Plans have been announced to build a new special needs school on the outskirts of Yeovil. A planning inspector has upheld a decision by South Somerset District Council not to allow 60 new homes to be built in Templecombe. An online exhibition is being staged of the plans to upgrade the A303 in South Somerset. £4,000 has been raised for Parkinson’s UK by Bruton Cycling Club. A new café and wine bar has opened in Bruton.
Plans have been announced to build a new special needs school on the outskirts of Yeovil. It’ll be situated off the A303 between the villages of Ash and Tintinhull and provide places to 100 children with social, emotional and mental health needs. The school’s due to open in January 2023 and will be managed by the Wave Multi-Academy Trust.
A planning inspector has upheld a decision by South Somerset District Council not to allow 60 new homes to be built in Templecombe. Planning inspector, Hayley Butcher, sat for 8-days in May and June, hearing evidence for and against the development at Manor Farm. She concluded that to allow the development at the Manor Farm site would be harmful to the grade-2 listed Manor House and nearby heritage assets.
An exhibition is being staged of the plans to upgrade the A303 in South Somerset. Highways England is to turn the three-mile stretch of single lane road between Podimore and Sparkford into dual carriageway at a cost of £250 million pounds. The online exhibition takes place next week on July 22nd and 23rd. It will give details of each section of the upgrade and show how disruption to motorists will be minimized when work starts in September. To view the exhibition, visit www.highwaysengland.co.uk/a303-sparkford-to-ilchester and follow the recommended links
£4,000 has been raised for Parkinson’s UK by Bruton Cycling Club. Ten of its members raised the money by cycling 200 miles from Kent to Somerset.
A new café and wine bar has opened in Bruton. Michelin star chef Merlin Labron-Johnson and owner of the Osip restaurant in Bruton has converted the Old Pharmacy building in the High Street into a new eating and drinking venue.
Avon and Somerset Police say 62 drivers were arrested in the first week of the Christmas drink and drug driving campaign. A reindeer farm near Yeovil thinks it may have to close after being told it needs a Zoo licence. Father Christmas has made a special delivery of presents to Charlton Farm Children's Hospice in Somerset...and more
The Police and Crime Commissioner for Avon and Somerset has criticised the government for axing the role. Police are appealing for witnesses to a road traffic accident near Ilminster in which a woman was seriously injured. Residents of Freedom Avenue in Yeovil are raising funds for charity with a big display of Christmas lights...and more.
Plans to build 150 new homes in Ilminster have been scrapped. A Somerset councillor has been jailed for 26 months. Marks & Spencer wants to build a new Food Store in Ilminster. Poundland has announced that it’s shutting its store in Middle Street in Yeovil...and more
Police are appealing for witnesses after an assault on a man in Chard. Lloyds Banking Group has announced a date for closing the Halifax in Yeovil. Train journeys on the Castle Cary to Taunton line will be disrupted next week due to engineering work. The mental health charity MIND in Somerset has produced a Christmas advent calendar... and more.
The Chief Constable of Avon and Somerset Police says her force is doing all it can to reduce anti-social behaviour. Somerset Council has deferred a decision on introducing Sunday car parking charges. People living in deprived areas in Somerset are being fast-tracked for hospital treatment...and more
Fire crews have rescued the driver of a car that got stuck in floodwater near Ilminster. Avon and Somerset Police are urging people going out to celebrate this Christmas to book a taxi or use public transport. A woman from South Petherton has come top at the British Down Syndrome Swimming Championships...and more,
A 33-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a serious assault in Wincanton. Fire crews have dealt with a house fire in the village of Pitney. Plans have been submitted to redevelop Bridgwater Docks into a cultural and tourist destination. Ilminster's annual Christmas tree festival has opened in the town...and more
New figures show that crime in the Avon and Somerset police area rose by 8% in the year to June. South Western Railway has restarted running hourly services through Sherborne, Yeovil and Crewkerne following months of disruption. Persimmon Homes South West has donated £1500 towards the running costs of Castle Cary Rugby Club...and more