The Leader of Somerset Council says a five-million pound bill for making twenty-nine senior managers redundant is a good deal for council taxpayers. Great Western Railway has added an extra forty-four trains each week to its timetable. Merriot Primary School has again been rated as ‘Good’ following an Ofsted inspection....and more.
The Leader of Somerset Council, Councillor Bill Revans says a five-million pound bill for making twenty-nine senior managers redundant is a good deal for council taxpayers. The managers worked at the four district councils and county council, which were combined to form the new unitary Somerset Council in April.
Great Western Railway, which runs services through Castle Cary station, has added an extra forty-four trains each week to its timetable. GWR says people are using trains differently post-pandemic, and additional services are needed to meet demand.
Merriot Primary School in Merriot has again been rated as ‘Good’ by Ofsted. Their inspectors visited the school in March, having rated it as ‘Good’ following an earlier inspection.
Somerset's main water provider Wessex Water says it'll triple investment to modernise storm overflows and tackle pollution but not for another two years. Their plans also include spending fifteen million pounds on a new water pumping station and pipeline at Ubley in Somerset. It comes following a joint apology from all of England's water companies for not doing enough to tackle pollution.
Yeovil Town have announced a pre-season friendly at Western League Premier side Buckland Athletic. The Glovers will travel to the Newton Abbot based club on Saturday 8th July.
People in Somerset are being asked to take part in a new survey about alcohol use. Yeovil's MP Adam Dance will lead a debate in Parliament today on NHS dentistry. A Yeovil runner has been selected to represent England at a national endurance championship... and more
It's claimed the increasing availability of drugs such as ketamine and cocaine has normalised drug use among young people in Somerset. The trial of a man accused of killing his one-month-old son in Chard begins today at Bristol Crown Court. A stone pillar outside the Langport Arms Hotel in Langport has been replaced after it was destroyed in a car crash... and more
Sir Keir Starmer has paid tribute to the three aircrew from RNAS Yeovilton who died in last week's helicopter crash in Devon. Two men have been arrested and stolen vehicles seized following a major multi-agency operation in South Somerset. An event highlighting opportunities for women in the aerospace industry has been held in Yeovil... and more
The public will be consulted on how best to spend fifty million pounds of government funding to tackle flooding in Somerset. Avon and Somerset Police are backing a new road safety campaign aimed at reducing motorcycle fatalities. New welcome signs have been installed at entrances to the Mendip Hills National Landscape... and more
The government has announced a £50 million investment to strengthen Somerset’s flood defences. A woman from Stoke-sub-Hamdon has been banned from driving for 14 months after admitting drink-driving. Somerset Council has been told it must improve its adult social care services... and more
Plans for a new railway station in Langport remain stalled in Whitehall, according to Somerset Council. Plans to build 50 new homes in Broadway, near Ilminster, have been refused. The new water fountains in Yeovil’s Triangle, in Lower Middle Street, are being switched off during very hot weather because of safety concerns... and more.
A new NHS dental practice in Crewkerne says it won’t start operating at full capacity until July due to staff shortages. Somerset Council says it has no plans to show England matches in the World Cup on the Big Screen in Yeovil town centre due to safety concerns. A Somerset family has been thanked after completing a 73-mile walk raising money for a third world charity... and more
An investigation continues today into the crash of a Royal Navy helicopter, based at RNAS Yeovilton, in which all three aircrew were killed. Somerset Council has confirmed that a new operator will take over several leisure centres across the county. The new live-action Masters of the Universe movie, filmed in Somerset, is released this week...and more