Local News Wednesday 12th October

Wednesday, 12 October 2022 at 06:00

The mandatory wearing of facemasks has been reintroduced at Yeovil Hospital. A temporary bridge over the A303 in South Somerset is to be taken down next month. Yeovil MP Marcus Fysh says he disagrees with the prime minister's u-turn on income tax. Trees in Somerset have produced a bumper crop of conkers and acorns this year. A boy in Crewkerne, who has cerebral palsy, is to make a 15,000-foot skydive to raise money for his football team..and more.

The mandatory wearing of facemasks has been reintroduced at Yeovil Hospital. Patients and visitors are being asked to wear face coverings in A&E, Outpatients and all other clinical areas. The wearing of facemasks is optional in the café, shop, corridors and in the lifts. The reintroduction of mandatory face coverings follows a sharp rise in Covid cases in South Somerset.

A temporary bridge over the A303 in South Somerset is to be taken down next month. National Highways put up the bridge in May as part of the major works to dual the A303 between the Podimore and Sparkford roundabouts and says it’s no longer needed. This stretch of the A303 will shut from Friday, November 11th to Monday, November 14th for the bridge to be removed.

Yeovil MP Marcus Fysh says he disagrees with the prime minister's u-turn on income tax. Liz Truss had planned to remove the 45 percent top rate of income tax for high earners to encourage growth but then scrapped the plans shortly afterwards. Mr. Fysh claims cutting the top rate would have increased tax revenues and was a good decision. On inflation, he says it’s a global issue with the cost of living rising by 17 percent in the Netherlands, 10 percent in Germany and 9.5 percent in Italy. He says the government is right to introduce bold fiscal policies to grow the UK economy.

Trees in Somerset have produced a bumper crop of conkers and acorns this year, according to experts. Kindlewoods, a community woodland social enterprise project, says the very hot summer and low rainfall have brought about the exceptional harvest.

A boy in Crewkerne, who has cerebral palsy, is to make a 15,000-foot skydive to raise money for his football team. 16-year-old, Casey Young, plays in goal for the Bristol City Cerebral Palsy football team and is raising funds for his side to compete in a football festival in Copenhagen next year.

Organisers of Chard Carnival have thanked all those who took part in the event for making this year’s event so successful. The collection taken during the two-hour-long procession of floats last Saturday raised just under £4,300.

More from News

Friday 30th October

Wells Cathedral says it's having to get creative to bring in more money as financial pressures continue to grow. A convenience store in Martock has been allowed to keep its alcohol licence despite an employee working there illegally. Police have seized an illegally ridden e-scooter in Yeovil in response to concerns from local residents... and more
Thursday 29th October

A Yeovil man has been detained under the Mental Health Act for attacking his mother with a knife. People in Chard are being reminded that it’s unlawful to attach flags to lamp posts and street furniture. Wincanton Racecourse has called off its 'Badger Chase Day' because the ground is too firm... and more
Wednesday 28th October

Leweston School near Sherborne has announced that it is closing with immediate effect. NHS Somerset could merge with neighbours in Bath and North-East Somerset and Dorset to cut costs. Somerset’s Lord-Lieutenant has launched a campaign to get more people nominated for national honours... and more
Tuesday 27th October

Work has started building a new six-million-pound flood defence scheme in Taunton. Plans have been submitted to build a new church hall in Martock. People are being asked to donate gifts to this year’s Chard Christmas Present Appeal... and more
Monday 26th October

Eligible groups in Somerset are being encouraged to get their flu jabs. There’s a rare opportunity to get a behind-the-scenes look inside Avon & Somerset Police’s control room. Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader, Daisy Cooper MP, has visited Yeovil... and more.
Friday 23rd October

Somerset is the 11th most challenging place in England to be a child according to a report. Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire could have its own elected ‘Wessex Mayor’ by 2028. Cricketer, Ian Botham returns to the county this weekend... and more.
Thursday 22nd October

The NFU says that testing for the virus Bluetongue needs to be sped up. Construction of new flats on Yeovil’s Grimsby Corner site will officially begin next year. The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for wind tomorrow... and more.
Wednesday 21st October

The owner of campsite in Somerset says a two-thousand-seven-hundred percent increase in business rates will be 'catastrophic' for his business. Plans to build nearly 300 new homes on the outskirts of Chard have been given the go ahead. Yeovil Town are through to the first round proper of the FA Cup after beating Leatherhead 5-2 at Huish Park last night... and more