An inspectorate report says there are concerns about the behaviours of some staff members of Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service. Leonardo Helicopters in Yeovil has set out its case for manufacturing a new fleet of aircraft for the British military. A Somerset charity that supports disadvantaged young people is looking to recruit more volunteers and the Lord Lieutenant of Somerset, Annie Maw, has completed her 70-mile Jubilee Jaunt.
An inspectorate report says there are concerns about the behaviours of some staff members of Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, including at stations in South Somerset. A report found some staff groups didn’t feel respected or valued. Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service says it's pleased with the progress it's made since the last inspection but knows there's more work to do.
Leonardo Helicopters in Yeovil has set out its case for manufacturing a new fleet of aircraft for the British military. Leonardo says it can deliver the AW149 into service by 2025 if chosen by the UK Government for the £1.2 billion contract. Leonardo claims it has the strongest commercial and social value offering for the contract with a platform that meets the requirements of the UK Armed Forces.
A Somerset charity that supports disadvantaged young people is looking to recruit more volunteers. Promise Works provides mentors to help young people improve their self-esteem and raise their aspirations. Kev O’Donnell, Deputy Chair of Promise Works says they’d like to hear from anyone who feels they could work as a mentor.
The Lord Lieutenant of Somerset, Annie Maw, has completed her 70-mile Jubilee Jaunt. Mrs. Maw, who broke her back in a horse riding accident 20 years ago, has spent the past two months criss-crossing Somerset in a motorised buggy, to celebrate Her Majesty’s 70-year reign.
A formal planning application has been made to carry out significant improvements to Yeovil’s Octagon Theatre, costing £15 million. The Halifax Bank in King George Street in Yeovil could be converted into 17 flats. A new young people’s centre opens in Chard early in the New Year...and more.
NHS Somerset reports a strong uptake of flu jabs, but some eligible people for free vaccinations haven’t come forward. Police are appealing for witnesses to an accident on the A303 in which a pedestrian was killed. A Crewkerne woman has gone viral on TikTok after being trapped inside a Lidl store in the town... and more.
Somerset Bus Partnership has welcomed a £24.7m boost for the county's bus services. Outline planning permission has been granted to build up to 100 new homes in Ilminster. An Ilminster man has been banned from keeping animals for seven years. Residents in Chiselborough have set up a group to try and re-open the village pub...and more.
Crewkerne Community Hospital is to lose half its inpatient beds. A review will be conducted of a project to make Bridgwater more pedestrian and cyclist-friendly. Chard Methodist Church is offering residents a free lunch on Christmas Day. Yeovil-based Screwfix is opening a new outlet in Minehead...and more.
Yeovil MP Adam Dance has warned that delays in ordering 30 new medium lift helicopters for the RAF is putting the future of Somerset’s defence industries at risk. Somerset's farmers are being urged to convert more cow manure into biogas to heat homes. A new visitor centre has opened at Ham Hill country park...and more
Parcel business, Evri, has been criticised by Glastonbury and Somerton MP Sarah Dyke over what she claims have been ‘widespread delivery failures’. Demand for mental health support provided by South Western Ambulance Service is running at record levels. A nine-year-old Somerset boy has completed 100 days of litter picking for charity...and more
New data shows that crime in the Avon and Somerset police area is at an all-time high. Ferne Animal Sanctuary near Chard has issued a warning to prospective pet owners ahead of Christmas. The owner of four pubs in Somerset has warned that many could be forced to shut unless the government reconsiders business rates...and more.
Toolstream in Yeovil has been put into administration, threatening the jobs of dozens of employees. NHS Somerset has issued a last chance call for people to get a flu jab after hospital admissions increased by 76% in a week. Police are investigating the theft of a bike valued at £7,000 in Sherborne... and more
Wednesday 24th December
Tuesday 23rd December
Monday 22nd December
Thursday 18th December
Wednesday 17th December
Tuesday 14th December
Monday 15th December
