Monday 17th November

Monday, 17 November 2025 06:00

By Steve Haigh

Workers belonging to the Unite union at Leonardo Helicopters in Yeovil are threatening further strike action. Dunelm says its Yeovil store in the Quedam will reopen on Tuesday, December 16th. A nurse working at Yeovil Hospital has won a place in the final of Miss England...and more.

Workers belonging to the Unite union at Leonardo Helicopters in Yeovil are threatening further strike action in support of their pay claim. It follows Unite members' rejection of a 3.6% pay rise and last week’s two-day stoppage at plants in Yeovil, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Basildon and Luton. Leonardo says it’s disappointed that its improved pay offer was not positively received and would welcome Unite back to the table in a bid to resolve the issue. Unite says if Leonardo fails to offer a pay rise to match inflation, its members in Yeovil will strike again for two days on November 25th and 28th.

Two out of three people in Somerset say they’re unhappy with local bus services, according to the results of a consultation on a new transport plan for Somerset. It sets out how Somerset Council’s priorities for delivering local bus services over the next 20 years. The results of the consultation also show a strong desire amongst the public for a reduction in carbon emissions and improvements to walking and cycling routes.

A man has appeared in court charged with stealing £4,000 worth of goods from M&S, Waitrose, and Co-op stores in Somerset. Appearing at Taunton Crown Court, Benjamin Holt, aged 41, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to theft, including twelve hundred pounds in alcohol from Tesco in Langport, and was jailed for nine months and given a Criminal Behaviour Order.

Dunelm says its store in the Quedam in Yeovil will reopen to customers on Tuesday, December 16th. The shop closed in August last year following a major fire which destroyed most of the building.

A Yeovil nurse has won a place in the final of Miss England. Skye Dorland, aged 23, a midwife at Yeovil Hospital, was crowned Miss Somerset last month, and will represent the South West in the Miss England final being held over two days in Wolverhampton on November 20th and 21st.

A Scout group in South Somerset is seeking volunteers to help run its 10-to 14-year-old section. Ilminster Scout Group is seeking more adult helpers. No previous experience is required to volunteer, as full support and training will be provided. Anyone interested in joining is asked to please email: ilminsterscoutsection@gmail.com

More from News

Friday 14th November

Yeovil Hospital has introduced a new system for handling patients at its A&E department aimed at cutting waiting times. It’s claimed that an Iron Age settlement preserved under Somerset's wetlands for 2,000 years is facing erosion due to climate change. Montacute Road in Tintinhull will be closed for five days next week for repairs to a gas main.
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 closed its branch in Chard permanently. 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.