Somerset County Council is to end its lease agreement on renting Dillington House, near Ilminster. The Falkland Square shopping centre in Crewkerne has a new owner. There’ll be no fireworks display at Sherborne Castle this year. Somerset County Council says it’s expecting more care homes to shut this winter because of rising costs and staff shortages. Wessex Water is undertaking water main works on two roads in Chard and Ilminster later this month...and more.
Local News Friday 23rd September
Somerset County Council is to end its lease agreement on renting Dillington House, near Ilminster. The council has been a tenant at the stately home since the 1960s using it for adult education and weddings. Somerset County Council says it’s pulling out because it can no longer justify the costs involved in subsidising the running of the venue.
The Falkland Square shopping centre in Crewkerne has a new owner. The complex that consists of eleven retail units has been acquired by Evolve Estates Ltd, a firm of London-based property investors.
There’ll be no fireworks display at Sherborne Castle this year. The event was due to take place on Saturday, November 4th but organisers have cancelled holding it blaming rising costs.
Somerset County Council says it’s expecting more care homes to shut this winter because of rising costs and staff shortages. Eight homes in Somerset went out of business in the last six months. The council has set aside 1.2 million pounds to deal with any further closures.
Wessex Water is undertaking water main works on two roads in Chard and Ilminster later this month. From October 3rd to November 25th temporary traffic lights will operate on the old A303 through Ilminster as work takes place there. In Chard, Summerfields Road will be closed in places from September 22nd to November 3rd for repairs to take place.
Sixteen-year-old, Becca Randolph from Chaffcombe, near Chard, has raised £750 for charity by taking part in a skydive. Becca made her brave descent at Dunkeswell Airfield near Honiton last weekend and has donated the money she raised to a national learning disability charity.
The first of the new medium lift helicopters being built by Leonardo in Yeovil for the RAF will be delivered in 2031. Somerset Council has launched a public consultation on planned new charges at its two hundred public car parks. More women in Somerset are said to be taking up walking football... and more
A Yeovil headteacher says he’s concerned about plans to stop giving school holiday food vouchers to families on low incomes. The owner of Yeovil Town is calling on fans to be patient as he continues his overhaul of the National League side. A high voltage fault is being blamed for plunging 1700 homes into darkness in the Ilminster area... and more
Plans have been submitted to convert two properties in Yeovil into houses of multiple occupation. A new court date has been announced for a Yeovil man charged with attempted murder. An engineer who has worked at the Leonardo factory in Yeovil for 40-years has won a top industry award... and more
Police say a fire at the former Oscar Mayer food factory in Chard was started deliberately. Yeovil College says it would have been adversely affected had Leonardo not won the contract to build new medium-lift helicopters. A seven-foot dragon will be visiting towns and villages in our area during the next few weeks to promote Somerset Day... and more
Two Wildcat helicopters from 815 Squadron at RNAS Yeovilton have arrived in Cyprus to help protect RAF Akrotiri from further Iranian drone strikes. New figures show that 40 people were killed on Avon and Somerset’s roads in the last 12-months. A Somerset man has been recalling the day 60-years ago when he was a passenger on the last train on the Somerset and Dorset Railway... and more
Defence Minister Luke Pollard has been explaining why it took the government so long to confirm a contract for the Leonardo in Yeovil to build new medium lift helicopters for the RAF. Police are investigating a break in at a pet shop in Ilminster. Somerset Council is to stop using red ink on council tax reminder letters... and more
Two military helicopters from RNAS Yeovilton are being sent to Cyprus to help bolster UK’s defences amid the US-Israel war with Iran. Yeovil Town Council is seeking legal advice over the closure of the hyper acute stroke unit at Yeovil Hospital. Flood warnings have been lifted on the Somerset Levels... and more
A man has died in a fire in Wincanton. Somerset Council is planning further cuts of twenty-one million pounds to help balance its books. A campaign to raise £30,000 for a minibus has been launched in Chard... and more