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 23rd May

Ten extra maternity beds have been made available at Taunton's Musgrove Park Hospital following the closure of Yeovil's maternity unit. Some Glastonbury festival goers say they've been left thousands of pounds out of pocket after a glamping business was liquidated. Chard Fire Station is asking businesses to offer their buildings for fire training. The Cotley Inn, in Wambrook, has been placed on a top 10 list of the best pubs in Britain...and more.
Thursday 22nd May

Residents of Chard are being asked to be more proactive and call the local police when they spot acts of crime and anti-social behaviour. Somerset Council says its gritting teams went out 1700 times last winter, covering more than 117,000 miles and spreading 6,000 tonnes of salt to keep local roads open. Leonardo Helicopters says it will be conducting test flights over Yeovil tonight up until 10.30 pm...and more
Wednesday 21st May

Yeovil MP Adam Dance says closing the maternity unit at Yeovil Hospital is a disaster for the town. A Somerset transport company that supplies supermarkets says it’s being held to ransom by cyber hackers. NHS Somerset says 70% of people in the highest risk groups have yet to get their Covid-19 spring booster jab...and more
Tuesday 19th May

A Yeovil man says his life has improved since having a new weight loss treatment. A pub near Chard is blaming increased running costs imposed by the government for the business closing. A Somerset woman has been left with facial injuries after coming off her horse when it was spooked by a driver overtaking at speed...and more
Monday 19th May

Four thousand people have signed a petition calling for Yeovil’s maternity unit to be re-opened as soon as possible. UNISON is calling on Somerset Council to clarify how it will operate services now that hundreds of staff have been made redundant. The Bishop of Bath and Wells says he’s concerned about amendments to the assisted dying bill...and more.
Friday 16th May

A Wincanton woman, who is due to give birth with her first child at Yeovil Hospital, says she’s been left in shock after being told the maternity unit in the town is to close. A South Petherton man has appeared in court charged with riding a motorbike while under the influence of drugs. One of Ilminster’s oldest residents has died aged 104...and more
Thursday 15th May

The Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, has been asked to intervene in the decision to close the maternity ward at Yeovil Hospital. A man who lives in Winsham near Chard has been given a suspended prison sentence for breaching his sex offender notification requirements. Plans have been submitted to convert Dolphin House in Yeovil into 18 residential units...and more
Wednesday 14th May

The Labour Ward and Special Care Baby Unit at Yeovil Hospital is closing for six months following safety concerns. Chard Youth Centre says it will be heartbreaking if it has to close. The road between Ilminster and Chard at Dowlish Ford is shut to traffic again today. People in Somerset are being advised to wear sunglasses to protect their eyesight during the current sunny weather...and more