Local News Tuesday 16th May

Tuesday, 16 May 2023 07:00

By Steve Haigh

The new owner of Yeovil Town, Martin Hellier, says his purchase of the club includes the right to buy back Huish Park and the surrounding land from Somerset Council. A new five million pound operating theatre has opened at Yeovil Hospital. Plans have been submitted to convert the former village shop in East Coker into a house....and more.

The new owner of Yeovil Town, Martin Hellier, has been speaking about his plans to return The Glovers to winning ways. He’s confirmed that manager, Mark Cooper will remain in post with the task of getting Yeovil back into the National League. Mr Hellier also comfirmed that his purchase includes the right to buy back Huish Park and the surrounding land that is currently in the ownership of Somerset Council.

April saw another increase in business performance in the South West including here in Somerset. According to the NatWest Business Activity Index, the combined output of the region’s manufacturing and service sectors rose from 50.6 percent in March to 52.9 percent in April. It was the third successive monthly expansion in output since the start of the year.

Yeovil Hospital says a new five million pound operating theatre that opened this week is helping to reduce waiting times. The new facility is being used to perform procedures that include breast surgery and dermatology, where patients are allowed home on the same day they have their operations.

GWR, who run trains through Castle Cary and Bruton stations, are to ban E-scooters from their trains, amid concerns they pose a fire risk. Up until now, passengers have been allowed to take E-scooters onto trains, provided they are folded and put on the floor. The ban, that will take affect from Sunday May 21st follows incidents in which lithium batteries that power E-scooters overheated, leading to a risk of fire.

This week marks national ‘Water Saving Week’ with local supplier, Wessex Water, asking people to be sparing using water in the home and garden. Wessex Water says only if more people adopt water saving measures like using a water butt to collect rainwater can they be confident of keeping everyone fully supplied this summer.

Plans have been submitted for a change of use on the former village shop in East Coker. The owners want to combine the premises with their house – Hollyhock Cottage – which is next door. The village shop in East Coker, that at one time included a Post Office, closed in 2015.

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