a cash increase of £4 billion for this financial year. This is a 7% per pupil increase in cash terms across schools and for the provision of higher-needs education.

Nurses in Somerset have voted for strike action in their dispute over pay. Walkouts at local hospitals and community teams are expected to take place before the end of the year - but emergency care won't be affected. Lucy Muchina is the regional director of the Royal College of Nurses for the South West. The government says it has given a pay rise to nurses in line with the independent NHS Pay Review body’s recommendation.

Firefighters were called out to nearly 1,000 local outdoor incidents during this summer’s exceptionally hot weather. The exact number of call-outs was 974, which compares to the fire service attending 395 similar incidents in the same period last year. The summer of 2022 was recorded as the sixth driest ever in Somerset.

A stretch of the A303 in South Somerset will close tonight for work to remove a temporary bridge. The road will shut at 10 pm tonight between the Hazlegrove and Podimore roundabouts and not re-open until 5 am on Monday. Diversions will be in operation along the A359 and the A37.

Police are investigating an alleged assault on a woman near Ilchester. They say it happened last Thursday during the afternoon in Limington. Anyone with information is asked to call the non-emergency number 101.

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Friday 30th October

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Thursday 29th October

A Yeovil man has been detained under the Mental Health Act for attacking his mother with a knife. People in Chard are being reminded that it’s unlawful to attach flags to lamp posts and street furniture. Wincanton Racecourse has called off its 'Badger Chase Day' because the ground is too firm... and more
Wednesday 28th October

Leweston School near Sherborne has announced that it is closing with immediate effect. NHS Somerset could merge with neighbours in Bath and North-East Somerset and Dorset to cut costs. Somerset’s Lord-Lieutenant has launched a campaign to get more people nominated for national honours... and more
Tuesday 27th October

Work has started building a new six-million-pound flood defence scheme in Taunton. Plans have been submitted to build a new church hall in Martock. People are being asked to donate gifts to this year’s Chard Christmas Present Appeal... and more
Monday 26th October

Eligible groups in Somerset are being encouraged to get their flu jabs. There’s a rare opportunity to get a behind-the-scenes look inside Avon & Somerset Police’s control room. Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader, Daisy Cooper MP, has visited Yeovil... and more.
Friday 23rd October

Somerset is the 11th most challenging place in England to be a child according to a report. Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire could have its own elected ‘Wessex Mayor’ by 2028. Cricketer, Ian Botham returns to the county this weekend... and more.
Thursday 22nd October

The NFU says that testing for the virus Bluetongue needs to be sped up. Construction of new flats on Yeovil’s Grimsby Corner site will officially begin next year. The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for wind tomorrow... and more.
Wednesday 21st October

The owner of campsite in Somerset says a two-thousand-seven-hundred percent increase in business rates will be 'catastrophic' for his business. Plans to build nearly 300 new homes on the outskirts of Chard have been given the go ahead. Yeovil Town are through to the first round proper of the FA Cup after beating Leatherhead 5-2 at Huish Park last night... and more