Local News Tuesday 8th November

    It’s reported that the awarding of a £1.2 billion contract to supply helicopters to the British government, a contract that Leonardo in Yeovil is hoping to win, has been "delayed". New rules have come into force requiring anyone who keeps birds to house them indoors. The Football Association in Somerset is trialling a new way to support young footballers. A local winner at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show is giving a talk to raise funds for Keinton Mandeville Primary...and more.

    It’s reported that the awarding of a £1.2 billion contract to supply helicopters to the British government, a contract that Leonardo in Yeovil is hoping to win, has been "delayed". The magazine Flight Global is reporting that the issuing of ‘invitations to negotiate’ for the order has been put back to sometime next year. Leonardo is pitching for the contract with the AW149 to replace the RAF’s ageing fleet of Puma helicopters. It was thought the MOD would announce who’d won the contract in early 2023, with the first of the new helicopters delivered in 2025.

    New rules have come into force requiring anyone who keeps birds to house them indoors. The new restrictions are in response to the worsening outbreak of avian flu across the UK. Owners have been told to house birds inside sheds or shelters for the foreseeable future.

    The Football Association in Somerset is trialling a new way to support young footballers. It’s asking parents, coaches and friends not to shout at players from pitch side but instead to show their support by clapping.

    A local winner at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show is giving a talk to raise funds for Keinton Mandeville Primary. It’s part of a programme of activities to pay for an expansion of a therapeutic garden within the school site. The talk is being given by Adam Hunt of Urquhart and Hunt - a firm of landscape designers based in Bruton.

    A woman from Somerton who set herself a zero waste target for this year says she can't understand how some people come to throw away so much rubbish. Gill Hampson has gone almost 10 months without filling her black bin with waste and putting it out for collection. She was aiming to complete 12 months but had to use her black bin after clearing out the contents of her shed and finding lots of extra waste items for disposal.

    The winners of this year’s South West in Bloom awards have been announced. Yeovil, Curry Rivel, Crewkerne and Hazelbury Plucknett have each been given Gold awards. Henstridge has been given a Silver award. The South West In Bloom awards are part of National Britain In Bloom awards that aim to encourage communities to improve and diversify their local environments through the creation of open spaces, biodiversity, recycling and the conservation of wildlife.

    A new manager has been appointed to run Ilminster Arts Centre. Samantha Miller is taking on the role after previously working in publishing in London before moving to Ilminster to be nearer her family.

    More from News

    • Thursday 30th October

      Bird flu has been found at a nature reserve in Somerset, closing part of it down. St Margaret’s Hospice in Somerset is calling for the hospice sector to be given more central funding. The Barrington Boar in Barrington has been placed 12th in The Good Food Guide’s list of 100 best pubs in Britain... and more

    • Wednesday 29th October

      Police are investigating a suspected arson attack on a mobile home near Yeovil. Somerset Council is suggesting people turn their pumpkins into soup this Halloween. People in Yeovil have until Sunday to comment on controversial plans to sell off four car parks in the town centre... and more.

    • Tuesday 28th October

      Plans have been submitted to build 12 new homes in Chard. A nursery in Yeovil has been rated ‘overall good' by Ofsted. A Somerset mortgage broker has achieved national recognition. A stretch of the M5 at Wellington will be shut every night this week...and more

    • Monday 27th October

      The Unite union has announced four days of strikes by its members at Leonardo in Yeovil. One of Yeovil’s busiest roads is closed to traffic today. Staff at the Ferne Animal Sanctuary near Chard raised £3,000 taking part in a Sleeping Ruff challenge at the weekend...and more

    • Friday 24th October

      New figures show that 500 young people were either injured or killed on roads in Somerset and Devon last year. The Old School Community Centre in Queen Camel has reopened, thanks to a donation of £10,000 from Somerset Freemasons. Two Fleet Air Arm engineers based at RNAS Yeovilton have recreated a family moment from 26 years ago...and more

    • Thursday 23rd October

      Yeovil-born actress Sarah Parish is supporting efforts to reopen the Octagon theatre. Mobility scooter campaigners in Somerset have welcomed a government review of the legislation governing the use of mobility scooters on public highways. Changes are being made to the dates when garden waste is collected in Somerset...and more

    • Wednesday 22nd October

      A major house builder in the South West says government targets for new house building in Somerset are 'unrealistic'. Pizza Hut is closing its restaurant in Yeovil. Staff at the Ferne Animal Sanctuary near Chard will be taking part in a ‘Sleeping Ruff’ challenge tomorrow...and more .

    • Tuesday 21st October

      Reckleford in Yeovil is to shut for 15 days for essential drainage works. Somerset NHS Foundation Trust has paid out compensation of £23 million for claims related to birth injuries. A Grade II listed building in Glastonbury has been converted into a health and wellbeing centre...and more

    Today's Weather

    • Yeovil

      Low-level cloud

      High: 13°C | Low: 12°C

    • Chard

      Heavy Rain

      High: 14°C | Low: 12°C

    • Crewkerne

      Heavy Rain

      High: 14°C | Low: 12°C

    • Somerton

      Medium-level cloud

      High: 14°C | Low: 12°C

    • Wincanton

      Low-level cloud

      High: 13°C | Low: 12°C

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