Monday 15th September

Monday, 15 September 2025 01:00

By Steve Haigh

NHS Somerset says it’s 'fully committed' to re-opening maternity services at Yeovil Hospital, but won't say when it will reopen. Water levels at Somerset's reservoirs have dropped below 50%, despite the recent heavy rain. A charity shop in Martock has reunited a long-lost compass with its owner after he lost it 70 years ago...and more

NHS Somerset says it’s 'fully committed' to re-opening maternity services at Yeovil Hospital. The Special Care Baby Unit, together with inpatient maternity services, was closed in May following concerns about the safety, quality and fragility of paediatric services at Yeovil Hospital. CEO of NHS Somerset, Jonathan Higman, says they’re due an update on staffing in the maternity unit in November, but won't give a date when the unit will reopen.

Water levels at Somerset's reservoirs have dropped below 50%, despite the recent heavy rain. Data from the Environment Agencies shows that currently Wimbleball, Clatworthy, Chew Valley and Blagdon reservoirs are all classed as exceptionally low.

Somerset Council says it may have to look long and hard at making more cuts to services if further government support is not provided. An overspend of 5.4m is forecast for this year, with proceeds from property sales channelled into the Council's transformation programme. A further update on the Council's spending is expected in December.

A charity shop in Martock has reunited a long-lost compass with its owner after he lost it 70 years ago. The shop found a piece of paper in a case containing the compass, saying that it belonged to David L Bruton of Leicester University. After contacting the university, the compass was returned to Mr Bruton in Oslo, Norway. It later transpired that he lost the compass while on a field trip to Somerset 70 years ago.

A Somerset charity that helps rescue hedgehogs has been saved from closure, for the time being at least. £45,000 has been raised through a GoFundMe appeal to keep open Prickles Hedgehog Rescue in Cheddar. However, the charity states that it requires £100,000 per year to operate the centre, and its future remains uncertain.

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Thursday 30th July

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Tuesday 28th July

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Monday 27th July

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Friday 24th July

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Thursday 23rd July

The West Country is officially one step closer to being declared in drought. Somerset Council says it's remodelling its service after a children's home was closed following an inspection. A new McDonald's planned off the M5 at Bridgwater could create up to 120 local jobs... and more
Wednesday 22nd July

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