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.

More from News

Thursday 18th April

A Martock man has been jailed after admitting to shining lasers at aircraft flying over Yeovil. Police are investigating an attempted break-in at the TK Maxx store at Babylon Hill. Nearly four hundred people have put their names forward for redundancy at Somerset Council...and more.
Wednesday 17 April

Three local primary schools have been named on a list of England's top five hundred primary schools. A new co-working space for businesswomen has opened in Wincanton. Urgent repairs are being carried out to Ilminster's new public clock after it started showing the wrong time...and more
Tuesday 16th April

A new operator has been found to run a Chard care home that has been at risk of closure. A licence has been granted to run a new music festival in West Dorset. People have until midnight tonight to register for a vote in the election for a Police and Crime Commissioner for Avon and Somerset...and more.
Monday 15th April

Four people have been arrested as part of an investigation into the illegal supply of prescription-only drugs in Yeovil. A Yeovil man has appeared in court in connection with two burglaries in Langport. A well-known farm and restaurant business in South Petherton has been put up for sale. New figures have shown a further decline in the number of House Sparrows in Somerset...and more.
Friday 12th April

Yeovil Town will play National League football next season after beating Truro 2-0 last night to win promotion and the National League South title. Somerset Council says the cost of keeping Yeovil’s Octagon Theatre closed has risen to £140,000 a year. A holiday website has reported a 31 percent upturn in visitor numbers to Somerset...and more.
Thursday 11th April

Yeovil Town get another chance tonight to clinch promotion when they play away against Truro. Citizens Advice in Somerset says people are continuing to struggle with the cost of living. Some of England’s loudest voices will be heard in Yeovil later this month when the town's annual town crier competition takes place...and more,
Wednesday 10th April

A former sub-postmaster from Wincanton says she's having to work a 70-hour week to pay off debts she incurred due to the Post Office IT scandal. Two people have been fined for illegal fishing in Yeovil. Images of wildlife taken by a photographer in Somerton have been chosen to feature on a new set of charity cards...and more.
Tuesday 9th April

Lloyds Bank is being asked to reconsider closing its branch in Ilminster, leaving the town without a bank. A stretch of the A303 will close later this month as part of dualling the road between Sparkford and Podimore. A dragon parade is to be held in Chard later this month to mark St George’s Day...and more.