Monday 2nd March

Monday, 2 March 2026 05:00

By Steve Haigh

The Leonardo factory in Yeovil has won a multi-million pound contract to build new medium lift helicopters for the RAF. A doctor, who previously worked at Yeovil Hospital, has appeared in court charged with illegally accessing NHS computers. A new Construction Innovation Centre has opened at Yeovil College... and more

The Leonardo factory in Yeovil is to build the new medium lift helicopter securing the jobs of thousands of workers and cancelling the threat issued by its Italian owners to shut the Yeovil site if the contract wasn’t awarded by the deadline of March Ist. Right at the last moment, the order for up to 25 helicopters for the RAF was confirmed yesterday by the UK government following the personal intervention of the PM and Chancellor. The Leader of Yeovil Town Council Councillor Andy Soughton says it’s been a long time in coming and is a huge boost for the town.

A doctor, who previously worked at Yeovil Hospital, has appeared in court charged with illegally accessing NHS computers to look at his wife’s medical records. Mohamad Alsaadany pleaded guilty to three charges of accessing medical computer programmes on a total of 33 occasions when he appeared before magistrates in Yeovil. The Court was told Alsaadany would now go before the General Medical Council and be struck off the Medical Register.

A new Construction Innovation Centre has opened at Yeovil College. It will train learners in trades including carpentry, bricklaying, electrical installation, and plumbing. It’s the second major building finished under Yeovil College’s ‘once-in-a-generation’ Big Build programme, funded by the Department for Education.

Yeovil Hospital is holding an event to raise awareness of sleep apnoea. The disorder that causes brief interruptions in breathing during sleep, can lead to morning headaches, and a higher risk of developing heart problems. The sleep apnoea awareness day takes place at Yeovil Hospital this coming Saturday.

And a new music shop has opened in Yeovil. The Somerset Music Academy at 9, Silver Street in the town centre, sells guitars, ukuleles, drum kits, and digital pianos, and offers an instrument repair service.

More from News

Friday 27th February

The CEO of Leonardo has suggested the UK government could make an announcement immindently about ordering new medium lift helicopters to be built in Yeovil. A family run hardware business in Yeovil has gone into administration. The Lord Lieutenant of Somerset has been named the new patron of Somerset Chamber of Commerce... and more
Thursday 26th February

Workers at Leonardo in Yeovil have been to Downing Street to hand-in a petition calling on the government to back British jobs. The decision to grant planning permission to upgrade Yeovil's Octagon Theatre has been enthusiastically welcomed by staff who work there. The search is on to find a defibrillator that has gone missing in Chard... and more
Wednesday 25th February

Plans have been passed to carry out a £15 million upgrade of Yeovil’s Octagon Theatre. A new medical unit providing NHS and private treatments has opened in Shepton Mallet. Manor Court Community Primary School in Chard is celebrating after receiving a Gold Artsmark for excellence in arts and cultural education...and more
Tuesday 24th February

First Bus has announced changes to bus timetables on routes across Somerset. A Somerset drone company is celebrating getting through the audition round of ITV’s Britain's Got Talent. A public footpath in South Somerset is set to remain closed for up to two years... and more
Monday 23rd February

Yeovil MP Adam Dance is warning of a scaling back of jobs at the Leonardo helicopter factory in Yeovil. Work is underway on the multi-million-pound refurbishment of Yeovil police station. The A361 across the Somerset Levels has reopened... and more
Friday 20th February

10,000 incidents of potholes on Somerset’s roads have been reported to Somerset Council in the past four weeks. The Met Office is warning of more unsettled weather into March for Somerset. The Crowshute link in Chard will close for eight nights next month for road repairs... and more
Thursday 19th February

Yeovil fire station is to undergo a major refurbishment. A Yeovil based charity is appealing for adults to become mentors to young people. A Somerset woman has completed a 10,000 kilometre solo bike ride across Africa... and more
Wednesday 18th February

New figures have shown a rise in cases of suicide involving farmers, including in Somerset. Plans to merge the parishes of Castle Cary and Ansford have been scrapped. A Somerset-based charity working to end homelessness is marking its 50th anniversary... and more