Around forty new jobs could be created at Leonardo in Yeovil. Test flights for so-called air taxis are set to take place in the South West by 2024. Somerset Wildlife Trust has criticised the government for delaying the introduction of new laws to protect Beavers and South Somerset District Council made an income of £2.8 million pounds from two battery storage sites.
Around forty new jobs could be created at Leonardo in Yeovil following a sixty million pound contract awarded by the government. It’s to deliver a new type of drone, capable of taking off and landing vertically, for the Royal Navy. Leonardo says the bulk of the work on the Rotary Wing Un-crewed Air System Technology Programme, will take place at its factory on Lysander Road in Yeovil.
Test flights for so-called air taxis are set to take place in the South West by 2024. Unveiled at the Farnborough Air Show, they would take off and land vertically like a helicopter, carrying up to four passengers and travelling at speeds of up to 200 miles an hour.
Somerset Wildlife Trust has criticised the government for delaying the introduction of new laws to protect Beavers. The Trust claims research has shown that Beavers help with flood management and improve water quality. The Trust is urging the government to get on with giving Beavers greater protection because of the good they do.
South Somerset District Council made an income of £2.8 million pounds from two battery storage sites that it owns in the last financial year April 2021 to March 2022. The Council invested £43.5 in creating the sites - one of which is on the outskirts of Taunton and the other near Fareham in Hampshire. The sites store surplus electricity and sell it back to the National Grid at peak times.
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,
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