Local News Monday 11th June

Monday, 11 July 2022 06:00

Yeovil MP Marcus Fysh is urging his colleagues to get on quickly with electing a new Leader of the Conservative party. The end of July has been set as the date for completing the long-running road improvement scheme on the A30 at Haselbury Plucknett. The charity Guide Dogs has criticised the government's decision to extend the E-scooter trial.

Yeovil MP Marcus Fysh is urging his colleagues to get on quickly with electing a new Leader of the Conservative party. Currently, there are nine candidates bidding for the top job with the process not expected to be completed before the Commons returns from summer recess in September. Mr. Fysh says a new Prime Minister is needed as soon as possible

The end of July has been set as the date for completing the long-running road improvement scheme on the A30 at Haselbury Plucknett, near Crewkerne. The scheme had been due to take thirteen weeks but had to be extended after the damage to a wall was found to be worse than anticipated. The scheme has so far cost Somerset County Council £283,000 to undertake.

The charity Guide Dogs has criticised the government's decision to extend the E-scooter trial, including in Yeovil, by 18 months before publishing its safety evaluation. The Department of Transport says the extension will help to build a better understanding of the benefits or otherwise of the E-scooter pilot.

Motorists travelling near Wincanton will have to add up to 17 miles to their journeys later this month to allow for repairs to take place. Somerset County Council plans to close the A371 north of the Holbrook roundabout for five weeks to replace drainage channels and gullies. The road will be shut between July 25 and August 26 with motorists diverted back to Sparkford, adding 17 miles to journeys.

People travelling in and out of Somerset by train this week are being reminded to bring a bottle of water with them. Great Western Railway has warned that there could be speed restrictions on some services because of the heat so that journeys could take longer than normal. People are being advised to check travel websites before making journeys.

More from News

Friday 31st October

There's anger in Chard about a road diversion in place alongside two sets of roadworks through the town. A motorcyclist has been injured in an accident in Bruton. £100,000 has been donated towards re-opening Shepton Mallet’s Amulet theatre... and more
Thursday 30th October

Bird flu has been found at a nature reserve in Somerset, closing part of it down. St Margaret’s Hospice in Somerset is calling for the hospice sector to be given more central funding. The Barrington Boar in Barrington has been placed 12th in The Good Food Guide’s list of 100 best pubs in Britain... and more
Wednesday 29th October

Police are investigating a suspected arson attack on a mobile home near Yeovil. Somerset Council is suggesting people turn their pumpkins into soup this Halloween. People in Yeovil have until Sunday to comment on controversial plans to sell off four car parks in the town centre... and more.
Tuesday 28th October

Plans have been submitted to build 12 new homes in Chard. A nursery in Yeovil has been rated ‘overall good' by Ofsted. A Somerset mortgage broker has achieved national recognition. A stretch of the M5 at Wellington will be shut every night this week...and more
Monday 27th October

The Unite union has announced four days of strikes by its members at Leonardo in Yeovil. One of Yeovil’s busiest roads is closed to traffic today. Staff at the Ferne Animal Sanctuary near Chard raised £3,000 taking part in a Sleeping Ruff challenge at the weekend...and more
Friday 24th October

New figures show that 500 young people were either injured or killed on roads in Somerset and Devon last year. The Old School Community Centre in Queen Camel has reopened, thanks to a donation of £10,000 from Somerset Freemasons. Two Fleet Air Arm engineers based at RNAS Yeovilton have recreated a family moment from 26 years ago...and more
Thursday 23rd October

Yeovil-born actress Sarah Parish is supporting efforts to reopen the Octagon theatre. Mobility scooter campaigners in Somerset have welcomed a government review of the legislation governing the use of mobility scooters on public highways. Changes are being made to the dates when garden waste is collected in Somerset...and more
Wednesday 22nd October

A major house builder in the South West says government targets for new house building in Somerset are 'unrealistic'. Pizza Hut is closing its restaurant in Yeovil. Staff at the Ferne Animal Sanctuary near Chard will be taking part in a ‘Sleeping Ruff’ challenge tomorrow...and more .