Police have arrested a man in Martock in connection with a laser being shone at aircraft. Plans to build a new primary school in Chard have been put on hold. The waiting time for a driving test in Somerset is now more than six months, according to the Motor Schools Association and a Somerset cider producer has joined a national campaign calling for cider to be made up of a minimum of 50 percent apple fruit juice.
Police have arrested a man in Martock in connection with a laser being shone at aircraft. It follows reports of pilots operating out of RNAS Yeovilton and Bristol Airport being targeted by a laser, while flying over the Martock area. The man has since been released under investigation, and enquiries are ongoing.
Plans to build a new primary school in Chard have been put on hold. A site for a new school has been identified with the school needed to cater to the many hundreds more new homes being built in Chard. But Somerset County Council now says currently there is no requirement for Chard to have a new primary school provided and has cancelled borrowing of £5 million pounds to fund the project. The County Council says it will look again at building a new primary school in Chard in 3-years-time.
The waiting time for a driving test in Somerset is now more than six months, according to the Motor Schools Association. Nationally, the problem is worse with over half-a-million people currently waiting for a date to take a test.
A Somerset cider producer has joined a national campaign calling for cider to be made up of a minimum of 50 percent apple fruit juice. Currently, the drink can have as little as 30 percent apple juice in it. John Lawrence, who runs Lawrence's Cider in Corton Denham, near Sherborne, says it would mean planting more trees which would be good for the environment.
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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
.
Reckleford in Yeovil is to shut for 15 days for essential drainage works. Somerset NHS Foundation Trust has paid out compensation of £23 million for claims related to birth injuries. A Grade II listed building in Glastonbury has been converted into a health and wellbeing centre...and more