Local News Wednesday 20th April

Wednesday, 20 April 2022 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.

More from News

Tuesday 15th September

Police investigating an attack on a shop worker in Yeovil have released CCTV images of a man and woman they want to speak to. Farmers in Somerset are being warned to expect more cases of bluetongue. Ilminster Carnival Committee has announced the cancellation of this year's Children's Carnival due to a lack of entries... and more
Monday 14th September

Two new mobile NHS breast screening units have taken to the road in Somerset. More than 700 new homes are to be built alongside the M5 in Bridgwater. Dawes Twineworks in West Coker is one of several venues open to the public for free this month... and more
Friday 11th September

It’s going to cost more to park in Chard. Police have issued an image of a man they want to speak to in connection with two burglaries in Yeovil. Somerset Cricket Club is planning to stage performances by some of the world's biggest artistes at their Taunton ground... and more
Thursday 10th September

Work has begun building a new multi-million-pound David Lloyd leisure centre in Yeovil. NHS Somerset says a new system to handle emergency stroke care will lead to "better outcomes" for patients. Tickets for next year’s Glastonbury Festival will go on sale in October...and more
Wednesday 9th September

Police have released an image of a man they want to speak to following an assault in Yeovil. Businesses in Taunton say they're worried that planned changes to parking rules could put people off visiting the town. The Red Arrows will take to the skies near the Somerset border in a one-off display later this week... and more
Tuesday 8th September

Police in Avon and Somerset say they’re dealing with a big increase in reports of cloned vehicle fraud. A new video system designed to speed up stroke care has been launched in Somerset. Pilgrims are walking through Somerset this week to mark eight hundred years since the death of Saint Francis of Assisi... and more
Monday 7th September

Avon and Somerset Police are warning about a new scam involving criminals posing as police officers. Flu vaccinations are now available on the NHS ahead of the winter. Liverpool comedian John Bishop has cancelled his show in Taunton later this week after breaking his ankle... and more
Friday 4th September

Police are investigating a suspected arson attack on a vehicle near Shepton Mallet. New taxi charges come into force in Somerset later this month. The fire service is treating as accidental a blaze at a flat in Yeovil town centre... and more