Local News Tuesday 9th November

Tuesday, 9 November 2021 06:00

Leonardo Helicopters in Yeovil say winning an order to supply the AW 149 helicopter to the British government is vital to the future of the Yeovil factory. A public inquiry starts in Castle Cary today into controversial plans to build 200 new houses on a greenfield site next to Castle Cary railway station. New LED flood warning signs are being installed in Martock. Lyde Road in Yeovil between Sherborne Road and Buckland Road will shut from today for 18-days for laying new cabling...and more.

Leonardo Helicopters in Yeovil say winning an order to supply the AW 149 helicopter to the British government is vital to the future of the Yeovil factory. The 149 is being promoted to replace the RAF’s ageing fleet of Puma helicopters. Managing Director of Leonardo’s in Yeovil, Nick Whitney, believes the 149 meets all the MOD’s requirements. A decision on the contract is due at any time.

A public inquiry starts in Castle Cary today into controversial plans to build 200 new houses on a greenfield site next to Castle Cary railway station. The inquiry’s being held after the plans were rejected by South Somerset District Council and both Castle Cary and Ansford parish councils on the grounds the development would place an added burden on the area’s local infrastructure. The inquiry is being held at Caryford Hall and is scheduled to last for four days.

New LED flood warning signs are being installed in Martock. They're being put up along Stoke Road, and are linked to river level sensors. Martock's flood warden coordinator, Gordon Swindells says it's a really dangerous stretch of road when it floods.

Lyde Road in Yeovil between Sherborne Road and Buckland Road will shut from today for 18-days for laying new cabling. The work’s being carried out by Jurassic Fibre to provide faster broadband in Yeovil.

People in Chard say they’re looking forward to using the town’s new leisure centre that opened to the public yesterday. It has a five-lane swimming pool, learner pool, gym, soft play area and café. The centre is run by Freedom Leisure in partnership with South Somerset District Council and has cost 16-and-a-half-million pounds to build.

In local sport, Yeovil Town have been drawn at home against MK Dons or Stevenage in the Second Round of the FA Cup.

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