Local News Friday 11th November

Friday, 11 November 2022 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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Tuesday 15th September

Police investigating an attack on a shop worker in Yeovil have released CCTV images of a man and woman they want to speak to. Farmers in Somerset are being warned to expect more cases of bluetongue. Ilminster Carnival Committee has announced the cancellation of this year's Children's Carnival due to a lack of entries... and more
Monday 14th September

Two new mobile NHS breast screening units have taken to the road in Somerset. More than 700 new homes are to be built alongside the M5 in Bridgwater. Dawes Twineworks in West Coker is one of several venues open to the public for free this month... and more
Friday 11th September

It’s going to cost more to park in Chard. Police have issued an image of a man they want to speak to in connection with two burglaries in Yeovil. Somerset Cricket Club is planning to stage performances by some of the world's biggest artistes at their Taunton ground... and more
Thursday 10th September

Work has begun building a new multi-million-pound David Lloyd leisure centre in Yeovil. NHS Somerset says a new system to handle emergency stroke care will lead to "better outcomes" for patients. Tickets for next year’s Glastonbury Festival will go on sale in October...and more
Wednesday 9th September

Police have released an image of a man they want to speak to following an assault in Yeovil. Businesses in Taunton say they're worried that planned changes to parking rules could put people off visiting the town. The Red Arrows will take to the skies near the Somerset border in a one-off display later this week... and more
Tuesday 8th September

Police in Avon and Somerset say they’re dealing with a big increase in reports of cloned vehicle fraud. A new video system designed to speed up stroke care has been launched in Somerset. Pilgrims are walking through Somerset this week to mark eight hundred years since the death of Saint Francis of Assisi... and more
Monday 7th September

Avon and Somerset Police are warning about a new scam involving criminals posing as police officers. Flu vaccinations are now available on the NHS ahead of the winter. Liverpool comedian John Bishop has cancelled his show in Taunton later this week after breaking his ankle... and more
Friday 4th September

Police are investigating a suspected arson attack on a vehicle near Shepton Mallet. New taxi charges come into force in Somerset later this month. The fire service is treating as accidental a blaze at a flat in Yeovil town centre... and more