Monday 24th November

Monday, 24 November 2025 at 05:00

By Steve Haigh

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.

A church leader has warned that the introduction of Sunday car parking charges in Somerset will do “irrevocable damage” to town centres. Somerset Council held a consultation in September and October on implementing Sunday parking charges across all its car parks. But Judith Butler, a pastor at Kingdom Faith Church in Taunton, says implementing the charges will damage Somerset’s struggling high streets, with fewer people using the car parks to shop, eat out and attend religious services. The results of the consultation show that 93 per cent of respondents either disagree or strongly disagree with charging for Sunday parking. Somerset Council is due to decide on the issue before the end of December.

Fifty new homes are to be built in Castle Cary following a successful appeal to the Planning Inspectorate by developers Castle Cary LLP. Their application to build off South Street, close to the town’s cemetery, was turned down by Somerset Council’s planning committee in January. But after a planning inspector visited the site, the decision was overturned. In his report, the Inspector dismissed concerns that the new homes would harm the town's conservation area, saying the site was "almost wholly screened" by mature trees and other vegetation.

A call’s been made for a permanent memorial to the twenty-seven people who died in a plane crash on the Blackdown Hills in Somerset 80 years ago. The flight had taken off from the Merryfield air base near Ilminste with mostly military personnel on board when it crashed near Hare Lane at Castle Neroche on November 22nd 1945. Diana Hughes, whose father, Major Harry Staunton, was one of those killed, is asking for a permanent plaque to be put up in Buckland St Mary church in memory of all those who died.

A ten-million-pound upgrade of Bridgwater's Dunball roundabout, that's led to a year of disruption, has been completed. The junction connects junction 23 to the town. Somerset Council says the new 'through-about' will help ease congestion in the town.

Wells MP Tessa Munt says people living with chronic fatigue and ME are desperate, calling on the government to speed up investment into care and research into the condition. The government has spent over £6 million on ME research over the last five years. Still, a plan to tackle ME published in July admitted that resources to turn the research into action were inadequate.

A top international award has been given to the school in Wincanton. Our Lady of Mount Carmel Primary School has been presented with a Live Simply Award by the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development for its efforts in supporting struggling communities around the world.

More from News

Friday 30th October

Wells Cathedral says it's having to get creative to bring in more money as financial pressures continue to grow. A convenience store in Martock has been allowed to keep its alcohol licence despite an employee working there illegally. Police have seized an illegally ridden e-scooter in Yeovil in response to concerns from local residents... and more
Thursday 29th October

A Yeovil man has been detained under the Mental Health Act for attacking his mother with a knife. People in Chard are being reminded that it’s unlawful to attach flags to lamp posts and street furniture. Wincanton Racecourse has called off its 'Badger Chase Day' because the ground is too firm... and more
Wednesday 28th October

Leweston School near Sherborne has announced that it is closing with immediate effect. NHS Somerset could merge with neighbours in Bath and North-East Somerset and Dorset to cut costs. Somerset’s Lord-Lieutenant has launched a campaign to get more people nominated for national honours... and more
Tuesday 27th October

Work has started building a new six-million-pound flood defence scheme in Taunton. Plans have been submitted to build a new church hall in Martock. People are being asked to donate gifts to this year’s Chard Christmas Present Appeal... and more
Monday 26th October

Eligible groups in Somerset are being encouraged to get their flu jabs. There’s a rare opportunity to get a behind-the-scenes look inside Avon & Somerset Police’s control room. Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader, Daisy Cooper MP, has visited Yeovil... and more.
Friday 23rd October

Somerset is the 11th most challenging place in England to be a child according to a report. Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire could have its own elected ‘Wessex Mayor’ by 2028. Cricketer, Ian Botham returns to the county this weekend... and more.
Thursday 22nd October

The NFU says that testing for the virus Bluetongue needs to be sped up. Construction of new flats on Yeovil’s Grimsby Corner site will officially begin next year. The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for wind tomorrow... and more.
Wednesday 21st October

The owner of campsite in Somerset says a two-thousand-seven-hundred percent increase in business rates will be 'catastrophic' for his business. Plans to build nearly 300 new homes on the outskirts of Chard have been given the go ahead. Yeovil Town are through to the first round proper of the FA Cup after beating Leatherhead 5-2 at Huish Park last night... and more