Local News Tuesday 23rd May

Tuesday, 23 May 2023 06:00

By Steve Haigh

National Highways says it plans to go ahead with dualling the A358 linking the Ilminster bypass with the M5 despite government policy shifting towards cheaper road schemes. Permission has been given to build fifteen new houses in the village of Ilton. A creation by a Yeovil garden designer is on display at this week’s Chelsea Flower Show...and more.

National Highways says it plans to go ahead with the major project to dual the A358 linking the Ilminster bypass with the M5 despite a shift in government policy towards building smaller and cheaper road schemes. The promise to dual the A358 at the cost of three-hundred-and-twenty-eight million pounds is contained in the latest National Highways road investment strategy up to 2030. National Highways aren’t saying however when the plans to dual the A358 will be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate.

A creation by a Yeovil garden designer is on display at this week’s Chelsea Flower Show. Julie Haylock has designed a garden in celebration of the Dorset fossil hunter, Mary Anning. Julie, who launched her business Sandhurst Garden Design only three years ago, says she feels very lucky to have her work displayed at the Chelsea Flower Show.

Permission has been given to build fifteen new houses in the village of Ilton. The development on land to the south of St Peter’s Close has been delayed by the Dutch N court ruling that requires that any new development should not increase phosphate levels within the Somerset Levels catchment. Somerset Council says permission was granted to build the new houses after the developer agreed to further phosphate mitigation measures on the site.

Somerset Council says waste collection pick-up days next week will be different due to Monday being a Bank Holiday. If your recycling and/or refuse is usually collected on Monday, then it will be collected on Tuesday, if your usual day is Tuesday, it will be collected on Wednesday and so on. Collections that take place on Friday, June 2nd will take place on Saturday, June 3rd. To help crews speed up collections, you’re asked to have bags and bins ready by 7 am on the day of collection, or better still, ready the night before.

Combe St Nicholas Primary School near Chard has been given a prestigious Artsmark Award. It’s in recognition of the school going above and beyond to give pupils a wide range of art and cultural experiences.

More from News

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
Tuesday 3rd March

A woman from Ilminster has been jointly charged with another woman after a man’s body was found inside a car in Cornwall. Somerset businesses, involved in the supply chain for Leonardo, have welcomed the news that the Leonardo factory in Yeovil is to build new medium lift helicopters for the RAF. Plans have been submitted to build thirty-two homes in Milborne Port... and more
Monday 2nd March

The Leonardo factory in Yeovil has won a multi-million pound contract to build new medium lift helicopters for the RAF. A doctor, who previously worked at Yeovil Hospital, has appeared in court charged with illegally accessing NHS computers. A new Construction Innovation Centre has opened at Yeovil College... and more
Friday 27th February

The CEO of Leonardo has suggested the UK government could make an announcement immindently about ordering new medium lift helicopters to be built in Yeovil. A family run hardware business in Yeovil has gone into administration. The Lord Lieutenant of Somerset has been named the new patron of Somerset Chamber of Commerce... and more
Thursday 26th February

Workers at Leonardo in Yeovil have been to Downing Street to hand-in a petition calling on the government to back British jobs. The decision to grant planning permission to upgrade Yeovil's Octagon Theatre has been enthusiastically welcomed by staff who work there. The search is on to find a defibrillator that has gone missing in Chard... and more
Wednesday 25th February

Plans have been passed to carry out a £15 million upgrade of Yeovil’s Octagon Theatre. A new medical unit providing NHS and private treatments has opened in Shepton Mallet. Manor Court Community Primary School in Chard is celebrating after receiving a Gold Artsmark for excellence in arts and cultural education...and more