Local News Friday 26th August

    Local fish and chip shop owners say they're struggling to stay open because of the rising cost of ingredients, and customers cutting back on eating out. A campaign’s been launched to stop the closure of the ticket office at Crewkerne railway station. A Somerton mother has set up a Facebook group for buying and selling school uniforms and a Somerset father says he’s concerned about his son losing his teeth because he can’t find an NHS dentist to look after him.

    Local fish and chip shop owners say they're struggling to stay open because of the rising cost of ingredients, and customers cutting back on eating out. The price of cod has almost doubled over the past twelve months, and sunflower oil prices have soared since the invasion of Ukraine. The National Federation of Fish Fryers says 60 percent of chip shops have reduced their opening hours to keep energy costs down. 

    A campaign’s been launched to stop the closure of the ticket office at Crewkerne railway station. Local train users held a protest outside the station earlier this week holding-up signs saying “Cut profits, not ticket offices.” The protest follows reports that up to one thousand ticket offices at train stations across Britain could be closed and replaced with ticket machines.

    A Somerton mother has set up a Facebook group for buying and selling school uniforms. Nikki Allen says the site has been extra busy with families swapping and buying uniforms from each other, with visits to the site higher than usual due to the cost-of-living crisis.

    A Somerset father says he’s concerned about his son losing his teeth because he can’t find an NHS dentist to look after him. Ezekiel was born with a cleft palate and needs regular check-ups. His dad, Simon Pickard, says at the moment his only option to get treatment is to go private, which he can’t afford.
     

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    Today's Weather

    • Yeovil

      Medium-level cloud

      High: 11°C | Low: 8°C

    • Chard

      Medium-level cloud

      High: 11°C | Low: 8°C

    • Crewkerne

      Medium-level cloud

      High: 11°C | Low: 8°C

    • Somerton

      Medium-level cloud

      High: 12°C | Low: 9°C

    • Wincanton

      Medium-level cloud

      High: 11°C | Low: 8°C

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