Local News Monday 14th November

Monday, 14 November 2022 06:00

A report just out says the new Somerset Council is facing a shortfall in its budget of £74.2 million pounds and that urgent savings will have to be made. A Yeovil car dealership is set to expand into an empty office block. Police are appealing for witnesses to a road traffic accident in Kingsbury Episcopi. Unpaid carers in Somerset aren't getting the support they need. The Reverend Michael Beasley has been installed as the new Bishop of Bath and Wells...and more.

A report just out says the new Somerset Council is facing a shortfall in its budget of £74.2 million pounds and that urgent savings will have to be made. The new Council, which will replace the County Council and four district councils in Somerset, including South Somerset District Council, has already identified savings of £27.8 million but the report says for the budget to balance, further savings of £38.2million will have to be made. The Executive at Somerset County Council, who are overseeing the launch of the new unitary Somerset Council meet on Wednesday this week to consider ways in which further spending cuts can be made.

A Yeovil car dealership is set to expand into an empty office block. Yeovil Audi on the Houndstone Business Park has been given permission to extend into Brunel House which stands opposite its car showroom on the Houndstone Business Park. The permission includes a change of use on the building from offices to a vehicle repair facility.

Police are appealing for witnesses to a road traffic accident in Kingsbury Episcopi. It happened on Tuesday, November 8th at around 7.40 am when a cyclist collided with a blue VW Golf in Dudmoor. Police want to hear from anyone with dashcam footage of either the car or cyclist before the accident.

Unpaid carers in Somerset aren't getting the support they need. A new report from Carers UK shows that many unpaid carers face difficulties getting NHS treatment for the people they look after and are struggling to pay their bills.

The Reverend Michael Beasley has been installed as the new Bishop of Bath and Wells. He’s the 80th Bishop to hold the office which is the third highest ranked position in the Church of England. His enthronement was held at Wells Cathedral at the weekend watched on by a congregation of 900.

£2,700 has been donated to the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance thanks to the efforts of staff and customers at Plumbase in Yeovil. Plumbase, who have their bathroom showroom on the Pen Mill trading estate, raised the money through various events including a skittles and curry night, World Cup sweepstakes, and giving customers a free meat pie in return for a donation to the Air Ambulance.

A new exhibition of fashion in Somerset from the 1700’s onwards has opened at the Museum of Somerset. It features everything from utility wear from the post war era to a wedding dress made in 1910.

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