Local News Monday 13th September

Monday, 13 September 2021 at 06:00

A new report claims that young people in Somerset are carrying knives because of what they see on social media. Dentists in Somerset are reporting an increase in tooth extractions since Covid restrictions were eased. A man has died in a road accident near Chard. Two pub owners on the A37 outside Yeovil are complaining about roadworks losing them business. Work begins today on relaying damaged and worn-out track on the Paddington to Penzance line at Somerton...and more.

A new report claims that young people in Somerset are carrying knives because of what they see on social media. The county's Violence Reduction Unit says young people think they need to carry knives for protection although the number of reported cases is low.

Dentists in Somerset are reporting an increase in tooth extractions since Covid restrictions were eased. During lockdown, people were unable to get appointments, which has led to a build-up of patients needing treatment now.

A man has died in a road accident near Chard. His car left the A358 at Hornsbury Hill and ended up in a ditch early Saturday morning. A woman passenger was injured in the crash. Police are appealing for witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage of the accident to contact them.

Two pub owners on the A37 outside Yeovil are complaining about roadworks losing them business. The Dorchester Road between Yeovil Showground and turn off to Stofford is being closed for 13 hours a day for resurfacing. Steven Graham who runs The Red House on Dorchester Road says his takings are down 25 percent. While Pete Lambden at the Quicksilver Mail says his passing trade has all but disappeared. Somerset County Council says Dorchester Road needs resurfacing and that the work should be finished by the end of this week.

Work begins today on relaying damaged and worn-out track on the Paddington to Penzance line at Somerton. The work will take place overnight when passenger trains are not running and will last until mid-November. Network Rail says with teams working through the night people living close to the line will experience some noise nuisance.

More from News

Thursday 12th November

Somerset’s gritters are on standby as temperatures fall below freezing in parts of the county. A major restoration project at Montacute House near Yeovil is nearing completion. Two pubs in our area have been named among the UK's top 100 in the latest Good Food Guide rankings... and more
Wednesday 11th November

Two-thirds of police officers at Avon and Somerset Police say they're often too fatigued to carry out their duties. A local councillor is calling for more female-only accommodation to be provided to help end rough sleeping. Somerset’s motorway service stations have been ranked among some of the worst in the country... and more
Tuesday 10th November

Somerset’s housing target could be cut by almost 15,000 homes. More than half a million pounds in Arts Council funding to Taunton’s Brewhouse Theatre has been handed back. People in Somerset with type 2 diabetes are being invited to join a new research study... and more
Monday 9th November

Facial recognition cameras are to be used by police in Somerset for the first time. Badger culling against bovine TB has officially ended in Somerset. The 5-star Summer Lodge Hotel in Evershot has a new owner...and more
Friday 6th November

Up to 70 jobs could go at the Leonardo helicopter factory in Yeovil. Police are investigating a fire at the former Pittard factory in Yeovil. Families on low incomes are being offered tickets at just £3 to this year’s Yeovil pantomime...and more
Thursday 5th November

South West Water says reservoir levels in Somerset are starting to recover after recent heavy rainfall. Castle Cary railway station is to get a new footbridge. A young dancer from Martock has been chosen to perform with the English Youth Ballet... and more
Wednesday 4th November

People in Somerset will go to the polls in May 2028 to elect a new mayor for the Wessex region. A Somerset farmer who failed a breath test after being caught asleep at the wheel of his tractor has narrowly avoided losing his driving licence. The new Ham Hill Visitor Centre has been named a regional winner in the Building Excellence Awards 2026... and more
tuesday 3rd November

Somerset Council says it doesn’t have the money to improve its planning enforcement team. Drivers are being advised that work to replace the central barrier on the M5 near Wellington starts this week. A health food shop in Chard has been crowned High Street Shop of the Year... and more