Local News Tuesday 14th June

    Pharmacies in Chard could be told to open on Sundays to provide better access for patients. The government’s new food strategy for England has been given a cautious welcome by a local farmer. Figures from the Health and Safety Executive show eight people died on farms in the South West in 2020. The NSPCC is calling for more early prevention to tackle a rise in cases of child cruelty and neglect...and more.

    Pharmacies in Chard could be told to open on Sundays to provide better access for patients. Somerset County Council’s health and wellbeing board has put together an assessment of how well local pharmacies are performing, including a review of their opening hours. The assessment has raised concerns that Chard’s three pharmacies do not open on Sundays, which is limiting patient access to medication prescribed by GPs. 

    The government’s new food strategy for England has been given a cautious welcome by a local farmer. The strategy puts greater emphasis on homegrown produce and offers more support to farmers. Chris Baker, who runs Windmill Farm in Montacute, near Yeovil says the strategy makes good points but doesn’t provide the farming sector with enough certainty.

    Figures from the Health and Safety Executive show eight people died on farms in the South West in 2020. Rural insurers, NFU Mutual, are hosting an event in Yeovil next week to raise awareness about safety amongst farmers. 

    The NSPCC is calling for more early prevention to tackle a rise in cases of child cruelty and neglect. Case numbers rose by a quarter in 2019 across the South West with Somerset recording 160 incidents. 

    A man from Somerset is preparing to run 50 miles in one day to fundraise for Brain Tumor Research. Tom Palacio is aiming to complete the distance in less than 12 hours. Tom’s taking on the challenge in memory of his friend, James, who died from a brain tumor in 2015. 
     

    More from News

    • Wednesday 10th June

      The public will be consulted on how best to spend fifty million pounds of government funding to tackle flooding in Somerset. Avon and Somerset Police are backing a new road safety campaign aimed at reducing motorcycle fatalities. New welcome signs have been installed at entrances to the Mendip Hills National Landscape... and more

    • Tuesday 9th June

      The government has announced a £50 million investment to strengthen Somerset’s flood defences. A woman from Stoke-sub-Hamdon has been banned from driving for 14 months after admitting drink-driving. Somerset Council has been told it must improve its adult social care services... and more

    • Monday 8th June

      Plans for a new railway station in Langport remain stalled in Whitehall, according to Somerset Council. Plans to build 50 new homes in Broadway, near Ilminster, have been refused. The new water fountains in Yeovil’s Triangle, in Lower Middle Street, are being switched off during very hot weather because of safety concerns... and more.

    • Friday 5th June

      A new NHS dental practice in Crewkerne says it won’t start operating at full capacity until July due to staff shortages. Somerset Council says it has no plans to show England matches in the World Cup on the Big Screen in Yeovil town centre due to safety concerns. A Somerset family has been thanked after completing a 73-mile walk raising money for a third world charity... and more

    • Thursday 4th June

      An investigation continues today into the crash of a Royal Navy helicopter, based at RNAS Yeovilton, in which all three aircrew were killed. Somerset Council has confirmed that a new operator will take over several leisure centres across the county. The new live-action Masters of the Universe movie, filmed in Somerset, is released this week...and more

    • Wednesday 3rd June

      A Yeovil man has appeared in court charged with assaulting three police officers. Somerset Council has begun legal action to recover more than £320,000 owed by housing developers. The line-up has been announced for this year’s Ilminster Midsummer Experience...and more

    • Tuesday 2nd June

      Somerset Prostate Cancer Support Group says a decision not to introduce mass screening for prostate cancer is the wrong one. A Martock woman has been banned from driving for 28 months. Somerset Council is marking Volunteers’ Week by thanking the volunteers who help deliver council services... and more

    • Monday 1st June

      People in Somerset with Football Banning Orders are being reminded they must surrender their passports by the end of today ahead of the upcoming FIFA World Cup tournament. A road in Yeovil will close for nine days later this week. Farmers from Somerset were among the winners of this year's ITV Britain's Got Talent final...and more

    Today's Weather

    • Yeovil

      Heavy rain shower

      High: 16°C | Low: 9°C

    • Chard

      Heavy rain shower

      High: 16°C | Low: 9°C

    • Crewkerne

      Heavy rain shower

      High: 16°C | Low: 9°C

    • Somerton

      Heavy rain shower

      High: 16°C | Low: 9°C

    • Wincanton

      Light rain

      High: 16°C | Low: 9°C

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