Monday 15th July

Monday, 15 July 2024 06:00

By Steve Haigh

Yeovil Hospital says a new operating theatre, specialising in orthopaedic surgery, is on target to open by the end of the year. Somerset Council’s ruling executive meets today to decide on paying its waste contractor, Suez, an extra 47 million pounds. Six thousand children at thirty primary schools in Somerset have taken part in a musical promotion in support of Team GB at the Paris Olympics...and more.

Yeovil Hospital says a new operating theatre, specialising in orthopaedic surgery, is on target to open by the end of the year. The theatre is currently being built on the roof of an existing four-storey building and will bring the number of operating theatres to five at Yeovil Hospital.

Somerset Council’s ruling executive meets today to decide on paying its waste contractor, Suez, an extra 47 million pounds to keep emptying Somerset's bins. Suez says it’s making big losses operating its waste contract with Somerset Council and needs the extra 47 million pounds to stay afloat. A report to today’s meeting says paying Suez the 47 million pounds will cost Somerset Council less than bringing the waste collection service ‘in-house’ or re-tendering the contract.

Wessex Water says its customers in Somerset will see their bills reduce by around two percent, despite water prices nationally going up. Wessex Water says the average household bill will be £497. Meanwhile, South West Water customers in Somerset face paying 13 percent more for water, with the average household bill rising to £560.

A former Press Officer at Yeovil Town says he’s lucky to still be walking after developing a serious back problem. James Healey was given emergency surgery after a bundle of nerves became trapped at the bottom of his spine, a condition known as Cauda Equina Syndrome. As a thank you to the Bristol hospital that treated him, James is currently completing a 100 km fund raising walk.

Six thousand children at thirty primary schools in Somerset have taken part in a musical promotion in support of Team GB at the Paris Olympics. Their voices have been brought together on a Voices for Life project to record the sporting anthem ‘Let's Go’.

More from News

Friday 27th February

The CEO of Leonardo has suggested the UK government could make an announcement immindently about ordering new medium lift helicopters to be built in Yeovil. A family run hardware business in Yeovil has gone into administration. The Lord Lieutenant of Somerset has been named the new patron of Somerset Chamber of Commerce... and more
Thursday 26th February

Workers at Leonardo in Yeovil have been to Downing Street to hand-in a petition calling on the government to back British jobs. The decision to grant planning permission to upgrade Yeovil's Octagon Theatre has been enthusiastically welcomed by staff who work there. The search is on to find a defibrillator that has gone missing in Chard... and more
Wednesday 25th February

Plans have been passed to carry out a £15 million upgrade of Yeovil’s Octagon Theatre. A new medical unit providing NHS and private treatments has opened in Shepton Mallet. Manor Court Community Primary School in Chard is celebrating after receiving a Gold Artsmark for excellence in arts and cultural education...and more
Tuesday 24th February

First Bus has announced changes to bus timetables on routes across Somerset. A Somerset drone company is celebrating getting through the audition round of ITV’s Britain's Got Talent. A public footpath in South Somerset is set to remain closed for up to two years... and more
Monday 23rd February

Yeovil MP Adam Dance is warning of a scaling back of jobs at the Leonardo helicopter factory in Yeovil. Work is underway on the multi-million-pound refurbishment of Yeovil police station. The A361 across the Somerset Levels has reopened... and more
Friday 20th February

10,000 incidents of potholes on Somerset’s roads have been reported to Somerset Council in the past four weeks. The Met Office is warning of more unsettled weather into March for Somerset. The Crowshute link in Chard will close for eight nights next month for road repairs... and more
Thursday 19th February

Yeovil fire station is to undergo a major refurbishment. A Yeovil based charity is appealing for adults to become mentors to young people. A Somerset woman has completed a 10,000 kilometre solo bike ride across Africa... and more
Wednesday 18th February

New figures have shown a rise in cases of suicide involving farmers, including in Somerset. Plans to merge the parishes of Castle Cary and Ansford have been scrapped. A Somerset-based charity working to end homelessness is marking its 50th anniversary... and more