Local News Tuesday 7th December

Tuesday, 7 December 2021 06:00

Construction is about to begin on a new £30 million pound helicopter logistics centre in Yeovil. The two groups bidding to takeover Yeovil Town football club have been given until the end of the week to conclude a deal. South Somerset District Council is planning to scrap a number of projects to save one and a half million pounds. The owner of a transport business in Chard says the shortage situation with lorry drivers has started to improve and a doctor working on Somerset's vaccination programme is asking people not to be put off having a Covid booster because it’s difficult to book an ap

Construction is about to begin on a new £30 million pound helicopter logistics centre in Yeovil. The state-of-the-art facility is being built on the site of a former GKN factory at West Hendford and will support Leonardo’s global fleet of helicopters through the storage of components and tooling.

The two groups bidding to takeover Yeovil Town football club have been given until the end of the week to conclude a deal. The club’s owner, Scott Priestnall says if a deal hasn’t been reached by the weekend then he will continue to be in charge at Huish Park. In a statement, Mr Priestnall gave illness and personal circumstances as the reasons for not attending Huish Park of late to watch Yeovil play. In the FA Third Round, Yeovil have been drawn at home against Championship side Bournemouth.

South Somerset District Council is planning to scrap a number of projects to save one and a half million pounds. Expanding the café at Yeovil Country Park looks set to be dropped, together with installing solar panels on the John O'Donnell Pavilion at Yeovil Recreation Ground and fitting out the first floor of the Yeovil Innovation Centre. Improvements to council-owned car parks and the creation of new car parks across the district are also unlikely to go ahead.

The owner of a transport business in Chard says the shortage situation with lorry drivers has started to improve. Managing Director of C&D South West in Chard, Lorna Hammond, says a drop in the number of drivers leaving the sector, has made her feel more confident.

A doctor working on Somerset's vaccination programme is asking people not to be put off having a Covid booster because it’s difficult to book an appointment. The government’s aim to get everyone who’s eligible offered a Covid booster by the end of January. Clinical Director at Somerset CCG, Doctor Alex Murray, accepts there are difficulties but says local appointments are available through the national booking system

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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
Tuesday 24th February

First Bus has announced changes to bus timetables on routes across Somerset. A Somerset drone company is celebrating getting through the audition round of ITV’s Britain's Got Talent. A public footpath in South Somerset is set to remain closed for up to two years... and more
Monday 23rd February

Yeovil MP Adam Dance is warning of a scaling back of jobs at the Leonardo helicopter factory in Yeovil. Work is underway on the multi-million-pound refurbishment of Yeovil police station. The A361 across the Somerset Levels has reopened... and more
Friday 20th February

10,000 incidents of potholes on Somerset’s roads have been reported to Somerset Council in the past four weeks. The Met Office is warning of more unsettled weather into March for Somerset. The Crowshute link in Chard will close for eight nights next month for road repairs... and more
Thursday 19th February

Yeovil fire station is to undergo a major refurbishment. A Yeovil based charity is appealing for adults to become mentors to young people. A Somerset woman has completed a 10,000 kilometre solo bike ride across Africa... and more