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.
Charity shops in Somerset report that they have received donations of dirty clothing and even soiled nappies. Plans have been submitted to build a further fifty new homes in Crewkerne. The National Audit Office says extra government funding to improve bus services, including in Somerset, has failed to deliver an increase in passenger numbers...and more
Dorset County Hospital is preparing to handle an increased number of births from now until the end of the year, following the closure of Yeovil Hospital's Maternity Unit. A number of former and current serving military personnel are pursuing the Ministry of Defence for compensation. Vandals have damaged a wooden shelter at the recreation ground in Ilminster...and more
Business owners in Chard say ongoing roadworks in Fore Street are hurting their trade. A vehicle has been destroyed in a fire at a farm at Charlton Mackrell. A new recycling scheme has been launched to support Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance. Castle Carey has created a Scarecrow Festival...and more
A murder trial starts today of the parents of a baby boy who died in Yeovil Hospital. Somerset residents are being asked to keep an eye on elderly neighbours, with temperatures expected to reach the high 20s again today. A tiny black kitten has been found inside a crate of laundry delivered to a cleaning business in Yeovil...and more
The Care Quality Commission has published its report into the running of the maternity unit at Yeovil Hospital. A public consultation has been launched into plans to build 150 new homes at Horton near Ilminster. A Chard man has embarked on walking 75 miles across Somerset, raising money for the Devon Air Ambulance...and more
Yeovil MP Adam Dance is calling for Yeovil Hospital to be included in the government's national review of NHS maternity services. A Yeovil man has appeared in court charged with four counts of fraud. Yeovil Town players will be modelling the club’s new home and away strip at Huish Park this evening...and more.
Thousands more music fans will arrive at Worthy Farm for the start of Glastonbury Festival. The government has granted Somerset Council a stay of execution, allowing it to defer a spending deficit on special needs education. A party has been held to mark the 100th birthday of a Somerset woman who has lived in the same house for 100 years...and more.
Businesses at the Cartgate services off the A303 near Yeovil say they feel threatened by Welcome Break Ltd's plans to build a new, bigger services area right next door. A man who lives in Tintinhull, found nearly double the drink drive limit, has been given a 20-month driving ban. Police are warning of fake tickets being on sale for Glastonbury Festival...and more