Monday 1st December

Monday, 1 December 2025 06:00

By Steve Haigh

New figures show that crime in the Avon and Somerset police area rose by 8% in the year to June. South Western Railway has restarted running hourly services through Sherborne, Yeovil and Crewkerne following months of disruption. Persimmon Homes South West has donated £1500 towards the running costs of Castle Cary Rugby Club...and more

New figures show that crime in the Avon and Somerset police area rose by 8% in the year to June. The total number of crimes increased from 156,941 between July and June 2024 to 170,002 between July and June this year. The most significant increases were in theft offences, which rose by 18%, and drug offences, which grew by 20%.

South Western Railway has restarted running hourly services through Sherborne, Yeovil and Crewkerne following months of disruption. SWR has been operating reduced services between Salisbury and Exeter since August due to track damage caused by the summer’s high temperatures. Engineers have now completed repairs to the track, allowing trains to travel at their regular speeds.

A major road closure will take effect in Crewkerne from tomorrow. Two-way traffic lights will operate on the A356 Broadshard Road between 9 am and 7 pm before the road closes to through traffic in both directions from 7 pm to 6 am the following day. The closures will be repeated on Wednesday and Thursday. It's to allow Wessex Water to replace monitoring equipment.

A Somerset transport firm is applying for permission to operate vehicles from an industrial unit in Martock. South West Pitch Services Ltd, based in Templecombe, wants to operate two goods vehicles and one trailer from Unit 11C on Great Western Road in Martock. People who live close to the site and believe they could be affected have until Thursday, December 11th, to submit written representations to the Traffic Commissioner.

A date’s been announced for work to start replacing ageing traffic signals at the A39 junction with Clarks Village in Street. Somerset Council says six sets of traffic lights, which span the junction need renewing as they are more than 30 years old. The work will start on January 5th and last for 16 weeks. The road between Westway Roundabout and Street Roundabout is also being resurfaced and a new path for cyclists and pedestrians is being added.

You can now take soft plastics like crisp packets, biscuit wrappers, and lids from ready meals to the Co-op store on Stiby Road in Yeovil for recycling. The in-store facility has been added as part of a major store upgrade, with customers now also provided with self-service tills.

Persimmon Homes South West has donated £ 1,500 towards the running costs of Castle Cary Rugby Club. The cheque presentation made to Club Chairman, Gary Power, comes ahead of Persimmon Homes starting work building 162 new homes at Tor Point in the town.

More from News

Friday 28th November

Somerset Council has failed to stop 150 homes being built in Crewkerne. Posters of a drag act coming to Somerset, displayed in Shepton Mallet, have been vandalised. Avon and Somerset police are using proceeds from drug crime to fund community projects...and more,
Thursday 27th November

A new NHS dentist in Chard will start seeing its first patients next Tuesday. The go-ahead has been given to install five new lighting and CCTV columns on Milfield Road in Chard. Work is to start in January, replacing ageing traffic signals at the A39 junction with Clarks Village in Street...and more
Wednesday 26th November

Workers at Leonardo Helicopters in Yeovil, belonging to the Unite union, have accepted a new pay offer of 8% over two years. Yeovil Town has appointed a new first-team Manager. A new NHS dental practice is due to open in Chard next month...and more
Tuesday 25th November

Yeovil MP, Adam Dance, is calling on the Chancellor to deliver ‘real economic growth’ for Yeovil in her budget tomorrow. The government has given Yeovil College £2 million to upgrade its engineering facilities. A Chard-based charity has sent 7,000 boxes filled with Christmas gifts to Ukraine...and more.
Monday 24th November

A church leader has warned that “irrevocable damage” will be caused to town centres if Somerset Council starts charging for Sunday parking. Fifty new homes are to be built in Castle Cary following a successful planning appeal. A call has been made for a memorial to the victims who died in a plane crash on the Blackdown Hills 80 years ago...and more.
Friday 21st November

A public inquiry is being held into plans to build a large solar farm in the village of Wayford. Fire crews have put out a small blaze at Tesco in Ilminster. Canadian firm KDC One is closing its Wellington factory, putting dozens of jobs at risk. It's Ilminster's turn to switch on the Christmas lights tonight... and more.
Thursday 20th November

Taunton Town Council has agreed to provide funding for five years to support the town's Brewhouse Theatre. The Environment Agency is warning that Somerset could experience a drought next spring if this winter is drier than usual. We’re being asked to look out for rough sleepers during the current cold snap...and more
Wednesday 19th November

Yeovil MP Adam Dance is calling for stronger preventative measures to stop sewage discharges into local waterways. Somerset Council is to provide three new children's homes across the County. Street Football Club has appointed a father-and-son team to manage the club... and more.