Local News Wednesday 4th May

Wednesday, 4 May 2022 06:00

National Highways say work on dualling the A303 in South Somerset is running to schedule. A restaurant owner from Somerset is having to turn down bookings because of staff shortages. A former school building in Somerton has been put up for sale. Yeovil Freewheelers blood bikes have taken delivery of a new motorbike. Children at Tintinhull Primary School have won a Gold Award from The Woodland Trust for their work improving the local environment and a caravan has been completely destroyed by fire at Long Sutton.

National Highways say work on dualling the A303 in South Somerset is running to schedule and should be completed by the deadline of Spring 2024. Meanwhile, the A303 between Hazelgrove and Podimore will be shut from Friday, 13th May to Sunday the 15th of May to allow for a temporary bridge to be built over the carriageway.

A restaurant owner from Somerset is having to turn down bookings because of staff shortages. Buddy Love, who runs the Flying Fish Pub and Restaurant at Ashill near Ilminster, says he’s doubled the salary for a chef with other incentives yet can’t fill the role. The government says it has created schemes to recruit people to work in hospitality but vacancies are still running at a high level.

A former school building in Somerton has been put up for sale. Somerton Infants School on Etsome Terrace stands in 0.84 of an acre of land. The school closed when it merged with the King Ina Church of England Academy in Somerton in 2014.

Yeovil Freewheelers blood bikes have taken delivery of a new motorbike. The voluntary organisation that delivers blood and medical supplies between NHS sites bought the bike with the proceeds from their fundraising activities.

Children at Tintinhull Primary School have won a Gold Award from The Woodland Trust for their work improving the local environment. Headteacher, Hayley Robinson, says the green agenda is a central part of the school’s values. Last year, Tintinhull Primary School was awarded a Level-2 certificate by the Royal Horticultural Society for tree planting.

A caravan has been completely destroyed by fire at Long Sutton. Appliances from Martock and Somerton tackled the blaze that broke out at around 1 pm on Monday afternoon.

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Thursday 13th November

Workers at Leonardo Helicopters in Yeovil are taking part in a second day of strike action in their dispute over pay. Lloyds Bank has shut its branch in Chard for good. A week-long programme of tree planting will be held at Ham Hill later this month to mark National Tree Week.... and more
Wednesday 12th November

Workers belonging to the Unite union at Leonardo Helicopters in Yeovil begin a two-day strike today. Yeovil MP, Adam Dance, has been speaking in a parliamentary debate on improving dyslexia support in schools. South Western Ambulance Service is inviting applications for positions on its governing council...and more
Tuesday 11th November

Somerset residents are being urged to get a flu jab as cases of flu continue to rise. Seven horse saddles have been stolen in a break-in at a riding school in Queen Camel. Donations of children’s toys are needed for this year’s Chard Christmas Present Appeal...and more
Monday 10th November

It’s claimed Somerset Council has lost nearly £5 million selling the Marks and Spencer building in Yeovil. A car has been set on fire in a suspected arson attack in Shepton Mallet. A Crewkerne man says night-time noise from the town's Waitrose store is causing him and his family "sleep disturbance" ... and more.
Friday 7th November

A man from Yeovil has been jailed for eight years after being convicted of three counts of rape. Smoking rates in Somerset remain higher than in many other parts of the UK. Students at three schools in Yeovil have created a new shoe design for Clarks.
Thursday 6th November

The Supreme Court has ruled that building thousands of homes in Somerset has been "unlawfully held up". The Head of Holyrood Academy in Chard has described the building of a new primary school in the town as an ‘incredible opportunity’. A pub near Chard has been named one of the best in Britain by The Good Food Guide...and more
Wednesday 5th November

Members of the Unite union at Leonardo in Yeovil have called off a planned strike for today. South Western Railway says trains on the West of England Line will start running normally again at the end of the month. A memorial post box has been placed at the entrance to Crewkerne cemetery...and more.
Tuesday 4th November

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service says from today it will no longer respond to automatic fire alarms. School in a Bag, based in Chilthorne Domer, is sending 400 school bags to Jamaica, following Hurricane Melissa. Yeovil Town has paid tribute to former manager Colin Addison, who has passed away...and more.