Monday 31st March

Monday, 31 March 2025 06:00

By Steve Haigh

Yeovil Town owner Martin Hellier has announced his intention to put the club up for sale. Somerset Chamber of Commerce says small businesses are bracing themselves for a challenging year. The Children's Hospice South West founder, Eddie Farwell, has died. Tintinhull Gardens near Yeovil have reopened for the new season...and more

Yeovil Town owner Martin Hellier has announced his intention to put the club up for sale. In a post on X over the weekend, Mr Hellier, who bought Yeovil Town in May 2023, blamed online abuse by Yeovil fans for his decision. He says he doesn’t plan to be at Huish Park next season and will leave when a suitable buyer is found. Meanwhile, Yeovil Town’s annual accounts just out show the Club made a loss of £2.8 million for the year ending June 2024, and that it is now reliant on Mr Hellier, through his business the Hellier Trading Group, injecting sufficient working capital into the Club to keep it afloat.

Somerset Chamber of Commerce says small businesses in the County are bracing themselves for a challenging year. Managing Director, David Crew, says companies are cutting staff and having to find additional funds to pay the rise in National Insurance contributions, together with increases in the national living wage.

The Children's Hospice South West founder, Eddie Farwell, has died. Eddie, who was born in Yeovil, founded the charity in 1991 with his wife Jill. Today, Children’s Hospice South West operates from three centres: Little Bridge House in Devon, Little Harbour in Cornwall, and Charlton Farm in Somerset.

Several local businesses were winners at the Somerset Business Awards. ARK at Egwood CIC in Merriott won the Small Business of the Year Award. The Best Use of Digital Technology Award was won by Techosaurus Ltd of Yeovil. Battens Solicitors came runners-up in the Employer of the Year category. The Business Resilience and Growth Award was won by Wessex Pop-Up Coldrooms Ltd of Langport.

Tintinhull Gardens near Yeovil, run by the National Trust, have reopened for the new season. Volunteers have spent the winter tidying the garden to make it more historically accurate.

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Friday 12th December

The Chief Executive of Somerset Council, Duncan Sharkey, has admitted to making mistakes in cutting jobs. Yeovil MP Adam Dance is supporting a Lib Dem initiative to introduce a new ‘Farm First’ training scheme. Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance has launched an appeal to help buy a second helicopter... and more.
Thursday 11th December

A man has appeared in court in connection with an attack in Wincanton. A member of Somerset Council, jailed for 26 months for taking part in a Just Stop Oil protest, may not have to stand down as a councillor. NHS Somerset has announced that changes to stroke services at Yeovil Hospital will "go live" in the spring of next year...and more
Wednesday 10th December

Avon and Somerset Police say 62 drivers were arrested in the first week of the Christmas drink and drug driving campaign. A reindeer farm near Yeovil thinks it may have to close after being told it needs a Zoo licence. Father Christmas has made a special delivery of presents to Charlton Farm Children's Hospice in Somerset...and more
Tuesday 9th December

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Avon and Somerset has criticised the government for axing the role. Police are appealing for witnesses to a road traffic accident near Ilminster in which a woman was seriously injured. Residents of Freedom Avenue in Yeovil are raising funds for charity with a big display of Christmas lights...and more.
Monday 8th December

Plans to build 150 new homes in Ilminster have been scrapped. A Somerset councillor has been jailed for 26 months. Marks & Spencer wants to build a new Food Store in Ilminster. Poundland has announced that it’s shutting its store in Middle Street in Yeovil...and more
Friday 5th December

Police are appealing for witnesses after an assault on a man in Chard. Lloyds Banking Group has announced a date for closing the Halifax in Yeovil. Train journeys on the Castle Cary to Taunton line will be disrupted next week due to engineering work. The mental health charity MIND in Somerset has produced a Christmas advent calendar... and more.
Thursday 4th December

The Chief Constable of Avon and Somerset Police says her force is doing all it can to reduce anti-social behaviour. Somerset Council has deferred a decision on introducing Sunday car parking charges. People living in deprived areas in Somerset are being fast-tracked for hospital treatment...and more
Wednesday 3rd December

Fire crews have rescued the driver of a car that got stuck in floodwater near Ilminster. Avon and Somerset Police are urging people going out to celebrate this Christmas to book a taxi or use public transport. A woman from South Petherton has come top at the British Down Syndrome Swimming Championships...and more,