Local News Thursday 2nd March

Thursday, 2 March 2023 06:00

Several schools across Somerset are either fully or partially closed today due to strike action by teachers. The main A30 road between Chard and Crewkerne has reopened to traffic two weeks earlier than planned. People in Chard are being asked for their views about the town in a new consultation. The Manager of Yeovil Town says what the club needs under its new owners is stability...and more.

Several schools across Somerset are either fully or partially closed today It’s due to strike action by teachers belonging to the National Education Union in their row over pay and school funding. In our area the following schools are affected:
Buckler's Mead Academy
Stanchester Academy
Reckleford Infant School and Nursery
Ilchester Community School
Huish Episcopi Academy
Fiveways Special School
Fairmead School
Charlton Mackrell C of E Primary School
Birchfield Primary school
Ashlands C of E First School in Crewkerne

Almost all children in Somerset starting at secondary schools in September will be attending a school of their choice. According to Somerset County Council, 4,439 11-year-olds have been given places at their chosen schools. Parents who applied for places for children starting primary school or, moving from infant to junior or first to middle school, will find out the school places they’ve been offered in April

The main A30 between Chard and Crewkerne has reopened to traffic 2-weeks earlier than planned. The road between the junction of Liddon Hill and St Rayn Hill was due to stay shut up until the middle of March for new drainage pipes to be installed. But Somerset County Council says their contractors have completed the work ahead of schedule and that road is fully open.

People in Chard are being asked for their views about the town in a new consultation. It’s being held to establish what local people consider to be important about the town and how they want to see it developed. The survey’s available on the South Somerset District Council website.

Yeovil Town fans have been reacting to the news that the Club has a new major shareholder. In a statement, the new owners, SU Glovers say they’ve taken on the "stewardship" of Yeovil Town and stop short of calling it a takeover. SU Glovers is understood to be a consortium that includes the businessman Matthew Uggla and former England rugby player Paul Sackey. The Manager of Yeovil Town, Mark Cooper, says the club needs stability under its new owners.

More from News

Friday 13th March

The first of the new medium lift helicopters being built by Leonardo in Yeovil for the RAF will be delivered in 2031. Somerset Council has launched a public consultation on planned new charges at its two hundred public car parks. More women in Somerset are said to be taking up walking football... and more
Thursday 12th March

A Yeovil headteacher says he’s concerned about plans to stop giving school holiday food vouchers to families on low incomes. The owner of Yeovil Town is calling on fans to be patient as he continues his overhaul of the National League side. A high voltage fault is being blamed for plunging 1700 homes into darkness in the Ilminster area... and more
Wednesday 11th March

Plans have been submitted to convert two properties in Yeovil into houses of multiple occupation. A new court date has been announced for a Yeovil man charged with attempted murder. An engineer who has worked at the Leonardo factory in Yeovil for 40-years has won a top industry award... and more
Tuesday 10th March

Police say a fire at the former Oscar Mayer food factory in Chard was started deliberately. Yeovil College says it would have been adversely affected had Leonardo not won the contract to build new medium-lift helicopters. A seven-foot dragon will be visiting towns and villages in our area during the next few weeks to promote Somerset Day... and more
Monday 9th March

Two Wildcat helicopters from 815 Squadron at RNAS Yeovilton have arrived in Cyprus to help protect RAF Akrotiri from further Iranian drone strikes. New figures show that 40 people were killed on Avon and Somerset’s roads in the last 12-months. A Somerset man has been recalling the day 60-years ago when he was a passenger on the last train on the Somerset and Dorset Railway... and more
Friday 6th March

Defence Minister Luke Pollard has been explaining why it took the government so long to confirm a contract for the Leonardo in Yeovil to build new medium lift helicopters for the RAF. Police are investigating a break in at a pet shop in Ilminster. Somerset Council is to stop using red ink on council tax reminder letters... and more
Thursday 5th March

Two military helicopters from RNAS Yeovilton are being sent to Cyprus to help bolster UK’s defences amid the US-Israel war with Iran. Yeovil Town Council is seeking legal advice over the closure of the hyper acute stroke unit at Yeovil Hospital. Flood warnings have been lifted on the Somerset Levels... and more
Wednesday 4th March

A man has died in a fire in Wincanton. Somerset Council is planning further cuts of twenty-one million pounds to help balance its books. A campaign to raise £30,000 for a minibus has been launched in Chard... and more