Monday 24th February

Monday, 24 February 2025 06:00

By Steve Haigh

The Leonardo Group, which owns the Leonardo Helicopter factory in Yeovil, has announced strong full-year results for 2024. A new bus station could be built in Langport. Police are appealing for witnesses to a road traffic accident in which a dog was fatally injured in Yeovil...and more

The Leonardo Group, which owns the Leonardo Helicopter factory in Yeovil, has announced strong full-year results for 2024. Orders increased significantly, reporting a 16.8% increase, reaching £16.5 billion compared to 2023.

A new bus station could be built in Langport. The town has been chosen in preference to Somerton for the new bus interchange, which is aimed at improving rural routes in the County. £510,000 will be spent building the interchange but Somerset Council aren’t saying when it will happen.

Somerset Council, which’s facing a funding gap of £52 million beginning in April, has been thrown a further lifeline by the government to avoid going bankrupt. After the government gave the Council permission to raise council tax by 7.5%, it has now said it can raise £63 million by borrowing more money or selling assets to meet day-to-day spending. However, Somerset Council has been told that it cannot dispose of community and heritage assets to balance its books.

Police are appealing for witnesses to an accident in which a dog was fatally injured in Yeovil. The dog was with its owner in Combe Street Lane at around 6 am on Saturday, February 1st when it was hit by a car. Police say the vehicle left the scene without stopping. If you witnessed the accident or have dashcam footage call the non-emergency number 101.

The CEO of Visit Somerset, Giles Adams, says proposed changes in charges at Somerset Council-run car parks are the latest in a series of attempts to suffocate businesses in this county. Under the proposals, free parking at council-run car parks will end, together with the introduction of Sunday and overnight charges. Mr Adams claims evening visitors and those living in town, will have to pay to park, and that further pressure will be put on evening entertainment venues.

Yeovil Freewheelers has been presented with £380 by Ilminster and District Lions. The Freewheelers Blood Bikes transports urgently needed medical items across Somerset and Dorset.

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Thursday 11th June

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Wednesday 10th June

The public will be consulted on how best to spend fifty million pounds of government funding to tackle flooding in Somerset. Avon and Somerset Police are backing a new road safety campaign aimed at reducing motorcycle fatalities. New welcome signs have been installed at entrances to the Mendip Hills National Landscape... and more
Tuesday 9th June

The government has announced a £50 million investment to strengthen Somerset’s flood defences. A woman from Stoke-sub-Hamdon has been banned from driving for 14 months after admitting drink-driving. Somerset Council has been told it must improve its adult social care services... and more
Monday 8th June

Plans for a new railway station in Langport remain stalled in Whitehall, according to Somerset Council. Plans to build 50 new homes in Broadway, near Ilminster, have been refused. The new water fountains in Yeovil’s Triangle, in Lower Middle Street, are being switched off during very hot weather because of safety concerns... and more.
Friday 5th June

A new NHS dental practice in Crewkerne says it won’t start operating at full capacity until July due to staff shortages. Somerset Council says it has no plans to show England matches in the World Cup on the Big Screen in Yeovil town centre due to safety concerns. A Somerset family has been thanked after completing a 73-mile walk raising money for a third world charity... and more
Thursday 4th June

An investigation continues today into the crash of a Royal Navy helicopter, based at RNAS Yeovilton, in which all three aircrew were killed. Somerset Council has confirmed that a new operator will take over several leisure centres across the county. The new live-action Masters of the Universe movie, filmed in Somerset, is released this week...and more
Wednesday 3rd June

A Yeovil man has appeared in court charged with assaulting three police officers. Somerset Council has begun legal action to recover more than £320,000 owed by housing developers. The line-up has been announced for this year’s Ilminster Midsummer Experience...and more