Local News Wednesday 22nd June

Tuesday, 21 June 2022 at 23:10

Traffic queuing for Glastonbury in previous years

With the gates opening today at Glastonbury Festival, motorists planning to travel near to Pilton are being advised to leave plenty of time to complete their journeys. Rising fuel prices are putting charities like the Yeovil-based Freewheelers Emergency Voluntary Service under pressure. A farm safety event has been held in Yeovil to encourage local farmers to take matters of Healthy and Safety more seriously. A new report is soon to be published on building a new relief road on the eastern side of Chard and a former Yeovil Town footballer has had his dream fulfilled of playing for England.

With the gates opening today at Glastonbury Festival, motorists planning to travel near to Pilton are being advised to leave plenty of time to complete their journeys. Up to 200,000 revellers are due to arrive at Worthy Farm between today and Friday. Many festival-goers are unable to travel by train due to around half of trains being cancelled to Castle Cary by the rail strike and local roads around Pilton are expected to be even more congested than usual.

Meanwhile, the westbound carriageway on the A303 between Ilchester and the Cartgate roundabout will be closed from 8 pm this evening to 6 am tomorrow morning for resurfacing work to be carried out. The road will shut again tomorrow evening. During the closure, a diversion will operate via the A37, A30, and A3088.

Rising fuel prices are putting charities like the Yeovil-based Freewheelers Emergency Voluntary Service under pressure. Yeovil Freewheelersdelivers blood by motorbike across Somerset and the South West, and estimates that its fuel costs have gone up by a quarter in the past two months.

A farm safety event has been held in Yeovil to encourage local farmers to take matters of Healthy and Safety more seriously. The event was arranged by insurers, NFU Mutual, and the Farm Safety Foundation, and follows a rise in fatalities on farms in the South West.

A new report is soon to be published on building a new relief road on the eastern side of Chard. The Chard Eastern Relief Road is seen as crucial to complementing new homes to the south and east of the town. If it goes ahead, the road would begin at a new roundabout on the A358 and cross the B3162 Forton Road to the east of the existing houses. It would then move north around the back of the Lordleaze Hotel, skirting the edge of the current employment units at Millfield, and joining up with the A30 to the east of a new Numatic facility.

A former Yeovil Town footballer has had his dream fulfilled of playing for England at the age of 80. Rex Buttle twisted his vertebrae playing for the Glovers in 1959 and was told by doctors that he would never play football again. Rex has just won his first England cap in a 1-1 draw against Wales as a member of England's Over 75’s Walking Football team.

More from News

Friday 6th November

Up to 70 jobs could go at the Leonardo helicopter factory in Yeovil. Police are investigating a fire at the former Pittard factory in Yeovil. Families on low incomes are being offered tickets at just £3 to this year’s Yeovil pantomime...and more
Thursday 5th November

South West Water says reservoir levels in Somerset are starting to recover after recent heavy rainfall. Castle Cary railway station is to get a new footbridge. A young dancer from Martock has been chosen to perform with the English Youth Ballet... and more
Wednesday 4th November

People in Somerset will go to the polls in May 2028 to elect a new mayor for the Wessex region. A Somerset farmer who failed a breath test after being caught asleep at the wheel of his tractor has narrowly avoided losing his driving licence. The new Ham Hill Visitor Centre has been named a regional winner in the Building Excellence Awards 2026... and more
tuesday 3rd November

Somerset Council says it doesn’t have the money to improve its planning enforcement team. Drivers are being advised that work to replace the central barrier on the M5 near Wellington starts this week. A health food shop in Chard has been crowned High Street Shop of the Year... and more
Monday 2nd November

A motorist was caught driving at 133mph on the A303 between Podimore and Sparkford, according to newly released data from Avon and Somerset Police. Taunton's Brewhouse Theatre closed for the last time at the weekend. Public firework displays in Ilminster and Martock have been cancelled due to rising costs... and more
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