Local News Wednesday 20th April

Wednesday, 20 April 2022 at 06:00

Tourism businesses in Somerset say lifting Covid travel restrictions helped make the Easter Bank Holiday their best for bookings for two years. Around 5,000 children in Somerset will be starting at the primary school of their choice in September. A project to re-wild churchyards in Somerset is being rolled out further afield. A Chard motorist has been fined £574 for speeding. The price of off-peak train tickets on services through Somerset will be cut by as much as a half next month...and more.

Tourism businesses in Somerset say lifting Covid travel restrictions helped make the Easter Bank Holiday their best for bookings for two years. Sally England, who runs Thorney Lakes Caravan Park, near Langport, believes the upturn was due to people not travelling long distances because of higher fuel costs.

Around 5,000 children in Somerset will be starting at the primary school of their choice in September. Figures for pre-school children show ninety-eight percent of them have been offered places in the reception class at one of their top three school choices.

A project to re-wild churchyards in Somerset is being rolled out further afield. The Wilder Churches project is run by the Somerset Wildlife Trust in conjunction with the Diocese of Bath and Wells. It started a year ago and has already seen a big improvement in wildflowers, habitat and biodiversity in Somerset's churchyard

A Chard motorist has been fined £574 for speeding. Richard Lacey, who lives in Halcombe, was caught driving at 93 mph on the A35 in Puddletown in Dorset. Lacey also had five penalty points put on his licence.

The price of off-peak train tickets on services through Somerset will be cut by as much as a half next month. It’s part of an initiative by the government and train operators to encourage more people to travel by train

Yeovil boxer, Dean Dodge is gearing up for another crack at winning the Southern Area Super-Featherweight title. He missed taking the title losing on points to Danny Carr last February. Dean will fight Reece Bellotti for the Southern Area title at York Hall in London this Friday.

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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