Local News Wednesday 16th November

Wednesday, 16 November 2022 06:00

A business case put forward to combine the running of Yeovil Hospital with Musgrove Park in Taunton has been approved. A pilot scheme involving the use of e-scooters on the streets of Yeovil is set to continue. Thirty-one motorists were caught by Police driving recklessly on the A303 through South Somerset in the space of just half an hour yesterday. A planning decision to allow five units to be built for storing carnival floats on the Dillington Estate near Ilminster has been overturned in the High Court...and more.

A business case put forward to combine the running of Yeovil Hospital with Musgrove Park in Taunton has been approved. Yeovil Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and the Somerset NHS Foundation Trust will now join together, with some medical services merging. The plans, however, have still to be finally approved by NHS England.

A pilot scheme involving the use of e-scooters on the streets of Yeovil is set to continue. The Department of Transport has extended the trial period to 2024 to gather more data on when and how often people use e-scooters.

Thirty-one motorists were caught by Police driving recklessly on the A303 through South Somerset in the space of just half an hour yesterday. Police say they were positioned on a bridge over a stretch of the A303 with a 60 limit, and no barriers between the carriageways, yet drivers were filmed travelling at speeds in excess of 90mph.

A planning decision to allow five units to be built for storing carnival floats on the Dillington Estate near Ilminster has been overturned in the High Court. The hearing was told that at a meeting of South Somerset District Council, when planning permission was given, two members of the committee who voted in favour of the planning consent, should not have voted, due to them having links to local carnival clubs. The Somerset branch of the CPRE, who brought the case to the High Court, claimed the committee’s decision had been tainted by the apparent bias of the two members involved. South Somerset District Council has described the judgement as ‘very disappointing’ and says it’s considering its position on the matter.

Two local charities have benefitted from the generosity of the Freemasons in Chard. Both St Margaret’s Hospice and the Air Ambulance have been given an equal share of nineteen hundred pounds raised at a skittles evening and bingo night organised by the Freemasons Lodge in Chard.

More from News

Friday 12th December

The Chief Executive of Somerset Council, Duncan Sharkey, has admitted to making mistakes in cutting jobs. Yeovil MP Adam Dance is supporting a Lib Dem initiative to introduce a new ‘Farm First’ training scheme. Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance has launched an appeal to help buy a second helicopter... and more.
Thursday 11th December

A man has appeared in court in connection with an attack in Wincanton. A member of Somerset Council, jailed for 26 months for taking part in a Just Stop Oil protest, may not have to stand down as a councillor. NHS Somerset has announced that changes to stroke services at Yeovil Hospital will "go live" in the spring of next year...and more
Wednesday 10th December

Avon and Somerset Police say 62 drivers were arrested in the first week of the Christmas drink and drug driving campaign. A reindeer farm near Yeovil thinks it may have to close after being told it needs a Zoo licence. Father Christmas has made a special delivery of presents to Charlton Farm Children's Hospice in Somerset...and more
Tuesday 9th December

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Avon and Somerset has criticised the government for axing the role. Police are appealing for witnesses to a road traffic accident near Ilminster in which a woman was seriously injured. Residents of Freedom Avenue in Yeovil are raising funds for charity with a big display of Christmas lights...and more.
Monday 8th December

Plans to build 150 new homes in Ilminster have been scrapped. A Somerset councillor has been jailed for 26 months. Marks & Spencer wants to build a new Food Store in Ilminster. Poundland has announced that it’s shutting its store in Middle Street in Yeovil...and more
Friday 5th December

Police are appealing for witnesses after an assault on a man in Chard. Lloyds Banking Group has announced a date for closing the Halifax in Yeovil. Train journeys on the Castle Cary to Taunton line will be disrupted next week due to engineering work. The mental health charity MIND in Somerset has produced a Christmas advent calendar... and more.
Thursday 4th December

The Chief Constable of Avon and Somerset Police says her force is doing all it can to reduce anti-social behaviour. Somerset Council has deferred a decision on introducing Sunday car parking charges. People living in deprived areas in Somerset are being fast-tracked for hospital treatment...and more
Wednesday 3rd December

Fire crews have rescued the driver of a car that got stuck in floodwater near Ilminster. Avon and Somerset Police are urging people going out to celebrate this Christmas to book a taxi or use public transport. A woman from South Petherton has come top at the British Down Syndrome Swimming Championships...and more,