Monday 10th June

Monday, 10 June 2024 06:00

By Steve Haigh

Nominations have closed for candidates standing in the general election in the Yeovil parliamentary constituency. A new rural bus hub is being developed in Somerton at a cost of half a million pounds. Organisers of the Shindig Festival are trying to find the owner of a car that's been left behind, two weeks after the event at Dillington House ended...and more.

Nominations have closed for candidates standing in the general election in the Yeovil parliamentary constituency on Thursday, July 4th. The five candidates standing in Yeovil are:

Laura Bailhache, Reform UK
Adam Dance, Liberal Democrat
Marcus Fysh, Conservative
Rebecca Montacute, Labour
Serena Wootton, Green

In the new Glastonbury and Somerton parliamentary constituency the candidates standing are:

Tom Carter, Reform UK
Jon Cousins, Green Party
Sarah Dyke, Liberal Democrat
Hal Hooberman, Labour
Faye Purbrick, Conservative

The deadline to register to vote in the general election is 5 pm on Tuesday, June 18th. The deadline to apply for a postal vote is 5 pm on Wednesday, June 19th. The deadline to apply for a proxy vote is 5 pm on Wednesday, June 26th.

More than half a million pounds has been allocated to build a rural Somerton bus hub. The funding comes from the government's 'bus back better' initiative and aims to improve bus services in the Somerton area and rural parts of Yeovil. The investment follows the success of a trial in which travellers could book bus journeys online.

Government funding is being provided to improve access for disabled passengers travelling by train, with Yeovil Junction one of the stations getting some of the cash. A feasibility study into how the project will proceed is now underway at Yeovil Junction station.

Bridgwater Town Council is facing a budget overspend of nearly half a million pounds this financial year which it blames on a computer error. It comes after the Town Council agreed to take on services from Somerset Council. Bridgwater Town Council says it'll be using reserves to balance the books after having already fixed its share of council tax for the coming financial year.

Organisers of the Shindig Festival in Ilminster are trying to find the owner a car that's been left behind, two weeks after the event at Dillington House ended. Police say it's not stolen but they'll tow the red Audi if nobody comes forward. The beginning of the car's registration is OE57.

A Somerset woman who took part in a charity wing walk has thanked everyone for their generous donations. Esther Hussey, who’s 81, took on the challenge at Henstridge Airfield and had planned to raise £200 for the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, but ended up raising more than £1000.

More from News

Friday 14th August

Police are investigating an incident in which obscene words were scratched onto the World War One memorial at Ham Hill. Yeovil MP Adam Dance has repeated his call for the upgrade of the town’s police station to include a custody suite. A Somerset carnival club is building a specially adapted float to allow a wheelchair user and her assistance dog to take part in this year’s carnival circuit...and more
Thursday 13th August

An Ilminster family is celebrating after winning one million pounds on the National Lottery. Police have released a picture of a man they want to speak to in connection with suspected frauds in Somerset. Somerset Council has opened a tendering process to find a main contractor for the £15 million upgrade of Yeovil’s Octagon theatre... and more
Wednesday 12th August

Experts say with good visibility forecast for this evening, people across Somerset should have some of the best views of the solar eclipse anywhere in the UK. A Somerset councillor is calling for the Stop Line cycle route between Chard and Ilminster to be better supported. It's 40-years ago this week since a Lynx helicopter built in Yeovil set a new World Helicopter Speed Record... and more
Tuesday 11th August

Wessex Water says a hosepipe ban is possible if customers fail to cut their water usage. A record number of illegal dog fights were reported in Somerset last year. Yeovil Town's Mason Obeng has won the traditional sack of potatoes, given to the player who scores Yeovil's first goal of the new season, as a lucky omen... and more
Monday 10th August

A local councillor claims anti-social behaviour is putting people off coming into Yeovil town centre. South-West Water has announced a hosepipe ban in the Chard area. Great Western Railway has apologised after a wheelchair user from Chard became stuck at one of its stations... and more
Friday 7th August

Chard's biggest employer, Numatic International, makers of the Henry vacuum cleaner, has announced job cuts. A new Neighbourhood Plan for Hatch Beauchamp has officially been adopted. Two historic artefacts taken from Glastonbury Abbey more than 70 years ago have been returned...and more
Thursday 6th August

A local man and convicted former neo-Nazi, selected by the Conservatives to stand in Crewkerne South in next year’s local elections for a seat on Somerset Council, has pulled out after a backlash against his candidacy. A charity that runs children's homes in Somerset is terminating its contract early following a critical report by Ofsted...and more
Wednesday 5th August

Avon and Somerset's Police and Crime Commissioner is backing the wider use of police drones in towns like Yeovil to help tackle crime. Visitor numbers at Somerset's tourist attractions are down by around sixty per cent so far this year. A gardening expert says it'll take much more than the occasional shower to revive Somerset's parched lawns, parks and open spaces...and more